ARLINGTON, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference released the 2023 WAC Baseball Preseason awards on Thursday. The Wolverines were picked 11^th in the WAC after a vote of the league's 13 head coaches.
 
Grand Canyon was selected to win the conference with ten first-place votes and 141 overall points.  Sam Houston was picked second with three first-place votes and 131 total points. California Baptist was third with 115 points. The poll featured a three-way tie for fourth, with Abilene Christian, UTRGV, and Sacramento State picking up 100 points.
 
In their final season in the WAC, New Mexico State was picked seventh with 88 points. Utah Tech finished eighth with 54 points, UT Arlington was ninth with 47, and Tarleton rounded out the top 10 with 40 points.
 
Utah Valley came in 11^th after receiving 38 points. Seattle U finished with 36 points, and Stephen F. Austin finished in 13^th place after receiving 24 points.
 
Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson and Sam Houston's Carlos Contreras were voted as the 2023 WAC Preseason Players of the Year. GCU Sophomore Daniel Avitia was voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
 
The 2023 season for Utah Valley will open on Feb. 17 on the road with a four-game series with UC Davis from the Big West. The season opener begins at 3:00 p.m. MT / 2:00 p.m. PT from Phil Swimley Field at Dobbins Stadium. The series continues with a doubleheader on Feb. 18, starting at 12:00 p.m. MT / 11:00 a.m. PT. The series finale will start at 2:00 p.m. MT / 1:00 p.m. PT.
 
 
2023 WAC BASEBALL COACHES POLL

1. Grand Canyon (10)          141
2. Sam Houston (3)              131
3. California Baptist              115
4. Abilene Christian              100
5. UTRGV                             100
6. Sacramento State             100
7. New Mexico State               88
8. Utah Tech                            54
9. UT Arlington                        47
10. Tarleton                               40
11. Utah Valley                          38
12. Seattle U                             36
13. Stephen F. Austin                24

 
WAC PRESEASON All-WAC Team
C – Tanner Tweedt, Sr., Abilene Christian
1B – Logan Galina, Jr., New Mexico State
2B – Kevin Jimenez, Sr., New Mexico State
SS – Bash Randle, Jr., Abilene Christian
SS – Jacob Wilson, Jr., Grand Canyon
3B – Mitchel Simon, Jr., California Baptist
OF – Carlos Contreras, Sr., Sam Houston
OF – Brandon Pimentel, Sr., UTRGV
OF – Grayson Tatrow, Sr., Abilene Christian
DH/UTL – Elijah Buries, Jr., Grand Canyon
SP – Daniel Avitia, So., RHP, Grand Canyon
SP – Connor Markl, Jr., LHP, Grand Canyon
RP – Jack Zalasky, Sr., RHP, Sacramento State