Mavericks Ranked No. 2 in NCBWA Central Region; Magers and George Earn Preseason Honors
MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State baseball team opens the 2026 season ranked No. 2 in the NCBWA Central Region Preseason Rankings.
The Mavericks are coming off a standout 2025 campaign in which they posted a 51-8 overall record and finished with 205 points in the final ABCA poll. Minnesota State’s season concluded in the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament with a loss to Pittsburg State.
Minnesota State will begin the 2026 season Feb. 13-15 in Joplin, Mo., facing Indianapolis and McKendree.
In addition to the team’s regional recognition, two Mavericks earned spots on the NCBWA Preseason All-Central Region Team. Senior infielder Louis Magers (Sr., 6-5, Mankato, Minn., Mankato West) and junior left-handed pitcher Sam George (Jr., 6-4, Bettendorf, Iowa., Pleasant Valley) were both honored.
Magers is coming off an exceptional season in which he earned NCBWA All-America Third Team and D2CCA All-America First Team honors. He recorded a .319 batting average with 68 hits, 14 doubles, one triple, and a program single-season record 20 home runs.
George earned NSIC All-Academic Team recognition in 2025 and made 13 appearances, including 12 starts. He totaled 60.2 innings pitched, finishing with an 8-0 record and a 2.97 ERA while striking out 60 batters and issuing 20 walks.
Preseason Central Region Rankings
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Pts |
| 1 | Central Missouri (10) | 100 |
| 2 | Minnesota State | 78 |
| 3 | Pittsburg State | 77 |
| 4 | Arkansas Tech | 72 |
| 5 | Augustana | 55 |
| 6 | Harding | 48 |
| 7 | Central Oklahoma | 45 |
| 8 | Southern Arkansas | 31 |
| 9 | Missouri Southern | 23 |
| 10 | Henderson State | 11 |
Preseason All-Central Region Team
| C | Collin Helms, Harding |
| 1B | Tyler Sardelli, Arkansas Tech |
| 2B | Jackson Merovsh, Washburn |
| SS | Cole Dawson, Arkansas Tech |
| 3B | Logan Lacey, Harding+ |
| OF (3) | Issac Pegors, UMary |
| Levi Lampert, Southwest Minnesota State | |
| Noah Steele, Emporia State | |
| DH | Dagen Brewer, Pitt State |
| UTL | Louis Magers, Minnesota State |
| SP (3) | Ashton Michek, Augustana |
| Sam George, Minnesota State+ | |
| Will Kates, Northwestern Oklahoma | |
| RP | Braden Cannon, Wayne State^ |
| Brandon Chavez, Fort Hays State^ |
