A-R-C tabs Simpson seventh; season opener on Saturday
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Simpson College is set to take the field this Saturday after being selected seventh in the American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced Wednesday.
Coe is picked as the favorite, with Buena Vista in second after winning the league tournament in 2019. Luther and Wartburg are tabbed to tie for third, while Dubuque and Central are ahead of the Storm. Loras and Nebraska Wesleyan fill the final two slots, respectively.
The 2020 slate was interrupted for Simpson due to COVID-19 after holding a 3-4 overall record midway through the team's spring break trip to Florida. Head coach Nathan Roling and the squad won their final two of three games last season.
Junior Brady Held was off to a stellar start by leading the team with 14 hits for a .519 average. He had two doubles, a homer and triple with four RBIs, while garnering a 1-0 record on the bump with 17 strikeouts.
Juniors Brady Leonard and Zach Hollingsworth worked together to a toss a no-hitter against Bethel on Feb. 26 in game two of a doubleheader. Leonard only allowed two batters to reach through the first four innings. This was the program's first no-hitter since March 27, 2011.
The 2021 slate begins this Saturday with a doubleheader against Illinois College, 352 days since Simpson's last outing on a diamond. The Blueboys were 2-7 last year and ended the 2019 campaign at .500 with an 18-18 mark.
After the season opening doubleheader in Jacksonville, Illinois, Simpson returns to action for a twinbill against Bethel at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 10. Two games against Monmouth follow on March 13.
The American Rivers Conference slate will consist of four games against an opponent, with a doubleheader taking place each afternoon. A-R-C play will start on March 19 at Buena Vista to begin the four-game series.
The Storm play on McBride Field for the first time Thursday, April 1 against Loras to start a streak of eight-straight contests on home soil. After taking on the Duhawks, Wartburg visits Thursday, April 8. The Knights were off to a hot start in 2020 with a 9-1 record to lead the league in victories.
Coe will host Simpson on Thursday, April 17, before Nebraska Wesleyan comes to Indianola for a four-game set starting Friday, April 23. The Storm then travel to Luther to end the month.
On Friday, May 7, Simpson will be at home for the final time of 2021 against Dubuque and end A-R-C play at Central starting Friday, May 2. The A-R-C Tournament will begin May 18.
2021 American Rivers Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Coe (3-3)
2. Buena Vista (5-2)
t-3. Luther (5-4)
t-3. Wartburg (9-1)
5. Dubuque (4-5)
6. Central (3-3)
7. Simpson (3-4)
8. Loras (3-7)
9. Nebraska Wesleyan (6-7-1)
