Carmel, Ind - The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) has announced the results of its baseball preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday morning with 2025 HCAC Baseball Tournament Champions Manchester predicted, in a vote amongst league coaches, to finish third in a tie with Franklin in 2026. The Pioneers earned 76 points in the poll and seven of a possible 10 first place votes. Reigning HCAC Baseball Champion Manchester, and Franklin each garnered 58 points to tie for third on this year's ballot with the Spartans also received two first place votes.
2025 Season Recap:
Head Coach = Rick Espeset (2025 Coach of the Year)
2025 Results = 29-14 Overall, 15-7 HCAC, Co-Regular Season and Tournament Champions
Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 4
- (1st Team) Joel Kennedy, Senior Designated Hitter, Mooreland, Ind.
- (2nd Team) Michael Dierckman, Junior Outfielder, Fort Wayne, Ind.
- (2nd Team) Ty Layson, Senior Pitcher, Fort Wayne, Ind.
- (HM) Cam Bortone, Sophomore First Base, South Bend, Ind.
Following the regular season, the 2026 HCAC Baseball Championship is scheduled to take place Thursday-Sunday, May 7-10 at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Kokomo, Ind. The top six teams at the end of the regular season will qualify for the double-elimination tournament with the winner earning the league's automatic qualifier into the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
2026 HCAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll Results:
| 1. |
Transylvania |
76 (7) |
| 2. |
Rose-Hulman |
65 |
| T3. |
Manchester |
58 (2) |
| T3. |
Franklin |
58 |
| 5. |
Anderson |
55 (1) |
| 6. |
Mount St. Joseph |
46 |
| T7. |
Earlham |
33 |
| T7. |
Hanover |
33 |
| 9. |
Bluffton |
17 |
| 10. |
Berea |
9 |
