Baseball Picked Third in GNAC Preseason Poll

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings baseball team has been selected third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason baseball coaches poll, the conference office announced Tuesday. 

Western Oregon was the unanimous favorite to win the league with 25 points and all five first place votes.  Central Washington was second with 19 points, while the Yellowjackets were third with 12 points.  Saint Martin’s was fourth with 10 points and Northwest Nazarene was fifth with nine points.

The Wolves are picked to win their ninth consecutive GNAC baseball title.  WOU features probably the deepest pitching staff in GNAC history and are ranked 18th in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll and 24th in the National College Baseball Writers Association Poll.

The Yellowjackets welcome back five returning starters and 12 letterwinners after tying the school record for wins in 2009 with a 24-28 record and finishing 16-16 in the GNAC for a second place finish, which also is the best finish since MSUB joined the GNAC in 2007. 

In addition, all-league performers infielder Matt Schoonover (2nd team GNAC) and pitchers Brian Howe (HM GNAC) and Archie Smith (HM GNAC) also return.  Schoonover led the team with 61 hits in 177 at bats and finished second on the team in RBIs with 27 and led the team with 115 assists.

Howe and Smith made 12 starts a piece and each won four games.  Howe was 4-6 with 4.44 ERA as he also led the team with 54 strikeouts.  Smith was 4-4 with a 4.72 ERA.

MSUB opens the baseball season Feb. 25 at Grand Canyon University with a four-game set.  The Yellowjackets open the home slate Mar. 26 at 3 p.m. with a conference doubleheader versus Central Washington at Dehler Park.

Great Northwest Coaches Poll               2009 Records Pts                                                                              
1. Western Oregon (5)    34-14, 24-4     25     4.     Saint Martin’s                       22-30, 15-16      10
2. Central Washington    18-18, 12-16    19    5.     Northwest Nazarene              15-31, 8-23        9
3. Montana State Billings 24-28, 16-16    12
(Note: First-place votes in parenthesis.  Points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis.)