SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The high school baseball season is underway in South Dakota, marking the return of the KELOLAND Sports Coaches Poll.
Here’s a look at the preseason coaches poll:
The number behind each team indicates their total votes received, followed by the number of first place votes earned in parentheses.
CLASS ‘A’
Watertown earned the top spot in the preseason poll, receiving votes from all the coaches who voted and two first place votes. The Arrows are new to high school baseball this season, as they haven’t been part of the spring season in recent years.
Brandon Valley earned the most first place votes, but sits second, while Harrisburg is third.
Jefferson received the other first place vote. Lincoln is the defending state champion, but opens as the fifth-ranked team.
Most preseason polls have several teams receive votes and that was the case here. Five teams earned votes, but sit outside the top five, including Yankton, O’Gorman, Roosevelt, Pierre and Rapid City Stevens.
CLASS ‘B’
Dell Rapids is the defending state champions and they received every first place vote, earning them 30 total tallies.
Madison was voted second in two polls giving them the second spot, while Lennox sits just three votes back.
Parkston and Dakota Valley are neck and neck sitting fourth and fifth.
Just like class ‘A’, class ‘B’ saw plenty of teams receive votes, including Sioux Falls Christian, Vermillion, Elk Point-Jefferson and Bon Homme.
