REGION RANKINGS
MANKATO, Minn. - Augustana is ranked No. 7 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Central Region preseason poll.
The Vikings received 36 points in the poll voted on by members of the NCBWA.
Tim Huber's Vikings are one of six Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams ranked in the top 10. The top three teams in order are St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, and Winona State. Wayne State is No. 8, and Concordia University, St. Paul is No. 9.
Last season, the Vikings went 30-24, including a 20-12 record in the NSIC. And for the first time in school history, Augustana landed a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Vikings have posted back-to-back 30 win seasons, setting a school record for victories in 2010 with 34.
Two current Vikings are listed as pro prospects by Perfect Game USA, a baseball scouting service. Junior
Ben Heairet, a left-handed pitcher, is No. 8 among the 15 players selected from the MINK (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas) League. Junior
Kye Winter, a right-handed pitcher/outfielder, is No. 36 among 75 players chosen from the Northwoods League.
Augustana opens the 2012 season March 10 in Springfield, Mo., against Drury. The Vikings will play eight games in the Metrodome March 17 through 20. The first home appearance is a NSIC doubleheader with Northern State March 24 beginning at 1 p.m. at Ronken Field.
