HASTINGS – Midland University totaled 119 points and are the preseason coaches’ selection to win the 2024 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Softball Championship. The Warriors tallied nine first place votes.
Northwestern was picked second with 112 points and three first place votes, while Morningside was third with 92 points. Jamestown and Dordt rounded out the top five with 85 and 81 points respectively.
In 2023 Northwestern claimed the regular season championship. The Red Raiders went 18-4 in league play and 43-6 overall. Midland won the conference tournament title, defeating Northwestern 6-1 and 5-4 in the best of three series.
The GPAC Postseason Tournament will feature two four-team tournaments (Seeds 1,4,5,8 and Seeds 2,3,6,7) (double elimination) on May 1-2 at the sites of the top two seeds. Then the two tournament winners will play on Saturday, May 4, in the GPAC Championship (three game series) at the highest remaining seed.
Points were awarded on an 11-1 basis and coaches could not vote for their own team.
Here is the complete 2024 GPAC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll:
|
PLACE |
SCHOOL |
POINTS |
1ST PLACE |
|
1 |
MIDLAND |
119 |
9 |
|
2 |
NORTHWESTERN |
112 |
3 |
|
3 |
MORNINGSIDE |
92 |
|
|
4 |
JAMESTOWN |
85 |
|
|
5 |
DORDT |
81 |
|
|
6 |
HASTINGS |
64 |
|
|
7 |
BRIAR CLIFF |
52 |
|
|
8 |
MOUNT MARTY |
51 |
|
|
9 |
CONCORDIA |
50 |
|
|
10 |
DOANE |
42 |
|
|
11 |
DAKOTA WESLEYAN |
31 |
|
|
12 |
COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY |
13 |
