INDIANAPOLIS - The Great Midwest Athletic Conference has revealed the 2026 Great Midwest Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday (Jan. 21).
For the second straight season and third in the last four seasons, the G-MAC will use a divisional format with the North and South Divisions having six teams each.
The head coaches of the Great Midwest picked the Panthers third in the South Division.
Walsh was selected as the preseason favorite with seven first-place votes and 63 total points followed by Kentucky Wesleyan earning five first-place votes with 60 total points. ODU followed with 48 points with Cedarville (35 points), Malone (24 points) and Thomas More (22 points) ending out the South Division.
Northwood, the defending G-MAC Tournament champions, got seven first-place votes and 63 total points. Ashland added five first-place votes with 61 points. Hillsdale and Findlay were ranked third and fourth, respectively with two points between them (41 to 39). Tiffin got 31 points and Lake Erie was sixth with 17 points received.
Ohio Dominican finished 24-29 overall and 15-16 in the G-MAC as they made a run to the tournament championship. Christopher Antonides is in his tenth season with the Panthers. .
In total, ODU returns 25 players from the team last season but will have to reload as a number of starters have departed as graduates.
The 2026 season will begin on February 21st as the Panthers will take on California (Pa.). Conference play will start with a home series on March 14th-15th against Lake Erie. The top eight teams will qualify for the 2026 Great Midwest Baseball Championship at Prasco Park, scheduled for May 6-9th, 2026.
2026 Great Midwest Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll
North Division
1. Northwood - 63 points (7 1st place votes)
2. Ashland - 61 points (5 1st place vote)
3. Hillsdale - 41 points
4. Findlay - 39 points
5. Tiffin - 31 points
6. Lake Erie - 17 points
South Division
1. Walsh - 63 points (7 1st place votes)
2. Kentucky Wesleyan - 60 points (5 1st place votes)
3. Ohio Dominican - 48 points (3 1st place votes)
4. Cedarville - 35 points
5. Malone - 24 points
6. Thomas More - 22 points
