The Upper Iowa baseball team has been selected 14
th in the GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll after receiving 22 votes. The preseason poll is determined by the league's head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
The Peacocks are under new tutelage this season as
Brian Voigt stepped into the role as Head Baseball Coach this past July. Voigt continues his tenure with Upper Iowa after coming to UIU as a baseball assistant coach in January 2023.
Alex Jorgensen joined UIU as the Assistant Baseball Coach back in July. Before connecting with the Peacock coaching staff, Jorgensen spent two years as the assistant baseball coach at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
Quincy University was voted in the preseason coaches' poll as the choice to win the 2024 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) baseball championship.
The Peacocks are heading into their first season of competition as a part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Upper Iowa finished 19-27 overall and 15-19 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference last season. They came up just shy of earning a postseason conference tournament berth, finishing in tenth place.
"We have a very talented roster with a lot of high-character young men," said Voigt. "I am excited to continue building upon the program that other coaches before me have developed. I believe in a culture that is built on family and community strength. We will bring respect, competitiveness and toughness each day to strive for excellence on and off the field."
Peacock baseball opens their 2024 campaign on Feb. 23-24 in Millington, Tenn. in a four-game series with UW-Parkside. They begin conference play on March 8 in St. Louis, Mo. against Maryville. Their first home dates are set for Mar. 12-13 where they face William Jewell on Tuesday and Augustana on Wednesday.
Upper Iowa returns talent at the plate from last season.
Ethan Sawyer tallied a team-high 52 hits last season including nine doubles and five homers. Sawyer (.306) also paced the team in runs batted in (39) as a sophomore.
Cael Luzum slugged .507 thanks to six doubles, three triples and six long balls, while fellow outfielder
Bryce Hall had an on-base percentage of .424 thanks to 36 hits, 32 walks and 7 hit batsmen. Hall led the team in runs scored with 36.
On the mound, the Peacocks return starter
Kyle Hrncir (4-5, 5.74 ERA, 47 Ks) as well as relievers
JJ Vargas (1-1, 2.92 ERA, 10 Ks),
Isaiah Maes (7.30 ERA, 19 Ks) and
Austin Shingledecker (2-2, 8.00 ERA, 26 Ks).
See poll below
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Quincy |
162 (9) |
| 2. |
Maryville |
151 (3) |
| 3. |
Indianapolis |
145 (2) |
| 4. |
Drury |
130 |
| 5. |
Illinois Springfield |
118 |
| 6. |
Lewis |
114 |
| 7. |
William Jewell |
97 |
| 8. |
Missouri-St. Louis |
84 |
| 9. |
Missouri S&T |
83 |
| 10. |
McKendree |
56 |
| 11. |
Truman State |
47 |
| 12. |
Rockhurst |
39 |
| 13. |
Southwest Baptist |
26 |
| 14. |
Upper Iowa |
22 |
