Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Huskies Baseball tabbed to finish third in 2022 NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll
1/21/2022 10:05:00 AM | Baseball
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Baseball has been picked to finish third in the 2022 NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll as announced by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference on Thursday. Centerfielder John Nett and lefthander Trevor Koenig were named the Huskies' Preseason Player and Pitcher to Watch. SCSU has finished top-three in the conference standings in 13 of head coach Pat Dolan's 14 years at the helm.
"Preseason rankings are really just what they are," said Dolan, "But we'd love to finish top-three and have a strong showing in the NSIC Championships to earn another NCAA Central Region Tournament berth."
The Huskies are gearing up for an exciting 2022 campaign, entering the season with high expectations thanks to a deep, veteran-laden pitching staff and an incredibly well-balanced lineup. Last season the Huskies slashed .316/.412/.496 for a .908 team OPS, their highest mark since their historic 2016 campaign. SCSU returns seven starting position players and well over 200.0 innings (70.1%) on the mound from 2021.
"I really love our pitching depth and our overall team speed," Dolan continued, "A lot of times that's what really matters when it comes down to conference championships."
John Nett was a First Team All-NSIC selection last year after bursting onto the scene with a breakout second season, starting all 36 games in the leadoff spot as the everyday centerfielder and slashing .378/.515/.575 for a 1.090 OPS. He led the NSIC with a .541 on-base percentage in the regular season. Nett scored a team-high 45 runs, drove in 27 and added nine doubles, two triples and four home runs while stealing 15 bags on 19 tries. The righthanded hitter continued to display a plus approach, drawing walks at an incredible 20.8% clip while striking out in just 12.5% of his plate appearances.
Trevor Koenig served as an anchor on the Huskies' weekend rotation in his fourth campaign, making 10 appearances with eight starts, going 4-4 with a 3.00 ERA and a staff-best 2.57 FIP. The 6'10 lefthander struck out 57 (24.7%) across 57.0 innings and walked just 13 (5.6%), holding batters to a .217/.269/.307 slash line and a .575 OPS against. He went at least 6.0 innings in seven of his eight starts, going 5.0 in the lone outlier and pitched into the seventh inning four times. Koenig spent the summer with the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League, leading the staff with 46.1 innings of work while guiding the team to a Great Plains Championship. The southpaw started nine games and went 3-1, pitching to a 3.50 ERA while striking out 52, held batters to a .254 average and allowed no more than two earned runs in seven of his nine starts with the Rox.
"We are just really happy and proud for John and Trevor," commented Dolan, "Not only are they two of our top players on the field, but both great team guys and great academic guys. Our young players should look up to guys like them. And we are looking for big years for both of them. Trevor will get the ball in game one and John will again be in the leadoff spot creating havoc!"
Koenig returns to lead the weekend rotation alongside fellow starters Tommy Thompson, Jack Habeck, Fabian Villegas and Luke Tupy. Both Shannon and Riley Ahern return in 2022 to provide stability to the staff, while key transfers Ryan Duffy (Minnesota) and Sam Riola (Louisiana-Lafayette) give the Huskies two more battle-tested arms. The young bullpen will be led by veteran presences Nick Brauns and Eli Emerson.
SCSU's lineup features a great deal of speed and advanced approaches, starting with an offensive-minded outfield of Nett, Paul Steffensen and Tyler Schiller. Second Team All-NSIC shortstop Max Gamm anchors the infield alongside standout returners at third and second in Tate Wallat and Parker Savard. A deep class of catchers and plenty of options at first rounds out the position player side.
The Huskies open their season with four key regional games at the HSU Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas beginning on February 10 then open conference play at Augustana on March 19.
