Red Devils Picked Sixth in SLIAC Preseason Baseball Poll

EUREKA – The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference released its preseason baseball poll on Tuesday. The poll, which was conducted by the league baseball coaches, selected the Red Devils to finish sixth in the SLIAC with 22 points.

Webster received the most overall points with 49 and seven of the eight first-place votes.

Spalding was second with 42 and the remaining first-place vote, followed by Fontbonne (38) and Greenville (27).

Westminster finished one point ahead of Eureka with 23 points. Blackburn was seventh with 16 while Principia rounded out the poll with seven.

The Red Devils are looking to build off a breakthrough 16-win season last spring. Coach Jerry Rashid's program returns six starters and 13 players from the 2022 squad.

First-Team All-SLIAC first baseman and All-Region honoree Braden Cox (Washington, Ill./Illini Bluffs/Black Hawk) leads the way as a SLIAC Watch List honoree. Also returning to the Red Devils' infield is sophomore Nick Rulevish (Addieville, Ill./Okawville) and senior Austin Davis (Eureka, Ill./Eureka), along with junior catcher Karter Hostetler (Morton, Ill./Morton).

On the mound, the Red Devils bring back a trio of experienced pitchers in senior Nathan Garard (Gibson City, Ill./Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) and juniors Parker Brodine (Brimfield, Ill./Elmwood-Brimfield) and Ryan Bredeson (Washington, Ill./Washington).

The Red Devils' 2023 campaign is scheduled to begin with a non-conference contest against Knox at Henry Sand Field on March 1 at 1 p.m.

2023 Preseason SLIAC Baseball Coaches Poll (First-place votes)