California Baptist University (2018 Record: 35-19, 26-14)
This is CBU’s first year in Division I after dominating Division II for years. Last season they won 35 games and finished third in the PacWest Conference.
Returning Players
Andrew Bash returns to lead the lineup after hitting .399 last season with 49 runs scored, 15 doubles, 14 home runs, and 61 RBI. First baseman John Glenn hit .338 last year with 41 runs scored, 12 doubles, 8 home runs, and 49 RBI. Ryan Mota hit .296 a year ago with 9 home runs and 40 RBI. Second baseman Luke
Bash will also be in the weekend rotation after posting a 2.71 ERA last year in 83 innings pitched with 73 strikeouts. Logan Rinehart had a 2.57 ERA in 2018 over 49 innings pitched with 56 strikeouts. Angel Delgado posted a 2.81 ERA last season in 32 innings with 33 strikeouts.
Outlook for 2019
It’s really hard to judge how a team will do in their first year when jumping levels, but they have some solid contributors coming back in the lineup that should help them ease into the WAC.
CSU Bakersfield (2018 Record: 21-36, 10-14)
It was a decent season for CSU Bakersfield as they finished sixth in the conference, which gave them the last spot in the WAC Tournament where they went 1-2.
Returning Players
Ryan Koch hit .257 last year with 12 doubles, 4 home runs, and 33 RBI as the team’s DH. He had a big summer and should slot in the middle of the order. Noah Barba hit .300 last year in 130 at-bats while battling injuries. He’ll likely be slotted at third base. Shortstop Daniel Carrisoza is a solid defender who hit .264 last year. Jake Ortega is an All-Conference catcher who hit .245 in 2018 with 30 runs scored.
Davonte Butler made 10 starts as a freshman last year and posted a 4.39 ERA in 67.2 innings pitched with 49 strikeouts.
Newcomers
Jesse Rowley – 1B – Jc transfer from Utah State Eastern, pure hitter with gap-to-gap power, should be middle of the lineup guy
Damian Henderson – LF – JC transfer from Salt Lake CC, brings power to the middle of the lineup that we lacked in 2018, should make lineup more balanced
Nick Grossman – OF – Jc transfer from Scottsdale Community College, second-best hitter during the fall, shrinks the field defensively and a well-rounded hitter
Ethan Skuija – RHP – JC transfer from Ohlone, will slot in at Friday or Saturday night, put together great JC numbers with some fine tuning he should be even better this year
Edgar Barclay – LHP – JC transfer from Central Arizona, experienced with four-pitch mix with some solid velo, commands zone with all pitches
· Notes provided by CSU Bakersfield Communications Department
Outlook for 2019
The coaching staff said they need to improve in all areas this year, but one big key is finding depth throughout the lineup.
Chicago State (2018 Record: 13-41, 7-17)
Chicago State finished eighth in the conference last year and missed the WAC Tournament.
Returning Players
First baseman Tyler Lowe is back for his senior season after hitting .376 last year with 33 runs scored, 8 home runs, and 41 RBI.
Joe Fitka posted a 6.04 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched with 39 strikeouts and 3 saves. He also started eight games last year, so he could be in the weekend rotation. Yunis Halim and Dylan Cumming also return to the pitching staff.
Outlook for 2019
They lose a lot of key players from the 2018 lineup and their two best pitchers. They will need some newcomers and young guys to take major strides forward.
Grand Canyon (2018 Record: 33-24, 19-5)
Grand Canyon dominated during the regular season last year but went 0-2 in the WAC Tournament and failed to make the postseason. They are looking to finish this season.
Returning Players
“GCU returns the majority of its position players from a team who won the WAC regular season title and led the conference in batting average a year ago. Leading the charge will be reigning WAC Player of the Year and 2018 Cape Cod League All-Star Quin Cotton (Jr., RF). There’s a handful of seniors who have had significant roles since they were freshmen that return: Tyler Wyatt (Utility), Austin Bull (2B), Preston Pavlica (CF) and Marc Mumper (SS). Pikai Winchester (Sr., Utility) also returns after a first-team All-WAC season serving mostly as DH.”
Cotton hit .390 last year with 62 runs scored, 19 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs, 43 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. Wyatt hit .324 in 2018, while Bull hit .268. Pavlica hit .247 last year with 5 home runs and Mumper hit .248.
Nick Ohanian made 28 appearances last year with a 4.89 ERA in 38.2 innings pitched with 61 strikeouts. Nick Hull made six starts last year and may need to step up in a depleted weekend rotation.
