Feb. 10, 2009
LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball was picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West Conference in 2008 as the league released is preseason poll on Tuesday, as voted on by the seven MWC head coaches and a select media panel.
Rebel senior Jesse Wight was voted to the preseason All-MWC squad, as the returning outfielder played in 55 games in 2008, making 46 starts and hitting .328 with one home run, 14 doubles and 24 RBI.
The TCU Horned Frogs have been selected to win their fourth straight regular season Mountain West Conference baseball championship in 2009, collecting nine of a possible 11 first-place votes and 75 points, while San Diego State (one first-place vote) received 56 points to finish third in the poll.
New Mexico (one first-place vote) tallied 52 points for a third-place standing in the poll, while BYU (47 points) was fourth, Utah (31 points) fifth, UNLV (30 points) sixth and Air Force (14 points) seventh.
TCU returns six starters from last year's NCAA Tournament squad, including 2008 All-MWC selections Bryan Holaday (Jr., C), Matt Carpenter (Sr., 3B), Ben Carruthers (Sr., 2B) and Chris Ellington (Sr., OF). The Horned Frogs also return 2008 Freshman All-American pitchers Sean Hoelscher and Trent Appleby. The Horned Frogs were 44-19 overall last season (19-5 MWC) and captured their third consecutive MWC postseason tournament title.
San Diego State returns four starters led by 2008 consensus All-American and 2009 Louisville Slugger Preseason National Player of the Year Stephen Strasburg (Jr., RHP). The Aztecs were 31-28 last season (16-8 MWC), tying for second in the regular-season standings. New Mexico will be led by 2009 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List member and Preseason NCBWA Third Team All-American Brian Cavazos-Galvez (Sr., OF), 2008 MWC Freshman of the Year Rafael Neda and 2008 all-league picks Kevin Atkinson (Sr., 1B), Mike Brownstein (Sr., 2B) and Clinton Cox (Sr., RHP).
BYU returns eight starters from last year's squad that finished 10-14 in conference play (22-36 overall), including 2008 all-conference member and 2009 preseason all-league pick Sean McNaughton (Jr., OF) and 2008 second-team all-MWC Kent Walton (Sr., OF). Utah returns five starters (15 letterwinners overall), including preseason all-conference member Michael Beltran (So., SS). UNLV has 22 letterwinners back, including 2009 all-MWC preseason pick Jesse Wight (Sr., OF) from last year's squad that finished sixth in the MWC (9-15, 22-37 overall). Air Force has eight starters back, including 2008 Ping! Baseball All-Freshman Team member Nathan Carter (So., 2B).
The regular season opens Friday, February 20, with all seven MWC teams in action. The conference season begins Thursday, March 12 with Utah hosting BYU. The Conoco Mountain West Conference Baseball Championship is scheduled for May 19-23 at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Rebels begin their sixth season under head coach Buddy Gouldsmith by hosting Maine in a four-game series that gets underway on Feb. 20 at 7:00 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Fan can purchase season and single-game tickets by calling 739-FANS or by logging onto www.unlvrebels.com.
2009 MWC PRESEASON POLL (selected by MWC head coaches and select media)
Rk. Team (1st place votes) Points1. TCU (9) 752. San Diego State (1) 563. New Mexico (1) 524. BYU 475. Utah 316. UNLV 307. Air Force 14
2009 MWC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM (selected by MWC head coaches and select media)
Pos. Name, Class InstitutionC Rafael Neda, So. New Mexico1B Kevin Atkinson, Sr. New Mexico2B Mike Brownstein, Sr. New Mexico2B Ben Carruthers, Sr. TCU3B Matt Carpenter, Sr. TCUSS Michael Beltran, So. UtahOF Sean McNaughton, Jr. BYUOF Brian Cavazos-Galvez, Sr. New MexicoOF Chris Ellington, Sr. TCUP Stephen Strasburg, Jr. San Diego StateP Tyler Lockwood, Jr. TCUUT/DH Matt Alexander, Jr. Air ForceUT/DH Jesse Wight, Sr. UNLV
