ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Highlighted by three selections to the 2019 Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Team, Missouri State was the choice of the league's head coaches to claim its third-consecutive conference crown, the MVC office announced Tuesday.

Leading the Bears' contingent of three preseason All-MVC choices are returning first-team all-conference picks catcher/DH Drew Millas and reliever Connor Sechler, while reigning MVC Championship Most Outstanding Player Ben Whetstone also picked up a nod at first base.

Under the direction of seven-time MVC Coach of the Year honoree Keith Guttin, MSU will welcome back seven position players with over 100 at-bats and 10 pitchers from a team that finished the 2018 season with a 40-17 record, en route to capturing the Valley's regular season and tournament titles. The Bears, ranked as high as No. 24 in Collegiate Baseball's Preseason Poll, captured their third NCAA Regional berth in four seasons last spring after becoming just the second Valley school to win back-to-back regular-season titles (joining Wichita State).

The Bears (59 points) garnered five of the eight first-place votes to edge DBU for the top spot by just one point. The Patriots, who received two first-place votes, out-gained No. 3 Indiana State (49), which picked up the other first-place vote, while Bradley (39) rounded out the top half of the preseason poll.

Southern Illinois (31) and Illinois State (28) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, while Valparaiso (13) and Evansville (11) were slotted into the final two positions in the poll.

The league's eight clubs will convene in Normal, Ill., at the conclusion of the conference season (May 21-25) for the right to represent the Valley in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

Millas posted a career year in helping the Bears to their second consecutive Valley regular-season championship last spring, posting team-best figures for batting (.321), hits (68) and RBIs (61) en route to earning first-team All-MVC and second-team All-America honors from the NCBWA. The catcher/DH recorded 18 multi-hit games and 18 multi-RBI efforts, as well as three separate four-hit games as a sophomore.

Sechler was a freshman All-America choice of both Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA after anchoring the Bears' bullpen with eight saves and a 2.98 earned run average in 2018. The right-hander limited the opposition to a combined .208 batting average, while striking out 59 hitters in 54.1 innings over an MSU freshman-record 32 appearances.

Whetstone enjoyed a breakthrough sophomore campaign this spring, batting .278 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs while making all 57 starts at first base for the Bears. The Overland Park, Kan., product was named most valuable player at the MVC Championship after driving in eight runs in four games to lead the Bears to the title. He recorded a standout season in the field as well, committing just four miscues in 492 defensive chances and turning 45 double plays.

MSU opens the 2019 campaign Feb. 15, when it meets Nevada at the Texas State Tournament in San Marcos, Texas.

Season tickets for the 2019 season are on sale now through the Missouri State Athletics box office and include packages for lower-level reserved chairback seats for $100 (general public), $50 for Missouri State faculty and staff and $20 for students. Eight-game mini-packages will also be offered for $32 per ticket. Additionally, MSU is offering free season-long admission for up to two children (ages 12 and under) with the purchase of two 2019 season tickets. The Bears will also offer a '6-Pack Special' again this spring. Purchase six or more season tickets and receive a 25-percent discount, making the ticket price just $75 per season ticket.

Bears' single-game tickets are now on sale through the MSU box office as well. Seats are priced at $6 for the general public, $3 for Missouri State faculty and staff, $2 for students and special rates are offered for groups of 20 or more. All children ages 12 and under not accompanied by a season-ticket holder will require a $2 ticket for admission. Students must show a valid and current BearPass Card along with a student ticket to gain entry to Hammons Field.

For additional season ticket information or to place your order in person, visit the Old Missouri Bank Ticket Window at JQH Arena during normal box office hours, call (417) 836-7678 or (888) 476-7849 (toll-free). Requests may also be placed online through MissouriStateBears.com, or by calling Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899.