Newcomers
“Experience from position players is sharply contrasted by a pitching staff that is forced to replace all three weekend starters (Jake Wong – 3rd Round Draft, Jake Repavich – Grad, Ethan Evanko – NDFA) and its closer (Mick Vorhof – 10th Round Draft). Leading candidates to do this include RHP Kade Mechals (Jr.) who had success at the D2 and JuCo levels as well as the Cape Cod this summer before transferring to GCU. Freshman RHP Pierson Ohl has impressed in fall ball.” – GCU Communications Department
Outlook for 2019
“A program that has been back at the Division I level for just five seasons has won back-to-back WAC titles and won a nation-leading 17 consecutive conference series including a perfect 8-0 mark in each of the past two years. In 2019, GCU looks to continue that conference success, but its next step will be to win more nonconference games against Power Five competition. The Lopes will have the chance to do so with games against Cal, Stanford, Utah, Arizona (x2), USC (x3), TCU (x3), and Illinois (x3). They’ll also be looking to improve off of a disappointing WAC Tournament debut in their first eligible season where they were eliminated in two games as the top seed.” – GCU Communications Department
New Mexico State (2018 Record: 40-22, 17-7)
They entered the WAC Tournament as the three seed but ultimately won and advanced to the regionals in a 40-win season.
Returning Players
Second baseman Nick Gonzales is back after leading the team with a .347 average last year to go along with 40 runs scored, 17 doubles, 9 home runs, and 36 RBI. First baseman Caleb Henderson hit .341 a season ago with 50 runs scored, 20 doubles, 10 home runs, and 65 RBI. Outfielder Tristen Carranza is back for his senior season after hitting .325 last year with 43 runs scored, 11 doubles, 9 home runs, and 53 RBI. Shortstop Joey Ortiz hit .289 a year ago with 58 runs scored, 7 home runs, 54 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. Outfielder Logan Ehnes hit .314 last year with 57 runs scored, 10 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and 40 RBI.
Alex Pinedo will try to lead the weekend rotation with their two top starters from last year departing. Pinedo had a 3.34 ERA last year in 70 innings pitched with 53 strikeouts. Chance Hroch had a 2.67 ERA last year out of the bullpen with 23 strikeouts in 27 innings. Brock Whittlesey should be back for his senior season after posting a 2.95 ERA in 2018 over 61 innings pitched with 60 strikeouts and 12 saves. Justin Dehn made 13 starts last year with a 4.57 ERA in 63 innings pitched with 60 strikeouts.
Outlook for 2019
The offense has a chance to be one of the best in the country with almost all of their key contributors coming back. While they lose a couple of their top pitchers, there is enough coming back for them to not only repeat in the WAC but possibly earn an at-large bid if they get some quality RPI wins out-of-conference.
Northern Colorado (2018 Record: 29-24, 11-13)
Northern Colorado had a decent year in 2018 as they finished fifth in the conference, but they went 0-2 in the WAC Tournament.
Returning Players
Outfielder Jack Pauley will lead the offense in 2019 after hitting .327 last year with 44 runs scored, 13 doubles, 4 triples, 3 home runs, 30 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. Second baseman Matt Zoba hit h.313 last year in just 64 at-bats. He’ll take on a bigger role this year. Shortstop Tyler Yamaguchi hit .297 in 2018 with 34 runs scored, 4 home runs, and 35 RBI.
Karver Pate made five starts last year and posted a 4.38 ERA in 39 innings pitched with 39 strikeouts. Issac Bracken had a 5.34 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts.
Newcomers
Northern Colorado has three incoming transfers that will look to make an immediate impact on this team in 2019. Quinn Ayers could see time all over the field, while George Thompson and Conner Anderson will add depth to the pitching staff.
Outlook for 2019
Coach Carl Iwasaki said he hopes his team improves its pitching in 2019 and their overall defense.
Sacramento State (2018 Record: 35-25, 17-7)
Sacramento State finished second in the WAC last year and fought through the loser’s bracket to force a deciding game in the WAC Tournament, but lost a one-run game to New Mexico State.
Returning Players
Outfielder Matt Smith returns as the veteran of the lineup after hitting .310 last year with 36 runs scored, 15 doubles, 3 home runs, and 38 RBI. Steven Moretto and Keith Torres also return to the starting lineup as sophomores. Moretto hit .263 last year with 8 home runs and 38 RBI. Torres hit .268 with 34 runs scored.
Parker Brahms should lead the weekend rotation after posting a 2.41 ERA last year in 93.1 innings pitched with 113 strikeouts. Austin Roberts had a 1.83 ERA in 2018 over 54 innings pitched with 55 strikeouts. Scott Randall had a 3.48 ERA as a freshman last year in 75 innings pitched with 47 strikeouts. Tanner Dalton returns as the team’s closer after posting a 3.02 ERA last season with 43 strikeouts in 41.2 innings.
Newcomers
Two-way player Evan Gibbons (shortstop, right-handed pitcher) is expected to see a lot of play as a freshman this year and was recently named the Sacramento Bee’s Baseball Player of the Year. A new group of Canadian players will also be important to the team in 2019, especially expected starting first baseman Dylan Ohlsen.
- Notes provided by Sacramento State Media Relations Department
Outlook for 2019
We expect our pitching strength and depth to be one of the team’s key areas of success, but there is always room for improvement. With five of last year’s starting position players no longer with the team (draft, graduation), the offense will need to find ways to replace the missing pieces from a year ago and continue to improve over the course of the season. Additionally, continuing to play clean defense will be a priority, as it has been under current head coach Reggie Christiansen since his arrival to the program. — Provided by Sacramento State Media Relations Department.
