KIAC Baseball Preseason Poll: Rio Grande picked as conference favorite
FLORENCE, Ky. -- The 2016 KIAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll has identified the University of Rio Grande as the preseason favorite in the conference. The RedStorm, which is ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll, is the defending KIAC Tournament champs.
Rio Grande, which was 35-22 overall, 15-5 KIAC last year, garnered seven of the eight first-place votes in the voting that was conducted by the KIAC head coaches. The RedStorm received 49 points in the voting.
The RedStorm returns six of nine positional starters and two starting pitchers from last year's team, which reached the championship game of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round Daytona Beach Bracket. Rio Grande fell one game short of the NAIA World Series with a loss to host Embry-Riddle.
Point Park (Pa.) University came in second in the KIAC Preseason Poll. The Pioneers, 37-13 and 16-4 overall last year, were the 2015 KIAC Regular Season champs and made it to the semifinals of the KIAC Tournament. Point Park received the remaining first-place vote and earned 43 points in the voting.
Indiana University Southeast was picked third in the poll. The Grenadiers (37-18, 13-7 KIAC) were KIAC Tournament finalists last year, where they lost to Rio Grande. IU Southeast earned 35 points in the voting. They tied for the conference lead with 37 overall wins in 2015.
KIAC newcomer WVU Tech was picked fourth by the coaches. The Golden Bears were 30-25 overall last year and made to the final four teams of the Association of Independent Institutions Tournament.
The poll continued with Asbury (Ky.) University (11-36, 3-17 KIAC) and second-year head coach Manny Cervantes as the fifth team and Brescia (Ky.) University (18-35, 9-11 KIAC) and first-year coach Andrew Dickson, a former IU Southeast assistant, as the sixth team.
Cincinnati Christian was picked seventh in the poll. The Eagles have re-started their baseball program this year after a hiatus. NAIA and KIAC newcomer Ohio Christian was picked eighth. The Trailblazers were 15-20 last year competing as an NCCAA school.
2016 KIAC BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
| School (First-Place Votes) | Points | 2015 Overall | 2015 KIAC |
| 1. Rio Grande (Ohio) (7) | 49 | 35-22 | 15-5 |
| 2. Point Park (Pa.) (1) | 43 | 37-13 | 16-4 |
| 3. IU Southeast | 35 | 37-18 | 13-7 |
| 4. WVU Tech* | 33 | 30-25 | 0-0 |
| 5. Asbury (Ky.) | 21 | 11-36 | 3-17 |
| 6. Brescia (Ky.) | 18 | 18-35 | 9-11 |
| 7. Cincinnati Christian** | 13 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| 8. Ohio Christian*** | 8 | 15-20 | 0-0 |
*First-year KIAC member **Did not compete in baseball in 2015 ***First-year NAIA & KIAC member