By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team enters the 2021 season ranked 11th in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll, released Friday (Jan. 29) by the league office. After the 2020 season was abruptly ended by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the Tigers will open the much-awaited season on Friday, February 12.
Central Missouri was picked to win the league after receiving all 11 possible first-place votes. Coaches do not list their own school on their ballot. Central Oklahoma earned the remaining first-place vote and is ranked second to start the season. The Mules enter the season ranked fifth in the Collegiate Baseball DII Preseason Poll while UCO is ranked 24th.
Due to a one-year change in game limitations by NCAA Division II, the Tigers are scheduled to play 40 games this spring. FHSU will open the season with just seven non-conference games before entering a 33-game conference slate, including weekend three-game sets against all 11 league rivals. Each conference series is scheduled to take place over just two days, including one single game and one doubleheader.
The Tigers lost just three players from last season’s squad that turned in an 11-13 record in the shortened season, including just one player who started the majority of those 24 games.
FHSU will return 33 players, including four seniors who returned for an extra year of eligibility – Ryan Brown, Tyler Olson, Ryan Ruder and Garrett Stephens.
Head coach Jerod Goodale added seven student-athletes to this year’s roster, including four freshmen and three transfers.
Stephens led the league with 35 hits in just 24 games, ranking 18th in Division II. He ranked ninth nationally and second in the MIAA with eight home runs. The catcher picked up at least one hit in 18 of 24 games in his first year as a Tiger.
The Tigers return six players who started all 24 games, including Stephens, Olson, Grant Schmidt, Griffin Brunson, Corbin Truslow and Drake Angeron.
Fort Hays State returns its entire pitching staff in addition to three new arms. Zach Berg and Padraic Walsh were stalwarts in the rotation in 2020, each starting seven games. Berg struck out 35 over 40.0 innings while Walsh struck out 29 in 21.0 frames. Jacob Ensz pitched in a team-high 12 contests, striking out 43 batters in just 31.1 innings, an average of 21.4 K/9. He ranked seventh in the MIAA in ERA (3.16) while coming in 29th in the nation in strikeouts.
The Tigers are scheduled to open the season on Friday, February 12 at Colorado School of Mines. FHSU’s home opener is slated for Saturday, February 27 against Pittsburg State.
2021 MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (11) – 121 points
2. Central Oklahoma (1) – 110 points
3. Missouri Southern – 102 points
4. Pittsburg State – 88 points
5. Emporia State – 84 points
6. Washburn – 57 points
7. Rogers State – 53 points
8. Northwest Missouri – 52 points
9. Missouri Western – 41 points
10. Northeastern State – 37 points
11. Fort Hays State – 28 points
12. Newman – 19 points