The Nebraska Wesleyan University baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2013 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Baseball Preseason Coaches’ poll that was released on Jan. 29. The Prairie Wolves received 59 total points in the poll to land fifth in the poll.

Doane College totaled 96 points and seven first place votes to be picked to repeat as conference champions for the third consecutive year. Morningside College received 90 points and three first place votes for second and Northwestern College had 82 points to finish third in the poll. Mount Marty received the final first place vote and was fourth. Points were assigned on a 10-1 basis and coaches’ could not vote for their own team.

Nebraska Wesleyan head coach Bill Fagler, who begins his eighth season at NWU, hopes his team will build off of last season’s success heading into the 2013 season . The Prairie Wolves return 20 letterwinners from the 2012 team that finished 20-22 overall, 12-8 in the GPAC to finish third in the league race. NWU had a 10-game winning streak during conference play and won two games in the GPAC Postseason tournament. The Prairie Wolves return five starters and three of the top four starting pitchers.

NWU is currently participating in preseason drills and the Prairie Wolves are scheduled to begin the 2013 season on Feb. 24 with a home doubleheader against William Penn.

The GPAC baseball season will consist of 20 games (10 doubleheaders) and conclude with the GPAC Postseason Tournament on May 2-4 in Hastings, Neb.

2013 GPAC Baseball Coaches’ Poll

Team (1st Place Votes) Pts

1. Doane (7) 96

2. Morningside (3) 90

3. Northwestern 82

4. Mount Marty (1) 73

5. Nebraska Wesleyan 59

6. Dakota Wesleyan 58

7. Concordia 41

8. Briar Cliff 39

9. Hastings 37

10. Midland 19

11. Dordt 11