Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Feb. 5, 2018) - The Alvernia University baseball team is ranked No. 16 in the Perfect Game DIII Preseason Poll released early this month.

The Golden Wolves earned the ranking after finishing the 2017 season 30-15-2. he Golden Wolves were the top seed entering the MAC Commonwealth tournament, but fell to Arcadia University in the championship game. Alvernia also earned a spot in the 2017 NCAA Regional Tournament in York, Pa. and went 2-2 in the tournament.

Alvernia was also selected as the preseason favorite in the MAC Commonwealth.

Alvernia returns eight MAC Commonwealth All-Conference players to its lineup. MAC Commonwealth Pitcher of the Year, John Catchmark, returns to the mound coming off an impressive sophomore season. Catchmark finished 2017 with a 2.28 ERA and an 8-2 record. Returning at shortstop is MAC Player of the Year and ABCA All-American, Nathan Sides. Sides led Alvernia in 2017 with a .439 batting average and 53 runs scored. At shortstop, Sides had 72 putouts and 125 assists.

In addition to Sides and Catchmark, the Golden Wolves also return Ben Dubas, who earned All-Region honors, as well six other players who were MAC Commonwealth All-Conference selections.

The Golden Wolves open up their 2018 campaign on February 24th, when they travel to Virginia to take on Randolph-Macon College. Randolph-Macon was ranked #18 in the Perfect Game DIII Preseason Poll.

The 2018 MAC Commonwealth Championships will take place May 3-5 at PEOPLEsBank Park in York, Pa.