Simpson tabbed seventh in A-R-C preseason rankings
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Ten days before traveling to Illinois to open the 2023 season, the Simpson College baseball team was selected seventh in the American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Storm are coming off a 19-20 season and eighth place finish in the A-R-C. Simpson's 19 wins in 2022 were the most under head coach Nathan Roling, who is back for his seventh season.
"The 2022 conference season was as competitive top-to-bottom as we've seen in years and the 2023 season looks to be very similar," said Roling. "We have a group that is motivated to prove themselves this year. We'll need to replace a large amount of our innings on the mound and replace a few key contributors at the plate, but feel we have a talented group that'll have the opportunity to step up. We'll rely on our strong upperclassmen returners for productivity and leadership as our newer pieces gain experience."
Simpson returns three all-conference players including Trey Castile and last year's A-R-C Pitcher of the Year, Brady Held. A year ago, the duo led the Storm pitching staff to its lowest team ERA in eight seasons and helped break the school record for strikeouts in a season. Held, a second team All-American selection, posted a 2.23 ERA and 84 strikeouts, while Castile finished with a 4.25 ERA and 68 strikeouts. In conference play, Simpson tallied 248 strikeouts and held opponents to .236 batting average to lead the league in both categories.
Offensively, Held led the team and ranked fourth in the league in overall batting average (.398) and on-base percentage (.488). He recorded 41 hits, 21 RBIs, 20 walks and 35 runs scored. The Storm also bring back second team all-conference performer, Ty Cowley, who batted .288 overall and tallied 32 hits, 19 HBPs, 16 RBIs and 26 runs scored as well as Brennan Lemke and Matthew Marquez who combined for 50 hits and 31 RBIs.
Simpson's 40-game regular season slate begins Feb. 25 with a 5 p.m. contest against St. Norbert in Jacksonville, Ill. The Storm will round out their opening week with another contest against the Green Knights on Feb. 26 followed by one against Augustana.
The Storm kick off March with a trio of home contests against St. Olaf before traveling to Florida to play seven games at the RussMatt Invitational. Simpson will close non-conference play with a three-game home series with Hamline on March 25-26. A-R-C action will commence the following Tuesday at Loras.
The A-R-C Tournament is scheduled for May 11-13 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2023 American Rivers Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Buena Vista, 64 points (8)
2. Loras, 56 points (1)
3. Luther, 45 points
4. Wartburg, 41 points
5. Coe, 40 points
6. Nebraska Wesleyan, 25 points
7. Simpson, 20 points
8. Dubuque, 19 points
9. Central, 14 points
(first place votes)
