INDIANAPOLIS - Wisconsin-Parkside is the 2006 preseason favorite to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference baseball championship.

Wisconsin-Parkside, which captured the GLVC Tournament title last spring, received 133 points and six first-place votes from the coaches in the preseason poll. The Rangers just edged runner-up Saint Joseph’s, which recorded 132 points and three first-place votes.

Northern Kentucky University was picked third in the poll with 119 points and three first-place votes. The Norse posted a 31-26 overall record last year and were 22-14 in the GLVC.

NKU returns its top three hitters from last season, including senior catcher Conor McGeehan (six home runs, .295 batting average). All-GLVC selections Josh Moulton (.366 batting average) and Kory Lonergan (.322) also return to the lineup in 2006.

2006 GLVC baseball preseason poll

School, first-place votes, total points

1. UW-Parkside (6) 133
2. Saint Joseph’s (3) 132
3. Northern Kentucky (3) 119
4. Quincy (1) 111
5. SIU Edwardsville 98
6. Rockhurst 89
7. Indianapolis 77
8. Bellarmine 75
9. Kentucky Wesleyan 52
10. Southern Indiana 47
11. UM-St. Louis 46
12. UM-Rolla 18
13. Lewis 17