MIDDLETOWN, Ohio- The Grenadiers of Indiana University Southeast are the favorites in the River States Conference in baseball in 2025, as IU Southeast finished first in the 2025 RSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The poll, announced Wednesday by the River States Conference office, saw each of the conference's nine head coaches rank the other member schools in order of predicted finish.
The Grenadiers were the top pick on six of the nine ballots, earning 75 percent of the possible first place votes. IU Southeast made a historic run to the Avista NAIA World Series in 2024, winning the Opening Round in Upland, Indiana after posting a 20-4 record in RSC play. IU Southeast has won the regular season title in the River States Conference in five consecutive seasons, dating back to 2019.
The remaining first place votes went to Oakland City and IU Kokomo, who tied for second place. The Mighty Oaks and Cougars were right behind IU Southeast in the West Division last season, finishing 18-6 and 17-7 in conference play, respectively. Shawnee State, who finished second in the East Division with a 17-7 record last season, was picked to finish fourth.
Midway finished in the middle of the poll, with the coaches placing the Eagles fifth. In the bottom half of the poll, the coaches placed WVU Tech sixth, Rio Grande seventh, Brescia eighth, and IU Columbus ninth.
Although some teams play countable games during the fall season, the NAIA baseball schedule begins in earnest on January 23. The first scheduled date of conference play of is scheduled for February 28, with the schedule gearing towards the 2025 River States Conference Baseball Tournament, scheduled for May 1-5 at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.
2025 RSC PRESEASON BASEBALL COACHES' POLL
1. IU Southeast (60 points, 6 first place votes)
2. Oakland City (49 points, 2 first place votes)
2. IU Kokomo (49 points, 1 first place vote)
4. Shawnee State (46 points)
5. Midway (37 points)
6. WVU Tech (36 points)
7. Rio Grande (24 points)
8. Brescia (13 points)
9. IU Columbus (9 points)