Viking Baseball Crowned as Champions in the Making; Hines and Michek Shine with Top Honors!

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The three-time reigning NSIC champion Augustana baseball squad positioned themselves at the forefront of the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, issued by the conference office on Thursday morning. The current National Player of the Year Jack Hines was designated as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year while last year’s NSIC Pitcher of the Year Ashton Michek was named NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The Vikings secured nine out of 14 first-place votes in the poll, accumulating a total of 169 points. 

Augustana commences the 2025 season following a successful 2024 campaign, which saw them capture both the NSIC regular season and tournament championships while qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the sixth year in a row. Last year’s team concluded with a record of 47-10, achieving the second-best winning percentage and tying for the second-most victories in the program’s history. Their 18-game winning streak during mid-season also remains the longest in program history. 

This year, the Vikings bring back seven athletes who started at least 19 matches last season and nine pitchers who threw a minimum of 10 innings. 

“I believe we will be deeper and more skilled offensively than many anticipate,” remarked head coach Tim Huber. “The pitching staff is where this year’s team is really expected to shine again this spring. We have had some exceptional pitching lineups in the past and this group has the potential to be one of the finest and most extensive we have ever assembled.”

Huber enters his 17th season in charge of Augustana, boasting a record of 594-266-1. He is the reigning NSIC Coach of the Year and has guided the Vikings to eight appearances in national tournaments, including clinching the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship.

Hines was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year for 2025. The D2CCA and NCBWA National Player of the Year and Consensus First Team All-American achieved an impressive .445 batting average with a 1.337 OPS, breaking school records with 21 home runs and 89 RBI during the previous season. The consensus Central Region Player of the Year topped the NSIC in home runs, triples, RBI, and total bases last season and aims to establish himself as one of the greatest to don the Augustana colors. 

“Jack’s performance last spring speaks volumes,” expressed Huber. “I’m incredibly proud of him, not solely for his statistics but for how much he has matured from his first year in our program to now. He is a person of quiet leadership, a player who epitomizes team spirit. Jack’s return undoubtedly transforms our team dynamics on the field, but his influence off it is equally crucial.”

Michek was recognized as the Vikings’ NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year following his D2CCA and NCWBA All-Region First Team selections last year. The lefty is the returning NSIC Pitcher of the Year after recording a 6-2 win-loss record with a 2.92 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 52 1/3 conference innings. He maintained a .202 batting average against him while leading the league with 66 strikeouts. He also set a program record with 11 pickoffs and completed two games entirely. 

 “Ashton has become larger and stronger, showing improvement in each of his initial two seasons, and I expect further progress this year,” stated Huber. “He isn’t content with his current status; he strives for betterment, and we anticipate another significant season from him.”

Augustana begins its 50-game schedule in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, from February 6-9 for a four-game series at the Henderson State Invitational. They will kick off their home schedule from February 21-23, welcoming St. Cloud State for four games, which will also mark the NSIC opener. The 2025 NSIC Baseball Tournament is set for May 7-10, hosted by Augustana and the University of Sioux Falls at Ronken Field and the Birdcage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

–GoAugie.com–