Trojans Baseball Picked to Finish Second in Preseason Poll

Following their first-ever appearance in the NSAA Baseball postseason tournament’s championship game last spring, Dakota State was picked to finish second in the league coaches’ preseason poll.

The Trojans, under fourth-year head coach Derrion Hardie, collected 55 points to finish second in the preseason poll. Despite losing the opening round of the 2022 NSAA postseason tournament, DSU roared back to win all four elimination games to reach the championship game.

Dakota State fell to Bellevue, the NSAA baseball coaches’ favorite to win the league title for the eighth consecutive year, in a pitcher’s duel by the score of 1-0 in the conference postseason tournament’s championship game held in Forest City, Iowa. The Bruins were the unanimous pick to win the conference title, racking up all eight first place votes and 64 points.

Dickinson State placed third with 47 points, followed by Waldorf fourth with 36 points.  Mayville State edged out Valley City State 32-30 to place fifth in the poll. 

The NSAA baseball conference season officially begins on the weekend of March 17-19, when the Trojans are scheduled to play a four-game series at Waldorf on March 18-19. Each North Star conference member is slated to play a total of 28 league contests.

All eight NSAA teams will compete in the conference tournament held in Dickinson, ND on May 5-8. The winner of the postseason tournament receives the league’s automatic bid to the NAIA Baseball National Tournament Opening Round on May 15-18. The national opening round winners will move on to the Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series on May 26-June 2 in Lewiston, Idaho.

Dakota State finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 33-18, the most wins since the late 2000’s. The Trojans also established program records for most NSAA victories with 15 and finished as the highest place finish in the conference standings with a second place finish. 

The Trojans are scheduled to make their 2023 season debut on February 10-11 when they play a four-game series at Avila, Missouri.

Below is the complete 2023 NSAA Baseball Coaches’ Preseason Poll: