ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – For the third straight year the University of New Mexico baseball team has been voted preseason favorites in the Mountain West in the conference’s annual preseason coaches poll. The Lobos hope to follow the path of the previous two teams as they won the MW by a record seven games in 2013 and tied for the championship with UNLV last season.
“It’s a nice honor but ultimately doesn’t mean anything,” UNM head coach Ray Birmingham said. “I appreciate the respect, but preseason polls and $3 gets you a cup of coffee.”
UNM also finished with the most players on the preseason team with three. Juniors Sam Haggerty and Jared Holley were voted as the team’s second baseman and shortstop, respectively, while sophomore Danny Collier tied with Nevada’s Trenton Brooks for the utility/designated hitter spot.
San Diego State finished second in the poll with 28 points despite not receiving a single first-place vote. UNLV and Nevada finished tied for third with 25 points apiece. The Rebels received two first-place votes and the Wolfpack one. Fresno State was voted fifth with 22 points and received the final first-place vote. Air Force and San Jose State rounded out the voting with 10 and seven points, respectively.
The Lobos open their season this weekend in Surprise, Ariz., at the Surprise College Baseball Classic. UNM will face Michigan State Friday at 5 p.m. and Northwestern Saturday night at 5. The Lobos finish the tournament with games against Oregon State Sunday and Monday. UNM’s home schedule begins Friday, Feb. 27 against San Francisco in the Lobo Invite, and Lobo Pride Passes are on sale now.
2015 Mountain West COACHES PRESEASON POLLRank Team (1st-place votes) Points1. New Mexico (3) 302. San Diego State 283. UNLV (2) 25 Nevada (1) 255. Fresno State (1) 226. Air Force 107. San José State 7 2015 MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMPosition Name, Class InstitutionC Taylor Ward, Jr. Fresno State1B Austin Byler, Sr. Nevada2B Sam Haggerty, Jr. New Mexico3B Ty France, Jr. San Diego StateSS Jared Holley, Jr. New MexicoOF Tyler Jones, So. Air ForceOF Kewby Meyer, Sr. NevadaOF Joey Armstrong, Jr. UNLVUT/DH Trenton Brooks, So. Nevada Danny Collier, So. New MexicoP Bubba Derby, Jr. San Diego StateP Kalei Contrades, Sr. San José State