WAC Coaches Polls Ends in Three-Way Tie for First; Colato, Randall Named Preseason Favorites
DENVER – Grand Canyon, Sacramento State and UT Rio Grande Valley sit in a three-way tie as the preseason favorites to win the 2021 Western Athletic Conference baseball title while GCU's Juan Colato and Sacramento State's Scott Randall were selected WAC Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year respectively in a vote of the league's 10 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
UTRGV held the slight edge in the trio at the top, collecting four first-place votes while totaling 73 points. GCU and Sacramento State each received three first-place votes and had 73 points each as well to secure the three-way tie. NM State was selected fourth with 53 points, followed by California Baptist in fifth with 49 points. Seat tle U is predicted to finish sixth with 37 points and Utah Valley is seventh at 32 points. Newcomer Dixie State was selected eighth and Northern Colorado and Tarleton tied for ninth in the preseason prognostication.
Colato and Randall highlight the Preseason All-WAC squad. Colato is joined by teammates Pierson Ohl and Frankie Scalzo. UT Rio Grande Valley had three selected as Conrado Diaz, Joseph Impeduglia and Christian Sepulveda earned honors. Seattle U had two honored as Justin Kodama and Connor O'Brien represented the Redhawks and California Baptist also had a pair earn honors as Ulises Caballero and Chad Castillo were named to the team. NM State was represented by Noah Haupt, Tarleton was represented by Blake Burns and Utah Valley's Jesse Schmit was honored to round out the 14-member team.
The 2021 season begins on Friday, Feb. 19. WAC play is set to begin on March 12.
2021 Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| T1. |
UT Rio Grande Valley (4) |
73 |
| T1. |
Grand Canyon (3) |
73 |
| T1. |
Sacramento State (3) |
73 |
| 4. |
NM State |
53 |
| 5. |
California Baptist |
49 |
| 6. |
Seattle U |
37 |
| 7. |
Utah Valley |
32 |
| 8. |
Dixie State |
26 |
| T9. |
Northern Colorado |
17 |
| T9. |
Tarleton |
17 |
2021 Preseason All-WAC Team
Catcher: Conrado Diaz, Gr., UT Rio Grande Valley
First Base: Blake Burns, Sr., Tarleton
Second Base: Juan Colato, Jr., Grand Canyon
Third Base: Justin Kodama, Jr., Seattle U
Shortstop: Connor O'Brien, Jr., Seattle U
Shortstop: Christian Sepulveda, Gr., UT Rio Grande Valley
Outfield: Ulises Caballero, Sr., California Baptist
Outfield: Chad Castillo, Jr., California Baptist
Outfield: Noah Haupt, Jr., NM State
Utility/DH: Joseph Impeduglia, Gr., UT Rio Grande Valley
Starting Pitcher: Pierson Ohl, Jr., Grand Canyon
Starting Pitcher: Scott Randall, Jr., Sacramento State
Starting Pitcher: Jesse Schmit, Sr., Utah Valley
Relief Pitcher: Frankie Scalzo, Sr., Grand Canyon
Preseason Player of the Year: Juan Colato, 2B, Jr., Grand Canyon
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Scott Randall, RHP, Jr., Sacramento State