LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg Warriors and Seton Hill Griffins have been voted as the top teams in the Eastern and Western divisions, respectively, in the 2026 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Baseball Preseason Polls.
The polls are voted on by the conference’s head coaches.
East Stroudsburg sits atop the Eastern Division poll after collecting six first-place votes, with Millersville (second overall in the poll) earning a pair of first-place votes. In the Western Division poll, Seton Hill received six first-place votes, outpacing Slippery Rock (two first-place votes), as the Rock was voted No. 2 for the second consecutive season.
Find the complete polls as well as a brief season outlook for each division below.
EASTERN DIVISION (# of first place votes)
1. East Stroudsburg (6)
2. Millersville (2)
3. West Chester
4. Shippensburg
5. Shepherd
6. Bloomsburg
7. Kutztown
8. Mansfield
WESTERN DIVISION (# of first place votes)
1. Seton Hill (6)
2. Slippery Rock (2)
3. IUP
4. California
5. Gannon
6. Clarion
7. Pitt-Johnstown
8. Lock Haven
EASTERN DIVISION
The top spot in the Eastern Division’s preseason poll in 2026 was secured by East Stroudsburg, which advanced all the way to Day 5 of the NCAA Division II Championship last spring. The Warriors (41-15 overall, 19-9 in conference play) led the PSAC in doubles (104), home runs (54), and RBIs (388). Plenty of talent returns, including starting pitcher Ethan Woods and outfielder Shanley Wall, who were both voted to the National College Baseball Writer’s Association (NCBWA) 2026 Preseason All-Atlantic Region First Team. Woods compiled a 2.19 ERA in 49.1 innings and allowed just a .189 batting average to opposition. Wall hit .328 with 53 runs scored, nine doubles, five homers, 40 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in 2025. Also returning is PSAC East Second Team second baseman Walker Zampella, who scored 34 runs and stole 35 bases last spring.
Voted second in the 2026 poll is defending PSAC champion Millersville (44-10, 24-4 PSAC.) Returning contributors include Matthew Williams, who hit .330 and socked 18 home runs (second-most in the conference) last season, and Jimmy Kirk (.293, nine doubles, eight homers, 47 RBIs). The Marauders have reached the NCAA Atlantic Regional each season since 2013, which is the third-longest active streak in all of Division II.
West Chester (35-17, 17-11 PSAC) comes in at No. 3 in this year’s poll. Back on the mound for the Golden Rams is Julian Costa, who won eight games, tossed 60 innings, and struck out 61 last spring. At the plate, returners include Austin Stalker (.327, nine doubles, 44 RBIs) and reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Year Caleb Strawhecker (.325, nine doubles, five homers.)
Voted fourth in the poll are the Shippensburg Raiders, who accrued a record of 28-22 overall and 15-13 in conference play in 2025. The Raiders return 21 players in total, including bats Mason Morris (.361, eight doubles, five homers) and AJ Wenrich (.318, 42 runs, 12 home runs) as well as pitcher Jack Robinson (2.67 ERA in 21 appearances, 27 strikeouts.) All three of those returners were voted All-PSAC last spring.
The remainder of the 2026 PSAC Baseball Eastern Division Preseason Poll is rounded out by Shepherd at No. 5 followed by Bloomsburg, Kutztown, and Mansfield.
WESTERN DIVISION
The Western Division’s top team in the 2026 poll is Seton Hill (40-18 overall, 21-7 PSAC in 2025.) Four returning standouts earned preseason recognition from the NCBWA, with Brady McGuire, Owen Henne, Jakob Haynes and Zach Herb all named All-Atlantic Region First Team. Henne led the Griffins with a .375 average last season and added 14 doubles, eight homers, and 54 RBIs. McGuire hit .317 with a team-leading 24 stolen bases and tallied 16 doubles, four homers, and 28 RBIs. Haynes led SHU with 12 homers and drove in 40 while Herb was 3-2 with a 1.52 ERA, eight saves, and 36 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
Securing the No. 2 spot in this year’s West poll is Slippery Rock (31-19 overall, 16-12 PSAC.) The Rock returns two players that have earned preseason honors: starting pitcher Nate Malak was named to the NCBWA’s preseason All-Atlantic Region Team after anchoring The Rock’s staff with 12 starts (65 innings), six wins, a 3.32 ERA, 59 strikeouts, and a .218 opponent batting average. Relief pitcher Mark Wilbur was named D2Baseball Preseason All-America after 18 appearances, six saves, and a 1.93 ERA with 52 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 42 innings.
The IUP Crimson Hawks (25-27 overall, 17-11 PSAC) come in third in this spring’s poll. Elijah Dunn was named NCBWA Preseason All-Atlantic Region after Dunn ranking among the top 10 in the conference in home runs (11) and slugging percentage (.639). He drove in 35 runs and posted a perfect fielding percentage with 71 putouts. Ricardo Aponte (.317, 12 doubles, 30 RBIs) and pitcher Derrick Shields (12 starts, 64.1 innings, five wins, 38 K) also return to help lead IUP in 2026.
Voted the No. 4 team in this year’s poll is California (38-15 overall, 19-8 PSAC). New head coach Joey Noro leads a new-look group that returns plenty of talented arms. Michael Valente earned 10 wins with a 3.15 ERA in 65.2 innings last spring and struck out 53 batters, while Roman Gill started 12 games, winning five with a 3.42 ERA and a .231 opponent batting average.
The remainder of the 2026 PSAC Baseball Western Division Preseason Poll is rounded out by Gannon at No. 5 followed by Clarion, Pitt-Johnstown, and Lock Haven.