Baseball picked second in SSAC Preseason Poll

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 2026 baseball season is three months away, but the Southern States Athletic Conference released its preseason rankings on Wednesday. The defending conference tournament champion Wolf Pack received four first-place votes, but finished second in the poll with 91 total votes. William Carey was atop the rankings with 96 total votes and six first-place selections. 
 

Faulkner (77), Abraham Baldwin (74) and Mobile (55) make up the Top 5. 
 

The Loyola baseball team is coming off a historic 2025 campaign, winning a school-record 42 games, claiming the program's first-ever SSAC Championship title, and earning the program's first trip to the NAIA World Series. The Wolf Pack brings back a ton of pitching depth, but the batting lineup will look a lot different than a season ago. 
 

Thomas Hakimian, Brady Bowen, Prescott Marsh and Cole Bordes combined to start 39 of Loyola's 60 games last season, and all four are set to return to the bump for Loyola. Jake Cohen also had seven starts before missing the rest of the season due to an injury, and he's back for one more collegiate season. Caden Durand and Frank Fernandez anchor the bullpen after tallying seven and six saves, respectively. Carter Holstein, Grant Goodbee, Ryder Loup and Hunter Ponson all have experience as well. 
 

Offensively and in the field, Loyola returns SSAC Gold Glove catcher Drew Lee and third baseman Jaxon Buratt. Ben Harris and Myles Liggans became starters at shortstop and centerfield later in the season, and Ayden Authement and Jed Cambre both saw meaningful playing time. Jordan McKenzie was the starting first baseman before going down with a season-ending injury during Loyola's first game, but his one at-bat was a home run. 
 

In total, Loyola has 20 returners and 18 newcomers. The 2026 baseball schedule will be released in the coming weeks. 
 

2026 SSAC Baseball Coaches' Preseason Poll

1. William Carey – 96 (6)
2. Loyola – 91 (4)
3. Faulkner – 77
4. ABAC – 74
5. Mobile – 55
6. Blue Mountain Christian – 46
7. Thomas – 39
8. Point – 32
9. UT Southern – 22
10. Brewton-Parker Christian – 18
 

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