Two Spartans Named to the Preseason All-WAC Baseball Team; Team Picked to Finish Fourth in Conference

Two Spartans Named to the Preseason All-WAC Baseball Team; Team Picked to Finish Fourth in Conference

SAN JOSE, Calif. Spartan senior second baseman Gabe Lopez and senior catcher Adam Shorsher were named to the Western Athletic Conference Preseason All-WAC Team announced today. The Spartans were also picked to finish behind Rice, Fresno State and Nev

SAN JOSE, Calif.— Spartan senior second baseman Gabe Lopez and senior catcher Adam Shorsher were named to the Western Athletic Conference Preseason All-WAC Team announced today. The Spartans were also picked to finish behind Rice, Fresno State and Nevada in the 2002 WAC Baseball Coaches’ Poll.

Lopez finished the 2001 campaign with a .353 batting average, 91 hits, 18 doubles and 40 RBIs. Shorsher, who batted .269 with 45 hits, 10 doubles, 6 home runs and 31 RBIs last season, is better know for his defensive abilities behind the plate.

"Gabe and Adam are very deserving of this recognition," says Spartan Head Coach Sam Piraro. "They are two high caliber Division I players who I feel can compete in any conference in the country."

As a team, the Spartans were picked to finish fourth in the conference in the preseason coaches’ poll. Rice was picked to finish first for the sixth year in a row.

"I think the WAC is a very underrated conference," continued Piraro. "There is no last place team in this conference and we all have a tough league schedule to play. I think overall, the WAC is one of the top conferences in the country."

The Spartans begin their 2002 season with the annual alumni game at Blethen Field on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 1:00 p.m. The first regular season game will be on Friday, