Baseball Tops MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

The Flying Dutchmen claimed five of eight first-place votes.

Senior Nolan Gardner, pictured

The Hope College baseball team begins its quest to repeat as Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions as the preseason favorite.

The Flying Dutchmen topped the league's preseason coaches poll with 46 points and five of eight possible first-place votes. Coaches could not vote for their own teams.

Hope finished one point ahead of second-place Adrian College, which received three first-place votes. The remainder of the poll featured Kalamazoo College (37 points), Calvin University (30), Alma College (24), Albion College (20), Trine University (15) and Olivet College (7).

Last season, head coach Stu Fritz guided the Flying Dutchmen to their 23rd MIAA title and their first since 2013.

Hope finished the 2022 season with a 17-4 league record and an overall mark of 28-10. It was the Flying Dutchmen's third consecutive completed season with 20-plus wins.

Sophomore third baseman Al Money (Midland, Michigan / Midland HS) tops Hope's group of returners after claiming All-MIAA Second Team honors last season.

Money, an economics major, batted .314 in his first collegiate season with 44 runs scored and 24 RBIs.

Fifth-year senior and first baseman Spencer Cable (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) is Hope's top returning batter with a .359 average last season. Cable, a health and physical education major, was an All-MIAA First Team honoree in 2021.

The Flying Dutchmen will look to overcome the graduation from MIAA Most Valuable Player and center fielder Evan Maday and MIAA Most Valuable Pitcher Sean Hoey.

Fritz is entering his 29th season at Hope and has a career record of 632-46-2.

The Flying Dutchmen are scheduled to open the season on Saturday, Feb. 25, with games against Otterbein University (Ohio) and Wabash College (Indiana) in Westfield, Indiana.

Hope's first MIAA series is Friday-Saturday, March 31-April 1, against Alma College. The Friday, March 31 game will be Hope's opener at Boeve Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

#29 Sean Hoey: P; 5' 10"; Senior

#1 Evan Maday: OF; 6' 1"; Senior

#3 Spencer Cable: 1B; 6' 0"; Fifth Year

#2 Al Money: IF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; Business/Economics

Players Mentioned

#29 Sean Hoey
: 5' 10"; Senior
: P

#1 Evan Maday
: 6' 1"; Senior
: OF

#3 Spencer Cable
: 6' 0"; Fifth Year
: 1B

#2 Al Money
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; Business/Economics
: IF