MIAA releases spring preseason coaches’ polls

FREELAND, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has released four preseason coaches’ polls for spring sports – baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse.

The softball team received the highest preseason ranking among the four teams, as it was picked third with 27 points. Defending conference champion and tournament champion Trine (Ind.) University was chosen as the preseason favorite.

MIAA Preseason Softball Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Trine (8) 8 pts. 2. Hope (1) 16. 3. OLIVET 27. 4. Calvin 30. 5. Alma 32. 6. Adrian 44. 7. Saint Mary’s 46. 8. Kalamazoo 57. 9. Albion 64.

The baseball team was selected to finish eighth with 49 points. Adrian College, who has won six consecutive MIAA championships and the last three MIAA Tournaments, was chosen the preseason favorite.

MIAA Preseason Baseball Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Adrian (7) 7 pts. 2. Hope (1) 13. 3. Calvin 26. 4. Albion 28. 5. Kalamazoo 30. 6. Trine 34. 7. Alma 37. 8. OLIVET 49.

The Comet baseball and softball teams open their seasons March 5 at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. The softball team plays Bluffton (Ohio) University at 9 a.m., followed by a game against York (Pa.) College. Olivet opens MIAA play Saturday, March 28, with a home doubleheader against Hope, starting at 1 p.m.

The baseball team plays a nine-inning game against Ohio Northern University at 9 a.m. Olivet’s first four-game league series is Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22, against Alma. The first two games are Saturday afternoon in Olivet before the series shifts to Alma Sunday for the final two games. Both doubleheaders have a 1 p.m. start time.

The men’s lacrosse team received a fifth-place pick in the preseason poll with 25 points, while the women’s lacrosse team was selected to finish seventh with 46 points. Albion was picked to win the men’s championship, while defending champion Adrian is the preseason favorite in the women’s poll.

The Comet men opened their season last Saturday, Feb. 21, with a 9-6 win at Concordia (Wis.) University. Olivet plays seven more non-conference games before opening MIAA play Tuesday, March 31, at home against Trine at 7 p.m.

MIAA Preseason Men’s Lacrosse Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Albion (4) 8 pts. 2. Adrian (3) 9. 3. Hope 18. 4. Trine 20. 5. OLIVET 25. 6. Alma 33. 7. Calvin 34. 

The Comet women are scheduled to kick-off their 2015 season next Tuesday, March 3, against Lawrence Technological Institute. The game will be played at Detroit Country Day School and start at 9 p.m. Olivet’s MIAA-opener is Wednesday, April 1, at Calvin, starting at 6 p.m.

MIAA Preseason Women’s Lacrosse Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Adrian (7) 10 pts. 2. Albion (1) 19. 3. Alma (1) 20. 4. Calvin 26. 5. Kalamazoo 39. 6. Hope 44. 7. OLIVET 46. T8. Saint Mary’s 60. T8. Trine 60.