Jan. 16, 2003

2003 Preseason WAC Coaches' Poll Release in PDF Format
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DENVER - Four Fresno State baseball student-athletes have been selected to the 2003 Preseason All-Western Athletic Conference team announced Thursday. Bulldog senior outfielder Joey Myers, junior second baseman Ryan Haag, junior third baseman Casey McGehee and senior utility player Scott Beshears highlight the list. In addition, the Bulldogs were predicted to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll.

Haag, who played for Fresno State head coach Mike Batesole at Cal State Northridge, helped lead the Matadors to a 42-17 record last year, batting .345 with 37 RBIs to garner first-team All-Big West honors.

McGehee put together arguably one of the most impressive feats in school history last year, compiling a 31-game hitting streak, the second longest ever at Fresno State. The Santa Cruz, Calif., native was a consistent offensive threat throughout the year, batting a team-leading .367, placing him third in the WAC. The first-team all-conference selection also ranked among the conference leaders in hits (88), runs scored (49), total bases (127), slugging percentage (.529), on base percentage (.412) and RBIs (49).

Myers has established himself as one of the top defensive outfielders in the WAC, committing just one error in 131 chances last season. Beshears was third on the team with a .290 batting average as the squad's starting second baseman last year.

In the preseason coaches' poll, Fresno State and San Jose State tied for second place with 19 points. Fresno State received one first place vote. The Bulldogs finished third in the WAC behind Rice and San Jose State with a 19-11 mark in conference play last season. For the seventh year in a row, defending conference champion Rice was tabbed to win the WAC regular season title. The Owls received 25 points including all five first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) after making their third trip to College World Series in six years last season. Hawai'i and Nevada tied for fourth with 11 points followed by Louisiana Tech with five.

The Bulldogs host the annual alumni game on Saturday, Feb. 1 at noon before traveling to face UC Irvine in the season opener on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.