| School |
(1st) |
Pts. |
'02 Overall |
'02 NWC |
| George Fox University |
7 |
86 |
27-15 |
16-7 |
| Linfield College |
1 |
69 |
24-16 |
15-9 |
| Whitworth College |
1 |
66 |
20-18 |
16-8 |
| Pacific University |
|
57 |
25-13 |
15-8 |
| Willamette University |
|
44 |
13-21 |
9-15 |
| Pacific Lutheran University |
|
34 |
17-20 |
11-12 |
| University of Puget Sound |
|
25 |
7-21 |
6-14 |
| Whitman College |
|
17 |
12-25 |
8-14 |
| Lewis & Clark College |
|
16 |
11-23 |
7-16 |
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
George Fox Tabbed as Heavy to Repeat Baseball Title
Spokane, Wash. - Fresh off of its third Northwest Conference baseball title in four seasons, George Fox University has been picked to repeat as conference champions in 2003 in the pre-season coaches' poll.
The Bruins picked up seven of nine first place votes and 86 total points in the poll to outdistance Linfield College (69 points) and Whitworth College (66 points), who each picked up one first place vote. George Fox returns All-Northwest Conference pitchers Cory Dixon and Scott Hyde, as well as all-conference designated hitter Eric Bell.
Linfield College, which shared its last conference title in 1999 with George Fox, will rely heavily on All-NWC utility player David Moore. Whitworth, looking for its first NWC title since 1992, welcomes back short stop Chris Hughbanks and pitcher Kurt Reese, both First Team All-NWC selections.
Pacific University has by far the most power at the plate returning in 2003. The Boxers, who finished fourth in the poll with 57 points, return the NWC Player of the Year Kevin Roth (OF), all-conference first baseman Ryan Joy and fellow all-conference outfielder Matt Lengwenus. The trio combined for 43 home runs and 131 runs batted in last season.
Willamette University totaled 44 points and finished fifth in the poll. The Bearcats were followed by Pacific Lutheran University (34 points), the University of Puget Sound (25), Whitman College (17) and Lewis & Clark (16).
The season gets underway February 13-16 when six of the nine teams travel to Chandler, Arizona for the Arizona Desert Classic.