SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-- Augustana baseball has been selected to finish second in the NSIC Preseason poll. Carter Howell was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year with the team receiving 188 votes and six first place votes. The Preseason Player of the Year marks the third-straight year a Viking has earned the league's top preseason honor.
 
The Augustana baseball team enters the 2022 season after finishing 2021 at the NCAA Central Regional Tournament. Head coach Tim Huber enters his 14th season at the helm for the Vikings holding an all-time record of 453-222. Huber has also led Augustana to five national tournament appearances, with the Vikings winning the NCAA National Championship in 2018. 
 
The Vikings finished the 2021 season with a record of 36-13 overall and 27-9 in NSIC action. AU returns three of four student-athletes that garnered American Baseball Coaches Association All-region honors last season in Will Olson, Carter Howell and Ryan Jares. Olson and Howell also earned ABCA All-American honors. 
 
The Vikings added seven student-athletes to the roster during the off-season.
 
Augustana begins its season in Houston, Texas, at Minute Maid Park. The Vikings have three games on their schedule in Houston. The team travels to Florida for a nine-game trip. Augustana begins its season at home on March 15, hosting Dakota Wesleyan. The Vikings have 62 games on their schedule for the 2022 season.
 
Howell was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year in the poll. Howell earned ABCA/Rawlings Second-Team All-America, ABCA/Rawlings First-Team All-Region, NCBWA Second-Team All-Region, D2CCA Second-Team All-Region, First-Team All-NSIC, NSIC All-Tournament Team and NSIC Player of the Week honors during the 2021 season. Making 49 starts for the Vikings, Howell held a batting average of .423 with 58 runs scored, led the NSIC with 83 hits, 12 doubles, four triples, 10 homeruns, 46 RBIs, a .670 slugging percentage, 20 walks, 11 HBPs, a .498 on-base percentage and 28 steals in 30 attempts.
 
"Carter is a very toolsy, athletic player who can really run. Last year was his first full year as a varsity player for us and he immediately showed everyone how talented he is. His stats tell the story, he can really play," Huber said.
 
"I expect Carter to battle a couple of his teammates to be the top offensive player in our conference this spring."
 
2021-22 NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
 

Minnesota State (9)	190
Augustana (6)	188
St. Cloud State	162
Minot State	159
Minnesota Crookston	130
University of Mary	122
Winona State	116
Wayne State	108
Northern State	89
Sioux Falls	73
Concordia-St. Paul	69
Upper Iowa	61
Minnesota Duluth	58
Bemidji State	26
Southwest Minnesota State	24