Posted: Jan 18, 2023

Gorloks #13 in National Preseason Polls

2023 Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Preseason Poll
2023 D3baseball.com/NCBWA Preseason Top 25 Poll

The Webster University baseball team is ranked #13 in a pair of national polls. The Gorloks have been picked #13 in both The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and D3baseball.com/NCBWA preseason polls.

The Gorloks finished last season with a 38-8 overall record and an 18-2 mark in SLIAC play. They won their 15^th straight SLIAC Regular Season title while capturing their fourth straight SLIAC Tournament Championship. They went on to host an NCAA Regional Tournament where they finished third. Following the conclusion of the season, Bill Kurich was named the SLIAC Baseball Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career.

Webster brings back seven position player starters this season including Ben Swords, Evan Evola, R.J. LaRocco, Malik Wirges, Parker Wielt, Nathaniel Martinez, and Matt Staker. Evola was named the 2022 SLIAC Player and Newcomer of the Year while also earning First Team All-SLIAC honors. Ben Swords and Parker Wielt were named Second Team All-SLIAC last season while Nathaniel Martinez, Matt Staker, and R.J. LaRocco were named Third Team All-SLIAC. Wirges finished tied for second on the team last season with six home runs while driving in 26 runs.

The Gorloks also return their entire pitching staff including starters Carter Hunt, Jordan Smevoll, and Alek Elges. Smevoll and Elges both earned First Team All-SLIAC honors last season while Hunt was named Third Team All-SLIAC. The three went a combined 20-4 on the season while racking up 211 total innings. Ben Kowalski also returns for the Gorloks as he led the team with a 10-2 overall record in 71.1 innings pitched.

In addition to the returners, the Gorloks welcome in several newcomers including Charlie Burton, Adam Hill, and Sam Turilli. Burton spent the last four seasons at Hanover (Ind.) College where he hit .289 with 13 home runs and 75 RBI in 117 games. Hill went 1-1 in seven appearances last season at Jefferson (Mo.) College while posting eight strikeouts in 12.2 innings pitched. Turilli is a freshman pitcher and outfielder out of Sullivan, Missouri.

The Gorloks will kick off their season on Friday, February 24^th when they travel to Birmingham, Alabama to compete in the Birmingham Southern (Ala.) College Spring Classic. They will take on Depauw (Ind.) University at 4 p.m.