Fresno State Athletics
Baseball Picked To Win WAC By Baseball America
1/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 20, 2006
Fresno, Calif. - Fresno State continues to receive accolades from Baseball America, as the team was picked to win the WAC in the publication's college preview released today. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 21 in the nation, are projected to win the conference and four players were named to the preseason All-Conference team, including preseason Player of the Year Beau Mills and preseason Pitcher of the Year Doug Fister.
Mills led the nation's freshmen in home run totals last season with 22 on the way to Freshman All-American honors and being selected as the WAC Newcomer of the Year in 2005. Fister declined a sixth-round draft selection by the New York Yankees to return for his senior season, and will begin the season as the team's ace.
Also being named to the preseason All-WAC team were outfielder Nick Moresi, a first-team All-WAC performer in 2005, and newcomer Frank LoNigro, a catcher from Fullerton College who was selected in the 45th round of the 2005 MLB draft.
The Western Athletic Conference is expected to release the coaches' preseason poll and all-conference team early next week.
2006 Baseball America Preseason WAC Poll
1. Fresno State
2. Hawai'i
3. Nevada
4. San Jose State
5. New Mexico State
6. Louisiana Tech
7. Sacramento State
2006 Baseball America Preseason All-Conference Team
C - Frank LoNigro, Jr., Fresno State
1B - Luke Hopkins, So., New Mexico State
2B - Jason Long, Sr., New Mexico State
3B - Beau Mills, So., Fresno State
SS - Joe Spiers, So., Hawai'i
OF - Matt Inouye, Sr., Hawai'i
OF - Nick Moresi, Jr., Fresno State
OF - Shawn Scobee, Sr., Nevada
DH - Ryan Hamilton, Sr., Louisiana Tech
P - Doug Fister, Sr., Fresno State
P - Ryan Rodriguez, Jr., Nevada
P - Steven Wright, Jr., Hawai'i
Preseason Player of the Year: Beau Mills, 3B, Fresno State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Doug Fister, RHP, Fresno State
