ST. LOUIS - Dallas Baptist, which returns a host of key position players and pitchers from last year's brief season, has been tabbed as the league favorite in the annual coaches' preseason poll, receiving all eight first-place votes.

The Patriots tallied 64 points and were named the favorite over second-place pick Illinois State (53 points). Missouri State (42 points) finished third, while Indiana State finished fourth with 37 points. Bradley was selected in fifth place with 31 points, followed by Southern Illinois (27 points) in the sixth slot, Evansville (21 points) in the seventh slot and Valparaiso eighth (9 points).