The Central Missouri Mules are the preseason favorite to return to the top of the MIAA Baseball standings in 2014 as picked by the league coaches. The Mules received 12 of a possible 13 first place votes and totaled 168 points in the preseason poll.

UCM was 36-13 a season ago and advanced to the 20th straight NCAA Regional and 27th overall in the program’s history. The Mules finished 28-8 and in second place in the MIAA and earned the No. 2 seed in the Central Region Tournament. The Mules are ranked No. 19 in the ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll and are the only MIAA team ranked in every preseason top 25 poll to be released.

Defending MIAA champion Missouri Western received one first place vote and tallied 144 points to come in second. The Griffons are ranked No. 17 in the ABCA poll.

Points in the poll were awarded on a 13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis and coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

2014 MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll (Missouri school in italics)

1. Central Missouri (12) – 168

2. Missouri Western (1) – 144

3. Central Oklahoma (1) – 139

T4. Emporia State – 128

T4. Missouri Southern – 128

6. Pittsburg State – 110

7. Lindenwood – 98

8. Northeastern State – 94

9. Fort Hays State – 73

10. Nebraska-Kearney – 57

11. Northwest Missouri – 49

12. Washburn – 37

13. Southwest Baptist – 34

14. Lincoln – 15