New Braunfels, Texas – Following a Preseason Poll by the American Southwest Conference (ASC), the league office announced on Friday that head coaches and sports information directors have voted East Texas Baptist (ETBU) as the favorite to win the 2026 ASC Championship.
After winning the 2025 ASC Championship, East Texas Baptist secured the top spot in the Preseason Poll with 30 points and seven first-place votes. The Tigers finished last season 31-16 and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament. In conference play, ETBU went 11-5 and had 15 players named to All-Conference teams, including Co-Freshman of the Year Joaquin Costa, who joins seniors Connor Massimini and Matthew Irwin on the 2026 Watch List. ETBU was named a top-25 team in the country by
D3baseball.com in their 2026 Preseason Poll as the Tigers prepare to begin the season in February.
Hardin-Simmons (HSU) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) both finished with 20 points in the poll, tying for second (T-2). Hardin-Simmons returns first-team All-Conference selection Brock Calvillo who has been named as a player to watch this season, along with third baseman Jacob Hollingsworth and pitcher Jack Kimsey.
Along with 20 points, Mary Hardin-Baylor received one first-place vote in the poll after finishing the 2025 season 24-18 overall. The players to watch for UMHB include senior Tyler Betts, junior Easton Cline, and graduate Riley Bender, who was named to the
D3baseball.com Preseason All-America Second Team.
Howard Payne (HPU) finished fourth in the Preseason Poll with ten points. Last season, the Yellow Jackets went 1-15 in ASC play and 9-31 overall. Nine HPU players were named to All-Conference Teams in 2025, three of which return as players to watch for the 2026 season.
In addition to the Preseason Poll, twelve players were named by their respective head coaches to the ASC Baseball Preseason Watch List. Talent among ASC institutions remains high this year, as all twelve players selected for the 2026 Watch List were also named to an All-Conference team in 2025.
2026 ASC Baseball Schedule
The 2026 ASC Baseball Championship will be held April 30–May 2, and hosted by the No. 1 seed. The tournament winner will be declared ASC Champion and receive an automatic berth to NCAA Division III Championship.
2026 ASC Baseball Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st place votes) |
Pts. |
2025 ASC Record (Overall) |
| 1. |
East Texas Baptist (7) |
30 |
11-5 (31-16) |
| T-2 |
Hardin-Simmons |
20 |
8-8 (13-26) |
| T-2 |
Mary Hardin-Baylor (1) |
20 |
9-7 (24-18) |
| 4. |
Howard Payne |
10 |
1-15 (9-31) |
2026 ASC Baseball Preseason Players to Watch
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Riley Bender* |
Gr. |
3B |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Kingwood, TX |
| Tyler Betts* |
Sr. |
OF |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Round Rock, TX |
| Brock Calvillo* |
Sr. |
1B |
Hardin-Simmons |
Bakersfield, CA |
| Easton Cline* S |
Jr. |
INF |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Mesa, AZ |
| Joaquin Costa* F |
So. |
INF |
East Texas Baptist |
College Station, TX |
| John Garza* |
Sr. |
INF |
Howard Payne |
Universal City, TX |
| Jacob Hollingsworth* |
Jr. |
3B |
Hardin-Simmons |
Wylie, TX |
| Matthew Irwin* |
Sr. |
RHP |
East Texas Baptist |
Katy, TX |
| Jack Kimsey* |
So. |
RHP |
Hardin-Simmons |
Aledo, TX |
| Connor Massimini* |
Sr. |
OF |
East Texas Baptist |
Fort Worth, TX |
| Landon Prestage* |
Sr. |
INF |
Howard Payne |
Gainesville, TX |
| Luke Watkins* |
Jr. |
LHP |
Howard Payne |
League City, TX |
Players selected by their respective head coach and sports information director.
* 2025 All-Conference
F 2025 ASC Co-Freshman of the Year
S 2025 Sportsmanship Athlete
Diamond is the official baseball of the American Southwest Conference.