CARMEL, Ind - The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) has announced the results of its baseball preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday morning with 2025 HCAC Baseball Tournament runner-up Transylvania predicted, in a vote amongst league coaches, to take the top spot as HCAC Champions in 2026. The Pioneers earned 76 points in the poll and seven of a possible 10 first place votes.

Rose-Hulman, last year's No. 3 seed in the tournament, is looking to make a jump this year as it was picked second in the voting. Reigning HCAC Baseball Champion Manchester and Franklin each garnered 58 points to tie for third on this year's ballot. The Spartans also received two first place votes. Rounding out the the top-5 was Anderson with 55 points and the last remaining first place selection.

The Pios return four All-Conference honorees from last year, including three First Team selections. Included in that group are reigning HCAC Pitcher of the Year Drew Bowles (Lexington, Ky.) and the league's Newcomer of the Year Giancarlo Gonzalez (Lexington, Ky.). Joining the two Transylvania hurlers are First Team outfielder Ethan Dillon (Louisville, Ky.) and Second Teamer Baxter Tedesco (Louisville, Ky.).

Following the regular season, the 2026 HCAC Baseball Championship is scheduled to take place Thursday-Sunday, May 7-10 at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Kokomo, Ind. The top six teams at the end of the regular season will qualify for the double-elimination tournament with the winner earning the league's automatic qualifier into the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

2026 HCAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll Results 
 

1.	Transylvania	76 (7)
2.	Rose-Hulman	65
T3.	Manchester	58 (2)
T3.	Franklin	58
5.	Anderson	55 (1)
6.	Mount St. Joseph	46
T7.	Earlham	33
T7.	Hanover	33
9.	Bluffton	17
10.	Berea	9

Head Coach = Zack Getsee
2025 Results = 23-21 Overall, 13-9 HCAC (4th place)

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 4

• (1st Team) Drew Bowles, Junior Pitcher, Lexington, Ky. (2025 HCAC Pitcher of the Year)
• (1st Team) Giancarlo Gonzalez, Sophomore Pitcher, Lexington, Ky. (2025 HCAC Newcomer of the Year)
• (1st Team) Ethan Dillon, Sophomore Outfielder, Louisville, Ky.
• (2nd Team) Baxter Tedesco, Sophomore Infielder, Louisville, Ky.

Other Players to Watch in 2026 =

• Chris Hedinger, Junior Outfielder, Jasper, Ind.
• Nathan Hale, Junior Pitcher, Crestwood, Ky.
• Seita Shiratori, Senior Infielder, Toyko, Japan
• Calvin Schubert, Senior Outfielder, Louisville, Ky.

Head Coach = Adam Rosen
2025 Results = 23-19 Overall, 14-8 HCAC (3rd place)

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 3

• (1st Team) Connor O'Connell, Senior First Base/Third Base, Fort Myers, Fla.
• (1st Team) Jackson Harms, Sophomore Outfielder, Irving, Texas
• (HM) Mason Rasmussen, Senior Catcher, Lake Barrington, Ill.

Other Players to Watch in 2026 =

• Brad Nardi, Junior Pitcher/Outfielder, Avon, Ind.
• Tyler Orr, Senior Pitcher, Newburgh, Ind.
• Jackson Summers, Junior Outfielder/Pitcher, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

 
Head Coach = Rick Espeset (2025 Coach of the Year)
2025 Results = 29-14 Overall, 15-7 HCAC, Co-Regular Season and Tournament Champions

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 4

• (1st Team) Joel Kennedy, Senior Designated Hitter, Mooreland, Ind.
• (2nd Team) Michael Dierckman, Junior Outfielder, Fort Wayne, Ind.
• (2nd Team) Ty Layson, Senior Pitcher, Fort Wayne, Ind.
• (HM) Cam Bortone, Sophomore First Base, South Bend, Ind.

 

• (1st Team) Garrett DeHart, Senior Shortstop, Smyrna, Ga.
• (1st Team) Josh Girvan, Sophomore Second Base, Zionsville, Ind.
• (2nd Team) Ian Nuckles, Junior Outfielder, Martinsville, Ind.
• (HM) Nic Deering, Sophomore Outfielder, New Palestine, Ind.

• Luke Harmon, Junior Pitcher, Columbus, Ind.
• Drew Helton, Sophomore Infielder, Whiteland, Ind.
• Dyllan Redmon, Senior Infielder, Columbus, Ind.
• Caden Wilburn, Senior Pitcher, Martinsville, Ind.

• (1st Team) Zac Stawski, Junior Outfielder, Granger, Ind.
• (1st Team) Griffin Wolf, Senior First Base, Carmel, Ind.
• (2nd Team) Trey Dorton, Senior Outfielder, Westfield, Ind.
• (2nd Team) Dylan Hogan, Senior Infielder, Floyd Knobs, Ind.

• (2nd Team) Brennan Martin, Senior First Base/Designated Hitter, Cincinnati, Ohio
• (2nd Team) Nolan Miller, Junior Pitcher, Cincinnati, Ohio

Other Players to Watch in 2026 =

• Jackson Bucks, Junior Pitcher, Hebron, Ky.
• Zach deSylva, Sophomore Pitcher, Fort Thomas, Ky.
• Jordan Harley, Senior Outfielder, Batavia, Ohio
• Josh Isaacs, Junior Pitcher, Fairfield, Ohio

• (2nd Team) Mitchell Roether, Senior First Base, Dayton, Ohio
• (HM) Noah Rosato, Senior First Base, Elizabethton, Tenn.

• Casey Blevins, Sophomore Pitcher, Richmond, Ind.
• Sean Jeffries, Senior Infielder, Gilbert, Ariz.
• Jonathan Jimenez, Senior Outfielder, Rising Sun, Ind.

• (2nd Team) John Girard, Senior Pitcher, Richmond, Ky.
• (2nd Team) Josh Simpson, Senior Utility, Bardstown, Ky.
• (HM) Wyatt Colvin, Sophomore Pitcher, Prospect, Ky.

• Ashton Carie, Junior Pitcher, Madison, Ind.
• Trevor Jones, Senior Infielder, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Dylan Lloyd, Sophomore Pitcher, Colerain, Ohio
• Wesley Stiller, Junior Outfielder, Greenfield, Ind.

• (HM) Ayden Spriggs, Senior Third Base, North Lewisburg, Ohio

• Matthew Becher, Junior Pitcher, Fishers, Ind.
• Brandon North, Junior Catcher/First Base, Hilliard, Ohio
• Riley Reyna, Junior Pitcher, Wellington, Ohio

• Ty Palmgren, Sophomore Outfielder/Pitcher, Hudson, Fla.
• Giovanny Ortiz, Junior Utility, Orocovis, Puerto Rico