Baseball Picked Fourth By League Coaches

BILLINGS, Mont. – Entering its second year in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Montana State Billings baseball team has been selected fourth in the 2009 Preseason Coaches’ Poll as selected by the league’s coaches.  Western Oregon was tabbed league favorite to win its eighth consecutive league crown.

The Wolves 39-19, 24-8 in 2008, received a total of 24 points and four of the five first place votes while Central Washington (30-21, 20-12) tallied 19 points and one first place vote.  Northwest Nazarene was third (32-22, 15-17) with 13 points, followed by MSUB (14-38, 5-25) with 10 points and Saint Martin’s (18-24, 14-16) with nine points.

The Yellowjackets return the most letterwinners in the league with 16 and the second most starters with seven, including four pitchers.  Senior Levi Johnson and sophomore Jeff Ridgway return as all-conference selections in 2008.  Johnson hit .323 with four home runs and 28 RBI to earn second team honors in 2008.  Ridge way hit .310 with two home runs and 11 RBI as a freshman and was named honorable mention all-league.

Head Coach Chris Brown begins his fourth season at the helm of the Yellowjacket program.  The ‘Jackets begin the 2009 slate at the Metro State Tournament, Feb. 12 versus perennial powers Metro State and Nebraska-Kearney. 

Great Northwest Coaches Poll               2008 Records Pts                                                                              
1.     Western Oregon (4)     39-19 (24-8, 1st) 24   4.     Montana State Billings  14-38 (5-25, 5th) 10
2.     Central Washington (1) 30-21 (20-12, 2nd) 19 5.     Saint Martin’s    18-24 (14-16, 4th)       9
3.     Northwest Nazarene      32-22 (15-17, 3rd) 13
   (Note: First-place votes in parenthesis.  Points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis.)