The Charger baseball team was tabbed fourth in the GPAC Preseason Coaches' Poll in a release Monday afternoon. The Chargers made the NAIA National Tournament after winning the GPAC Conference Tournament last season with a 29-24 (17-11 GPAC) mark. It was the Chargers first appearance at the national tournament since the 2015 season.
 
The Chargers return four All-GPAC selections from a season ago, with catcher Cade Marquardt, pitchers Brock Saya and Nick Hays, and first baseman Nico Sall.
 
Marquardt, a senior from Litchfield, Minnesota, was named to the GPAC Gold Glove team and first team catcher after holding a fielding percentage of .972 and throwing out 31 runners on 36 stolen base attempts. Marquardt at the plate posted a .353/.401/.516 slash line with 67 hits and 42 RBIs last season
 
Hays, a senior from Chaska Minnesota, made 14 appearances in the regular season with 12 starts and posted a 7-2 record. Hays held a ERA of 3.84 and threw three complete games. He recorded 56 strikeouts with just 19 walks last spring.
 
Saya, a senior from Johnstown, Colorado, made 10 appearances during the regular season with seven starts for the Chargers on the mound. He posted a 3-3 record with a 5.29 ERA in 49.1 innings. He recorded 54 strikeouts and allowed just 15 walks..
 
Sall, a senior from Omaha, Nebraska, posted a .370/.462/.751 slash line with 64 hits, 62 RBIs and 16 homeruns last season.
 
The Chargers open the regular season on February 6-7, as they travel to Ozark, Missouri for a four game season opener against Kansas Christian College, Baker University, Tabor College, and Southwest Christian.

To read the Full GPAC release, visit HERE.

GPAC PRESEASON POLL

RANK	TEAM	POINTS	1st Place Votes
1	CONCORDIA	98	8
2	MORNINGSIDE	87	1
3	DOANE	85	1
4	BRIAR CLIFF	75
5	MOUNT MARTY	60
6	MIDLAND	55
7	NORTHWESTERN	51
8	DAKOTA WESLEYAN	34
9	HASTINGS	23
10	WALDORF	20
11	DORDT	17