The Tiffin University baseball team, despite being ranked 10th in the Midwest Region, received only 22 points in the GLIAC preseason coaches' poll placing them 6th. The Dragons are coming off a record 2017 season, posting program records in wins and winning percentage.
Last season was quite a run for the Tiffin University baseball program, setting school records for wins (32), GLIAC wins (21), and winning percentage (.593). The Dragons posted an 11-9 road record, their first winning record away from home in over a decade. Tiffin also qualified for the GLIAC Tournament and won their first-ever tournament game. With all that being said, 2018 is a new year, and head coach Joe Wilkins is excited about the new edition of Tiffin University baseball.
The Dragons return their top three hitters from last year, and their top two starting pitchers. Offensively, the combination of Kyle Lento, Jack Dennis, and Brayden Callihan accounted for 27% of Tiffin's total hits, 27% of Tiffin's runs batted in, 25% of Tiffin's home runs, and 43% of the Dragons' stolen bases. On the mound, Coach Wilkins has the luxury of trotting out four-year starter Luke Fraley, and last season's GLIAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year Michael Boswell. Fraley is a two-time All-GLIAC selection with 155 2/3 innings pitched in his career. Luke set career highs in starts, wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts last year. Boswell finished last year 6-1 in nine starts, and his six wins were 7th most in a single season in Tiffin history.
Coach Wilkins expects contributions from both old and young this season, as Tiffin has added 10 new additions. Noah Heard and Deylen Miley both saw limited action last season, but Wilkins believes the two can be big time contributors offensively for the Dragons. On the mound, Tiffin returns three underclassmen that logged 30 or more innings last season. Cole Maxwell and Jake Monnin are two youngsters to keep an eye on as they look to become integral parts of the Dragons pitching staff.
The season begins on February 23, for Tiffin as they take on Ohio Dominican in a neutral site contest held in Mason, Ohio. Tiffin's first home game is also their first GLIAC game as they welcome in Saginaw Valley State on March 23.