University of St. Thomas Athletics
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Tommie Baseball picked fifth as 2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches’ Poll released
2/15/2023 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
Sioux Falls, S.D. -- St. Thomas Baseball was selected to finish fifth as the 2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll was released Wednesday.
The 2022 Summit League Tournament Champions Oral Roberts were selected to finish first with 42 points and six first-place votes, while regular season champion North Dakota State was picked to finish second with 36 points and the final first-place vote. Omaha and South Dakota State were the other two programs chosen to finish ahead of St. Thomas
The freshman duo of Dylan O'Connell and Nolan Kemp were selected as the St. Thomas Players to Watch. O'Connell, a third baseman from Eau Claire, Wis., enters the season as the Summit League Preseason Freshman of the Year, as declared by D1Baseball and Perfect Game. Kemp, a right-handed pitcher from Chaska, Minn., was a Minnesota All-State First Team and All-Metro First Team selection at Chaska High School.
St. Thomas opens the 2023 campaign Feb. 17-19 with a four-game series at CSU Bakersfield in Bakersfield, Calif.
2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll
* Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team
2023 Summit League Players and Pitchers to Watch
Players
Dylan O'Connell | St. Thomas | Fr. | 3B
Peter Brookshaw | North Dakota State | Sr. | SS
Jake King | Northern Colorado | So. | OF
Mike Boeve | Omaha | Jr. | 3B
Mac McCroskey | Oral Roberts | RSr. | 2B
Luke Ira | South Dakota State | Sr. | SS
Nick Mitchell | Western Illinois | So. | OF
Pitchers
Nolan Kemp | St. Thomas | Fr. | RHP
Cade Feeney | North Dakota State | Jr. | RHP
Trey Cruz | Northern Colorado | Gr. | LHP
Caleb Riedel | Omaha | Jr. | LHP
Cade Denton | Oral Roberts | Jr. | RHP
Ryan Bourassa | South Dakota State | Sr. | RHP
Mitchel Sampson | Western Illinois | Jr. | RHP
* Note: Players to Watch selected by league's head coaches
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @tommiebase
The 2022 Summit League Tournament Champions Oral Roberts were selected to finish first with 42 points and six first-place votes, while regular season champion North Dakota State was picked to finish second with 36 points and the final first-place vote. Omaha and South Dakota State were the other two programs chosen to finish ahead of St. Thomas
The freshman duo of Dylan O'Connell and Nolan Kemp were selected as the St. Thomas Players to Watch. O'Connell, a third baseman from Eau Claire, Wis., enters the season as the Summit League Preseason Freshman of the Year, as declared by D1Baseball and Perfect Game. Kemp, a right-handed pitcher from Chaska, Minn., was a Minnesota All-State First Team and All-Metro First Team selection at Chaska High School.
St. Thomas opens the 2023 campaign Feb. 17-19 with a four-game series at CSU Bakersfield in Bakersfield, Calif.
2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank | Team | Points (1st) | 2022 Record |
| 1. | Oral Roberts | 42 (6) | 38-20 (17-7) |
| 2. | North Dakota State | 36 (1) | 31-19 (17-5) |
| 3. | Omaha | 30 | 26-31 (12-12) |
| 4. | South Dakota State | 24 | 22-23 (13-9) |
| 5. | St. Thomas | 17 | 16-29 (10-14) |
| 6. | Northern Colorado | 12 | 12-39 (8-16) |
| 7. | Western Illinois | 7 | 8-44 (5-19) |
2023 Summit League Players and Pitchers to Watch
Players
Dylan O'Connell | St. Thomas | Fr. | 3B
Peter Brookshaw | North Dakota State | Sr. | SS
Jake King | Northern Colorado | So. | OF
Mike Boeve | Omaha | Jr. | 3B
Mac McCroskey | Oral Roberts | RSr. | 2B
Luke Ira | South Dakota State | Sr. | SS
Nick Mitchell | Western Illinois | So. | OF
Pitchers
Nolan Kemp | St. Thomas | Fr. | RHP
Cade Feeney | North Dakota State | Jr. | RHP
Trey Cruz | Northern Colorado | Gr. | LHP
Caleb Riedel | Omaha | Jr. | LHP
Cade Denton | Oral Roberts | Jr. | RHP
Ryan Bourassa | South Dakota State | Sr. | RHP
Mitchel Sampson | Western Illinois | Jr. | RHP
* Note: Players to Watch selected by league's head coaches
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @tommiebase
Players Mentioned
RHP/OF
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ BaseballPress Conference: Tommie Women's Basketball Head Coach Mandy Pearson
Thursday, March 26
Homegrown Tommies: Chase Cheslock
Thursday, March 19
Postgame: Tommie Women's Basketball, Summit League Semifinals v NDSU
Sunday, March 08
Postgame: Tommie Women's Basketball, Summit League Quarterfinals v ORU
Friday, March 06
