BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College baseball team has received votes in both the D3baseball.com and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's 2014 Preseason Polls.
The Greyhounds return 30 players and 13 starters from last year's 24-19 squad that played in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second time in four seasons after winning its second Landmark Conference title.
"It's nice to be recognized, but each year, season and team are their very own to mold and become what they can be," stated Head Coach Paul Engelhardt, who is entering his eighth season with a record of 163-120. "It just says that we have the opportunity to achieve some things. The kids should be proud that their work and ability are being recognized."
Coach Engelhardt has loaded the Greyhounds' schedule with teams listed in both polls with nine of the 40 games scheduled against teams ranked or receiving votes including four of the first nine games.
"I hope the kids realize how hard they have to work in order to be ranked in the top 25," Engelhardt said. "If they thought they were good, they still have work to do in order to be looked at for the top 25."
Moravian has a pair of games with Keystone College, ranked No. 17 in both polls, including the third game of the season on February 23 at the 7th Annual Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament at Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College. The Greyhounds also have games with Kean University, ranked third in both polls, Misericordia University, ranked No. 23 by D3baseball and No. 24 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, and Rowan University, No. 22 in D3baseball and No. 30 in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
"Playing top teams in the country gives us the opportunity to potentially play in the NCAA tournament as an 'at large' team," explained Engelhardt. "But more importantly, it gives our student athletes the best chance at playing a very high level of baseball and prepares us for playing really good teams when we qualify for the NCAA tournament. You hope that playing top teams in the country makes it a little easier in the Landmark Conference. But I feel that our conference is stronger than ever, so these tough games will not be much different than playing our conference schedule."
The Greyhounds are slated to begin practice on Monday, January 27, and Moravian opens its regular season on Friday, February 21 when the Hounds face off with Wesley College in the opening game of the 7th Annual Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament.
"No matter who we play outside of the Landmark Conference, winning games, making our conference tournament, and winning a championship is still the only goal," Engelhardt finished. "So every game in conference I look forward to. The rankings only show that we are a competitive team and might do better than others. But you win in conference, win the championship, you reach where you want to be."
To view the D3baseball.com Top 25, visit http://d3baseball.com/top25/2014/2014-week-0.
To view the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Top 30, visit http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-3-poll-12-24-13/.