The magical phrase of "pitchers and catchers report" sends a twinkle in the eye of anyone playing, coaching or watching the game of baseball. For the Hillsdale College Chargers, that phrase isn't worded in the future, but in the present.
Players and coaches have been hard at work for well over a week, preparing for the forthcoming 2020 season. With the season just around the corner, the G-MAC Preseason Coach's Poll has been released, and has Hillsdale finishing fourth in the West Division of the conference. The voting was conducted by the head baseball coaches in the conference and released Thursday morning.
In the 2020 season, the G-MAC has been split into East and West Divisions. Joining the Chargers in the West Division are preseason favorite Kentucky Wesleyan, along with Tiffin, Trevecca, Findlay and Cedarville.
The pitching staff of this year's team features experience, depth and versatility. Veterans Andrew Verbrugge, Kolton Rominski, David Toth and Sawyer Allen lead the way, with several younger members of the team expected to get looks as starters and relievers early in the season.
In recent years, Hillsdale has developed a well-earned reputation for hitting the long ball. The team holds the single-season home run records in both the GLIAC and G-MAC, with the team smashing 78 round-trippers last year. Quite a few of those were hit by players who graduated last year, but the offensive cupboard is far from bare. James Krick hit 10 home runs last year and is a preseason All-American. He'll be joined by Dante Toppi, Rob Zurawski and Cody Kanclerz figure to add plenty of firepower to the lineup. Freshman Jeff Landis also projects to land near the middle of the order, and has been tabbed as a preseason player to watch.
The season gets underway February 15-16 with a three-game series vs. the University of Indianapolis in Johnson City, Tennessee. The home opener pops up early in the calendar, with Hillsdale scheduled to host regional foe Wisconsin-Parkside on Wednesday, March 11. That weekend, the Chargers start conference play at home with a four-game set against Malone University.
2020 Great Midwest Preseason Baseball Coach's Poll
| PLACE | TEAM (1st PLACE VOTES) | POLL POINTS |
| EAST DIVISION | ||
| 1. | Ohio Dominican (4) | 54 |
| 2. | Malone (4) | 50 |
| 3. | Walsh (4) | 47 |
| 4. | Lake Erie | 29 |
| 5. | Alderson Broaddus | 25 |
| 6. | Ohio Valley | 11 |
| WEST DIVISION | ||
| 1. | Kentucky Wesleyan (7) | 56 |
| 2. | Tiffin (3) | 45 |
| 3. | Trevecca Nazarene (2) | 44 |
| 4. | Hillsdale | 37 |
| 5. | Findlay | 21 |
| 6. | Cedarville | 13 |