GLVC preseason baseball poll projects another battle between Hawks and Prairie Stars

QUINCY — To win a conference title, the Quincy University baseball team better be prepared to battle a familiar foe.

The Great Lakes Valley Conference released its preseason coaches poll this week, and as expected, the Hawks sit No. 2 in the Blue Division behind Illinois-Springfield. Both teams received first-place votes and are coming off NCAA Tournament bids.

Lindenwood is picked to win the Green Division.

The Prairie Stars (37-8) and the Hawks (29-15) finished first and second, respectively, in the GLVC Green Division last season with UIS taking two of three games in the head-to-head series in the regular season. Quincy eliminated UIS from the NCAA Midwest Regional with a 4-3 victory in which right-hander Spencer Walker threw six scoreless to start and left-hander Sam Stephens finished the game with 2⅓ scoreless innings.

Both pitchers return with Walker expected to be at the front of the rotation and Stephens at the back end of the bullpen.

The Hawks should put together a formidable lineup, too.

Quincy returns first-team All-GLVC third baseman Dayson Croes, who led the Hawks with a .436 average and 17 doubles last season, and second-team all-conference shortstop Gino D’Alessio. Also returning are designated hitter/outfielder Lance Logsdon, second baseman Nolan Wosman and center fielder Brock Boynton.

The Hawks have reached the NCAA Tournament six consecutive seasons and have been the GLVC Tournament champions or runner-up three times in that stretch.

Quincy, under the direction of first-year coach Matt Schissel, is scheduled to open its season February 18 against Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo.