Last year this was arguably the toughest region at the Division 1 level. At one you had 3 teams ranked in the Top 10 as well as having both the #1 and #2 team in the country at the same time! Ultimately it came down to Iowa Western edging out what most people thought (and could argue) was the best team in the country in the past few years in Wabash Valley.
Previous Winners: ‘19 Iowa Western (National Runner Up), ‘18 Iowa Western, ‘17 Wabash Valley, ‘16 Iowa Western
Let’s face it in this region there is no shortage of talent. Taking home the Pre-Season Player of the year is Ryan Ritter (Kentucky) from John A. Logan. He also is the Preseason National Player of the Year and All-American. On the mount CJ Weins (South Carolina) from Wabash Valley takes home the Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year.
Pre-Season All-District Team
| Pos | Name | School | Commitment |
| INF | Ryan Ritter* | John A. Logan | Kentucky |
| INF | Jake Plastiak | Wabash Valley | Kentucky |
| INF | Savier Pinales | Wabash Valley | Illinois State |
| INF | Cooper Brown | Iowa Western | Louisville |
| C | Kirk Liebert | Wabash Valley | Kentucky |
| OF | Ethan English | John A. Logan | TCU |
| OF | Tyler Acosta | John A. Logan | |
| OF | Marcus Wright | Indian Hills | |
| P | CJ Weins+ | Wabash Valley | South Carolina |
| P | Cameron Robinson | John A. Logan | Louisville |
| P | Cameron Tullar | Wabash Valley | Mississippi St. |
*Pre-Season Player of the Year, + Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year
Predictions
| Noah’s Final 5 (Last Years Rec) | Chris’s Final 5 (Last Years Rec) | |
| 1 | John A. Logan (44-13) | Wabash Valley (55-4) |
| 2 | Wabash Valley (55-4) | John A. Logan (44-13) |
| 3 | Iowa Western (52-11) | Iowa Western (52-11) |
| 4 | Olney Central (35-17) | Lake Land (8-34) |
| 5 | Rend Lake (28-26) | Olney Central (35-17) |
Noah’s Team to Watch: John A. Logan
Yes, I have them as my favorite to take home this District so for them to be my Team to Watch might seem odd. Well, Watch Them! With a Huge Mid Year transfer adding to their already Deep Line up. John A. Logan looks poised to make a run for their first trip back to Grand Junction since 2002.
Chris’s Team to Watch: Lake Land
Lake Land has not been very good in the past. However, the new skipper, Julio Godinez, brings a D1 approach and mindset to a program in dire need of a makeover. On the field, their position players are solid and will be well-coached but the surprising reason to watch this club is that they have two 90 plus arms on the bump. If they can defend and hit well enough the arms will carry them to much greater levels of success than they have had in recent years.