For Immediate Release
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

Burnsville, Minn. - Two-time defending NSIC Regular Season Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were the top pick in the 2012 Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll. This marks the third year in a row the Mavericks have been picked to win the league. Minnesota State amassed 133 points after receiving four first place votes (coaches can’t vote for their own team). Defending NSIC Tournament Champions of St. Cloud State were a very close second as they had 132 points and six first place votes. Winona State, coming off a run that brought them to the NCAA DII National Championship game a year ago, was picked third with 130 points and three first place votes. Wayne State (105) and Augustana (104) rounded out the top five picks in the poll.

The preseason coaches’ poll is based off each coach ranking each team from 12 to 1 with the top team receiving 12 points, second 11, third 10, etc.
The NSIC Baseball season gets underway in February.

2012 NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll

1.	Minnesota State (4)	133
2	St. Cloud State (6)	132
3	Winona State (3)	130
4	Wayne State	105
5	Augustana	104
6	Minnesota Duluth	86
7	Concordia-St. Paul	80
8	Upper Iowa	63
9	SMSU	53
10	Bemidji State	50
11	Northern State	39
12	University of Mary	27
13	Minnesota, Crookston	12

First place votes in ( )

NSIC Preseason Player of the Year
#17 Bryan Lippincott
IF/OF, 6-4, 210, Sr., L/R
Des Moines, Iowa
Johnston HS
Concordia-St. Paul

Bryan Lippincott was voted by the coaches as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. Last season he was among the top-10 in the nation in batting average (.434, 7th) and doubles (0.50 per game, 1st). Lippincott also ranked highly in slugging (.706, 19th). He missed the home run crown in the NSIC by just one, finishing with six, while slugging 17 doubles and maintaining a .703 slugging percentage to finish second in the conference. Lippincott’s season highlight was a 28-game hitting streak as he hit safely in 31 of Concordia’s 34 games, with the streak occupying much of their season. It’s the second longest known hitting streak in the nation last season. Lippincott was also named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America® Baseball Team and named the Academic All-America® of the Year in the College Division, which is comprised of NCAA Division II, III and the NAIA.

NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year
#1 Kodey Simon
RHP, 6-4, 170, Sr., R/R
Cross Plains, Wis.
Middleton HS
Winona State

Kodey Simon was voted by the league coaches as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Simon cemented himself as the Warrior ace last season, going 8-3 with a 2.04 ERA. He made 14 starts in 15 total appearances. He was a major part of the Warriors postseason run, recording complete games in victories over Wayne State in the NSIC Tournament and Mesa State in the NCAA Regional Tournament. He allowed just two runs over seven innings in the NCAA Tournament win over Mount Olive and started the NCAA National Championship Game against West Florida. He was named NSIC Pitcher of the Week after allowing one hit in seven innings against Wisconsin-Parkside. Simon was named to both the Daktronics and the ABCA All-Central Region Teams last season.

2012 NSIC Players To Watch
Augustana College
Derek Hansen (1B/RHP, 6-2, 210, Jr., L/R Fergus Falls, Minn.)
Tyson Gau (RHP, 6-1, 180, Jr., R/R, Alexandria, S.D.)

Bemidji State
Juan Molero (OF, 6-0, 185, Sr., R/R, Venezuela)
Logan Kalis (RHP, 6-3, 200, Jr., R/R, Little Falls, Minn.)

Concordia-St. Paul
Bryan Lippincott (IF/OF, 6-4, 2105 Sr., Des Moines, Iowa.)
Ben Lemke (RHP, 6-3, 195, Sr., L/R, Rosemount, Minn.

University of Mary
Steve Pletan (3B, 5-11, 205, Sr., R/R, Mandan,N.D.)
Kyle Lozensky (RHP, 6-1, 195, Jr., R/R, Naples,Fla.)

Minnesota, Crookston
P.J. Zwach (3B/C, 5-10, 185, Sr., R/R, St. Paul, Minn.)
Matt Korte (RHP, 6-1, 175, So., R/R, St. Cloud, Minn.)

Minnesota Duluth
Marcus Riewer (SS, 5-9, 150, Sr., L/R, Wadena, Minn.)
Collin Stinogel (RHP, 6-2, 200, Sr., R/R, St. Cloud, Minn.)

Minnesota State
Jeremy Sudbeck (1B/OF, 5-11, 200, Sr., R/R, Parkston, S.D.)
Bryce Bellin (RHP, 6-3, 195, So., R/R, Kimberly, Wis.)

Northern State
Zach Miller (OF/P, 6-2, 205, Sr., R/R, Woodenville, Wash.)
Sean Winslow (LHP, 6-0, 190, Jr., L/L, Sheldon, Calif.)

Southwest Minnesota State
Tyler Flattum (3B, 6-4, 222, Jr., R/R, Clarkfield, Minn.)
Aaron Johnson (LHP, 6-6, 216, Sr., L/L, Red Wing, Minn.)

St. Cloud State
Brian Hansen (CF, 6-3, 190, Jr., R/R, Cold Spring, Minn.)
Scott Lieser (RHP, 6-3, 190, Jr., R/B, Paynesville, Minn.)

Upper Iowa
Patrick Arntson (1B, 6-0, 220, Sr., R/R, Muskegon, Mich.)
Matt Treybig (RHP, 6-2, 185, Sr., R/R, Orange, Calif.)

Wayne State
Mike Bisenius (RF, 6-4, 215, Sr., L/R, Sioux City, Iowa)
Tadd Johansen (LHP, 6-4, 180, Jr., L/L, Elkhorn, Neb.)

Winona State
Seth McMullen (SS, 6-1, 195, Jr., R/R, Wausau, Wis.)
Kodey Simon (RHP, 6-4, 170, Sr., R/R, Cross Plains, Wis.)

 

####