Five Pac-12 Baseball Teams in Preseason NCBWA Poll
SAN FRANCISCO - Five Pac-12 baseball teams have been ranked in the Preseason National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Poll, it was announced on Tuesday. OREGON STATE, ARIZONA, STANFORD, WASHINGTON and ARIZONA STATE all cracked the top 35 at No. 7, No. 16, No. 23, No. 26 and No. 35, respectively.
Oregon State finished the 2016 conference season tied for third in the Pac-12. The Beavers welcome back NCBWA and Baseball America Preseason All-America honoree Nick Madrigal. Madrigal was named the 2016 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and earned spots on both the All-Pac-12 first team and All-Pac-12 Defensive Team. OSU also returns NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America honoree Bryce Fehmel.
Arizona tied for third in the Conference last season, but took their journey all the way to Game 3 of the College World Series. This was the program’s 34th all-time appearance in NCAA history (1954-present). After a stellar last season, second year head coach Jay Johnson and the Wildcats look to top their performance in 2017.
Stanford finished in a tie for sixth place in the league last year. The Cardinal return Baseball America Preseason All-Americans Colton Hock, Tristan Beck, and Quinn Brodey. Hock, a right-handed pitcher, was a 2016 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week, Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention honoree, and was second in the Conference standings for hits allowed with 37 last season. This will be head coach Mark Marquess’ 41st season.
Washington finished second in the Conference last season and earned a trip to the NCAA Regionals for the second-straight year. The Huskies return a majority of their 2016 squad and welcome in a top-10 ranked recruiting class. It is the highest preseason ranking that the Huskies have received in the major polls so far. Washington was ranked 21st by Collegiate Baseball News. Washington returns Noah Bremer and Joe DeMers on the mound.
Arizona State earned its spot in the NCAA Baseball Championship for the fourth-straight year and the 39th time overall in program history, the fourth-most in NCAA history. The Sun Devils return NCBWA National Player of the Week (March 29) and Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (March 29) Ryan Hingst a junior right-handed pitcher.
The poll voters come from 40 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. After a preseason Top 35 listing, the remainder of the polls will feature a national Top 30.
With 28 College World Series National Titles including four of the last eleven, the Pac-12 looks to continue its dominance in the ranks of collegiate baseball in 2017. Pac-12 Baseball has enjoyed unprecedented exposure thanks to the Pac-12 Network which will air 103 games in 2017. Above all, the Pac-12 Network has provided the opportunity to showcase the exceptional talent Pac-12 Baseball has to offer and allowed the student-athletes to get the national and widespread exposure and attention they deserve.