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South Dakota State University Athletics
JACKS PICKED FOURTH IN SUMMIT BASEBALL RACE
2/16/2022 3:02:00 PM | Baseball
SIOUX FALLS —South Dakota State has been picked to finish fourth in the 2022 Summit League baseball race, according to a poll conducted among the league's seven coaches that was announced Wednesday.
Defending regular season champion Oral Roberts grabbed the top spot in the poll with six first-place votes and 36 points, followed by 2021 tournament champion North Dakota State with 31 points and one first-place vote.
Omaha edged the Jackrabbits for third place by one point, 24-23, while new affiliate member Northern Colorado placed fifth with 13 points. Western Illinois (12 points) and Summit League newcomer St. Thomas (8 points) rounded out the poll.
The top four teams will advance to the Summit League Baseball Championship May 25-28 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. SDSU has qualified for the league tournament in 11 of 12 seasons it has been eligible for postseason play. The Jackrabbits ended the 2021 season 15-32 overall and 9-19 in league play, earning the fourth and final spot in the Summit League Baseball Championship.
In addition, infielder Luke Ira was named as a Summit League Player to Watch and redshirt sophomore right-hander Nic McCay was tabbed as a Summit League Pitcher to Watch. A junior from Iowa City, Iowa, Ira took over starting duties at shortstop last season and led the team with 48 hits and 11 doubles while starting all 47 games. Ira contributed three home runs and also ranked second on the squad with a .268 batting average and 23 runs batted in.
McCay makes a return to the Jackrabbits' starting rotation after sitting out the past two seasons due to injury. A native of Carlisle, Iowa, McCay was a Freshman All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball in 2019 after compiling a 6-1 record with a 4.08 earned run average in 14 starts. He struck out 83 batters in 79 1/3 innings that season.
South Dakota State opens the 2022 season Friday, taking on Purdue in Sugar Land, Texas.
2022 SUMMIT LEAGUE BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Oral Roberts (6) - 36
2. North Dakota State (1) - 31
3. Omaha - 24
4. South Dakota State - 23
5. Northern Colorado - 13
6. Western Illinois - 12
7. St. Thomas - 8
PLAYERS AND PITCHERS TO WATCH
Peter Brookshaw | North Dakota State | Jr. | IF Max Loven | North Dakota State | Jr. | LHP Riley Bost | Northern Colorado | Jr. | RHP Josh Glenn | Northern Colorado | RSr. | C Mark Timmins | Omaha | Sr. | RHPÂ Mike Boeve | Omaha | So. | 3B Dustin Demeter | Oral Roberts | Gr. | UT Isaac Coffey | Oral Roberts | Jr. | RHP Graham Laubscher | St. Thomas | Gr. | LHP Brigs Richartz | St. Thomas | Fr. | C/IF Nic McCay | South Dakota State | RSo. | RHP Luke Ira | South Dakota State | Jr. | IF Jace Warkentien | Western Illinois | Sr. | LHP Derek Botaletto | Western Illinois | Jr. | IF Note: Players/Pitchers to Watch selected by league's head coaches
-GoJacks.com-
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Defending regular season champion Oral Roberts grabbed the top spot in the poll with six first-place votes and 36 points, followed by 2021 tournament champion North Dakota State with 31 points and one first-place vote.
Omaha edged the Jackrabbits for third place by one point, 24-23, while new affiliate member Northern Colorado placed fifth with 13 points. Western Illinois (12 points) and Summit League newcomer St. Thomas (8 points) rounded out the poll.
The top four teams will advance to the Summit League Baseball Championship May 25-28 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. SDSU has qualified for the league tournament in 11 of 12 seasons it has been eligible for postseason play. The Jackrabbits ended the 2021 season 15-32 overall and 9-19 in league play, earning the fourth and final spot in the Summit League Baseball Championship.
In addition, infielder Luke Ira was named as a Summit League Player to Watch and redshirt sophomore right-hander Nic McCay was tabbed as a Summit League Pitcher to Watch. A junior from Iowa City, Iowa, Ira took over starting duties at shortstop last season and led the team with 48 hits and 11 doubles while starting all 47 games. Ira contributed three home runs and also ranked second on the squad with a .268 batting average and 23 runs batted in.
McCay makes a return to the Jackrabbits' starting rotation after sitting out the past two seasons due to injury. A native of Carlisle, Iowa, McCay was a Freshman All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball in 2019 after compiling a 6-1 record with a 4.08 earned run average in 14 starts. He struck out 83 batters in 79 1/3 innings that season.
South Dakota State opens the 2022 season Friday, taking on Purdue in Sugar Land, Texas.
2022 SUMMIT LEAGUE BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Oral Roberts (6) - 36
2. North Dakota State (1) - 31
3. Omaha - 24
4. South Dakota State - 23
5. Northern Colorado - 13
6. Western Illinois - 12
7. St. Thomas - 8
PLAYERS AND PITCHERS TO WATCH
Peter Brookshaw | North Dakota State | Jr. | IF Max Loven | North Dakota State | Jr. | LHP Riley Bost | Northern Colorado | Jr. | RHP Josh Glenn | Northern Colorado | RSr. | C Mark Timmins | Omaha | Sr. | RHPÂ Mike Boeve | Omaha | So. | 3B Dustin Demeter | Oral Roberts | Gr. | UT Isaac Coffey | Oral Roberts | Jr. | RHP Graham Laubscher | St. Thomas | Gr. | LHP Brigs Richartz | St. Thomas | Fr. | C/IF Nic McCay | South Dakota State | RSo. | RHP Luke Ira | South Dakota State | Jr. | IF Jace Warkentien | Western Illinois | Sr. | LHP Derek Botaletto | Western Illinois | Jr. | IF Note: Players/Pitchers to Watch selected by league's head coaches
-GoJacks.com-
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