Coming off a strong finish last spring, the Minot State baseball team was tabbed as one of the league’s top contenders by the coaches of the NSIC as the Beavers were picked to finish fourth again this spring in the 2022 NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Thursday.

The 2018 NSIC regular-season champion Beavers, who finished fourth in the NSIC last season, earned 159 points in the preseason poll and were just behind No. 3 pick St. Cloud State, which received 162 points in the poll.

Reigning NSIC champion Minnesota State, Mankato was selected by the coaches to repeat as champion this spring as the Mavericks earned nine first-place votes and 190 points, edging out No. 2 pick Augustana, which received six first-place votes and 188 points.

The Beavers open their 2022 season on the road in Colorado playing a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 5, at Metro State. Minot State opens NSIC play on Saturday, March 19, with a doubleheader at Minnesota State, Mankato, and makes its home debut at Corbett Field on Saturday, April 2, hosting a doubleheader against Upper Iowa.

Along with the Beavers being picked as one of the league’s top contenders, Minot State infielder Declan Buckle and left-handed pitcher Jordan Chappell were named as a Player and Pitcher to Watch this season by the NSIC.

Buckle is a senior shortstop from Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, who has hit .339 with 24 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in two seasons at Minot State after transferring from Indian Hills Community College.

As for Chappell, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., he was an All-NSIC and ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region selection last season, going 4-0 on the mound with 14 appearances, all in relief, for Minot State. He struck out 47 opposing batters and produced a 0.69 ERA for the Beavers in 2021, and in two seasons since transferring from Northeastern Junior College, Chappell has fanned 58 batters in 36 2/3 innings for the Beavers.

Leading the way as Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year in the NSIC were Augustana junior outfielder Carter Howell, and Minnesota State, Mankato junior right-handed pitcher Collin Denk. Howell was an ABCA/Rawlings Second-Team All-American for the Vikings last spring and Denk was a D2CCA Third-Team All-American for the Mavericks.