Seattle (2018 Record: 34-23, 13-11)
They finished fourth in the WAC last year but it made it to the semifinals of the conference tournament before being eliminated.
Returning Players
Catcher/DH Justin Mazzone led the team in hitting as a freshman last year with a .339 average to go along with 3 home runs in just 115 at-bats. Third baseman Austin Lively hit .316 a season ago with 48 runs scored, 10 doubles, 2 home runs, and 25 RBI. Outfielder Chase Wells hit .293 last season with 27 runs scored.
Jake Prizina went 8-1 last year with a 3.82 ERA in 99 innings pitched with 92 strikeouts. Tyler Yeh had a 4.99 ERA in 57.2 innings pitched last year with 52 strikeouts.
Outlook for 2019
The lineup should be solid this season with plenty coming back, but they will need to find some depth in the pitching staff behind Prizina.
UT Rio Grande Valley (2018 Record: 23-31, 8-16)
Finishing seventh in the WAC, UT Rio Grande Valley just missed out on the conference tournament in 2018.
Returning Players
Outfielder Coleman Grubbs is back to lead the lineup after batting .329 last year with 33 runs scored, 11 doubles, 3 home runs, and 26 RBI. Elijah Alexander will join him in the outfielder after hitting .281 last season with 28 runs scored, 13 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, and 23 RBI.
Trevelle Hill will be in the weekend rotation again after posting a 4.60 ERA in 2018 over 76.1 innings pitched with 46 strikeouts. Chase Adams will likely join him in the rotation after posting a 4.97 ERA last year in 79.2 innings with 80 strikeouts. Ryan Jackson had a 3.13 ERA last season in 46 innings pitched with 41 strikeouts and 7 saves.
Outlook for 2019
They have a solid balance of key contributors coming back in both the lineup and in the pitching staff, so they should have a solid chance of reaching the WAC Tournament this year.
Utah Valley (2018 Record: 15-37, 6-18)
Last year did not go the way Utah Valley wanted as they finished last in the WAC and failed to make the conference tournament.
Returning Players
Outfielder/DH Ryan Eastburn returns for his senior season after hitting .304 last year with 24 RBI in just 39 games. Shortstop Trevor Howell hit .298 last season with 34 runs scored. Another senior, Michael Beltran, will be back in the outfield after hitting .278 a year ago with 2 home runs in just 98 at-bats.
Paxton Schultz returns with the most experience in the pitching staff from last season when he posted a 4.95 ERA in 43.2 innings with 46 strikeouts.
Newcomers
Alexander Marco, Fr., DH/OF, Cimarron Memorial HS (Las Vegas, Nev.), 2018 stats, hit .318 with 32 RBI.
Mason Gray, Fr., RHP, Pinnacle HS (Phoenix, Ariz.) Sunbelt All-Tournament, 1st Team All-Region
Jesse Schmit, Jr., RHP, South Mountain CC (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1.84 ERA in 2018
Outlook for 2019
They believe they will have more depth in the bullpen, but some of those guys will need time to develop, especially in the starting rotation. Utah Valley is also looking for more gap-to-gap power in the lineup.
2019 All-WAC Preseason Team
C: Justin Mazzone (Seattle)
1B: Caleb Henderson (New Mexico State)
2B: Nick Gonzales (New Mexico State)
SS: Joey Ortiz (New Mexico State)
3B: Noah Barba (CSU Bakersfield)
OF: Quin Cotton (Grand Canyon)
OF: Tristen Carranza (New Mexico State)
OF: Jack Pauley (Northern Colorado)
DH: Tyler Lowe (Chicago State)
SP: Parker Brahms (Sacramento State)
SP: Scott Randall (Sacramento State)
SP: Alex Pinedo (New Mexico State)
SP: Austin Roberts (Sacramento State)
SP: Jake Prizina (Seattle)
RP: Brock Whittlesey (New Mexico State)
RP: Tanner Dalton (Sacramento State)
RP: Ryan Jackson (UT Rio Grande Valley)
Honorable Mention:
C – Jake Ortega (CSU Bakersfield)
1B – John Glenn (CBU)
SS – Steven Moretto (Sacramento State)
SS – Tyler Yamaguchi (Northern Colorado)
OF – Matt Smith (Sacramento State)
OF – Logan Ehnes (New Mexico State)
OF – Coleman Grubbs (UT Rio Grande Valley)
UTL – Tyler Wyatt (Grand Canyon)
DH – Andrew Bash (CBU)
SP – Andrew Bash (CBU)
SP – Davonte Butler (CSU Bakersfield)
Predicted Order to Finish:
1. New Mexico State
2. Sacramento State
3. Grand Canyon
4. Seattle
5. CSU Bakersfield
6. Northern Colorado
7. California Baptist
8. UT Rio Grande Valley
9. Chicago State
10. Utah Valley
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