| School |
(1st) |
Pts. |
2007 Overall |
2007 NWC |
| Linfield College |
(8) |
88 |
22-16 |
17-7 |
| George Fox University |
|
71 |
30-11 |
19-5 |
| Pacific Lutheran University |
(1) |
61 |
35-9 |
21-3 |
| Whitworth University |
|
56 |
14-25 |
9-15 |
| Univ. of Puget Sound |
|
38 |
16-21-1 |
13-11 |
| Willamette University |
|
35 |
18-21 |
9-15 |
| Pacific University |
|
30 |
14-26 |
7-17 |
| Lewis & Clark College |
|
24 |
13-21 |
9-15 |
| Whitman College |
|
11 |
6-29 |
4-20 |
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
Linfield Picked to Win 2008 Crown
Spokane, Wash. - Linfield College, under new head coach Scott Brosious, is a near unanimous choice to win the 2008 Northwest Conference baseball title, according to the NWC coaches preseason poll.
The Wildcats picked up eight out of nine first place votes to total 88 out of 90 possible poll points. Linfield returns three First Team All-Northwest Conference selections from 2007: outfielder Kevin Mills, designated hitter Stew Davis, and starting pitcher Brian Clark. Linfield is aiming to return to the top of the standings for the first time since 2005.
George Fox University, which won or shared five straight NWC titles from 2002 - 2006, is second in the poll with 71 points. The Bruins will welome back All-NWC catcher Ryan Fobert and All-NWC second baseman Pat Bailey.
Pacific Lutheran University, which won its first-ever NWC baseball title last spring, is third in the poll with 61 points and the remaining first place vote. The Lutes were hit hard by graduation, including 2007 NWC Pitcher of the Year Joe DiPietro, but return All-NWC catcher Brandon Sales and All-NWC first baseman Jordan Post.
Whitworth University is fourth with 56 points. The Pirates return Second Team All-NWC catcher Dan Ramsey and starting pitcher Chad Flett.
The University of Puget Sound (38 points) and Willamette University (35) follow in fifth and sixth place, respectively. The Loggers welcome back All-NWC shortstop Tim Steggall, while the Bearats return outfielder Colin Young.
Pacific University was seventh in the poll with 30 points, while Lewis & Clark College was eighth with 24 points. Kyle Barksdale returns as a Second Team All-NWC relief pitcher for the Boxers, while the Pioneers will look to infielder Jordan Shibata.
Whitman College rounds out the poll in ninth place with 11 points.
The first games of the season are scheduled to get underway this weekend with Whitman visiting Occidental, Whitworth at College of Idaho and Puget Sound hosting Corban.
For the first time the NWC will use a four-game series for in-conference play. The first weekend of NWC games is scheduled for March 1-2.