January 29, 2008
 
Yellowjacket Baseball Picked Third in GNAC Preseason Poll

BILLINGS, Mont. – In its inaugural season in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Montana State Billings baseball team is picked to finish third as announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Western Oregon was tabbed league favorite as chosen by the coaches.

The Wolves had 28 points and four first-place votes, followed by Central Washington with 20 points and one first-place vote. MSUB was third with 13 points followed by Northwest Nazarene with 10 points and Saint Martin’s with nine. Points are awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis.

The Yellowjackets enter the GNAC after finishing 24-26 last year overall, 16-20 in the Heartland Conference and a fourth-place finish. MSUB returns 11 letterwinners from a year ago and four starters.

Great Falls, Mont., native Matt Schoonover, who as a first team all-Heartland Conference selection batted .378 with four home runs and 24 RBI, looks forward to his sophomore campaign. In addition, senior Seth Moir (Cody, Wyo.) returns as he batted .333 with two home runs and 26 RBI.

On the mound, the Yellowjackets return three pitchers who look to make an immediate impact in the GNAC, including juniors Brian Strom (Littleton, Colo.) and Steve Scott (Billings, Mont.) along with senior Jeremy Knowles (Three Forks, Mont.).

MSUB begins its season at the Lewis-Clark State Tournament, Feb. 22 against the University of British Columbia.  The Yellowjackets also will face Western Oregon, Lewis-Clark State and Saint Martin’s in the tournament.