RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Great American Conference officials announced their 2025 baseball ballot on Tuesday and the Oklahoma Baptist Bison were slotted seventh in the preseason poll.
Arkansas-Monticello was tabbed as the preseason favorite with 115 votes including six 1st-place nods while Harding and Arkansas Tech followed in second and third, respectively.
Last season, OBU went 32-20 overall and finished in eighth in the standings before falling in a highly-competitive, three-game series with top-seed UAM who reached the NCAA Division II Tournament Super Regionals.
There are big shoes to fill with the loss of All-Americans
Alex Schroeder and
Troy Shields and several others. However, with infielders
Jacob Campbell,
Jayden Shafer,
Spencer Dickinson returning for the green and gold, as well as several transfers, including the GAC's 2023 Player of the Year
DJ Van Atten, OBU is primed to compete well again in the league.
The Bison are set to start their 2025 campaign on Jan. 31 at the Central Oklahoma First Pitch Festival against Pittsburg State in Edmond.
2025 GAC Preseason Baseball Poll
1. Arkansas Monticello – 115 (6)
2. Harding - 108 (4)
3
. Arkansas Tech - 98 (1)
4. Southern Arkansas – 93 (1)
5. Henderson State - 87
6. Northwestern Oklahoma State - 66
7.
Oklahoma Baptist - 63
8. Ouachita - 57
9. Southwestern Oklahoma State - 36
10. Southeastern Oklahoma State - 32
11. East Central - 22
12. Southern Nazarene - 15