2022 NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Minnesota State-Mankato (9) 190
2. Augustana (6) 188
3. St. Cloud State 162
4. Minot State 159
5. Minnesota-Crookston 130
6. U-Mary 122
7. Winona State 116
8. Wayne State 108
9. Northern State 89
10. Sioux Falls 73
11. Concordia-St. Paul 69
12. Upper Iowa 61
13. Minnesota Duluth 58
14. Bemidji State 26
15. Southwest Minnesota State 24
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
"Preseason rankings are really just what they are," said Dolan, "But we'd love to finish top-three and have a strong showing in the NSIC Championships to earn another NCAA Central Region Tournament berth."
The Huskies are gearing up for an exciting 2022 campaign, entering the season with high expectations thanks to a deep, veteran-laden pitching staff and an incredibly well-balanced lineup. Last season the Huskies slashed .316/.412/.496 for a .908 team OPS, their highest mark since their historic 2016 campaign. SCSU returns seven starting position players and well over 200.0 innings (70.1%) on the mound from 2021.
"I really love our pitching depth and our overall team speed," Dolan continued, "A lot of times that's what really matters when it comes down to conference championships."
John Nett was a First Team All-NSIC selection last year after bursting onto the scene with a breakout second season, starting all 36 games in the leadoff spot as the everyday centerfielder and slashing .378/.515/.575 for a 1.090 OPS. He led the NSIC with a .541 on-base percentage in the regular season. Nett scored a team-high 45 runs, drove in 27 and added nine doubles, two triples and four home runs while stealing 15 bags on 19 tries. The righthanded hitter continued to display a plus approach, drawing walks at an incredible 20.8% clip while striking out in just 12.5% of his plate appearances.
Trevor Koenig served as an anchor on the Huskies' weekend rotation in his fourth campaign, making 10 appearances with eight starts, going 4-4 with a 3.00 ERA and a staff-best 2.57 FIP. The 6'10 lefthander struck out 57 (24.7%) across 57.0 innings and walked just 13 (5.6%), holding batters to a .217/.269/.307 slash line and a .575 OPS against. He went at least 6.0 innings in seven of his eight starts, going 5.0 in the lone outlier and pitched into the seventh inning four times. Koenig spent the summer with the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League, leading the staff with 46.1 innings of work while guiding the team to a Great Plains Championship. The southpaw started nine games and went 3-1, pitching to a 3.50 ERA while striking out 52, held batters to a .254 average and allowed no more than two earned runs in seven of his nine starts with the Rox.
"We are just really happy and proud for John and Trevor," commented Dolan, "Not only are they two of our top players on the field, but both great team guys and great academic guys. Our young players should look up to guys like them. And we are looking for big years for both of them. Trevor will get the ball in game one and John will again be in the leadoff spot creating havoc!"
Koenig returns to lead the weekend rotation alongside fellow starters Tommy Thompson, Jack Habeck, Fabian Villegas and Luke Tupy. Both Shannon and Riley Ahern return in 2022 to provide stability to the staff, while key transfers Ryan Duffy (Minnesota) and Sam Riola (Louisiana-Lafayette) give the Huskies two more battle-tested arms. The young bullpen will be led by veteran presences Nick Brauns and Eli Emerson.
SCSU's lineup features a great deal of speed and advanced approaches, starting with an offensive-minded outfield of Nett, Paul Steffensen and Tyler Schiller. Second Team All-NSIC shortstop Max Gamm anchors the infield alongside standout returners at third and second in Tate Wallat and Parker Savard. A deep class of catchers and plenty of options at first rounds out the position player side.
The Huskies open their season with four key regional games at the HSU Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas beginning on February 10 then open conference play at Augustana on March 19.
2022 NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Minnesota State-Mankato (9) 190
2. Augustana (6) 188
3. St. Cloud State 162
4. Minot State 159
5. Minnesota-Crookston 130
6. U-Mary 122
7. Winona State 116
8. Wayne State 108
9. Northern State 89
10. Sioux Falls 73
11. Concordia-St. Paul 69
12. Upper Iowa 61
13. Minnesota Duluth 58
14. Bemidji State 26
15. Southwest Minnesota State 24
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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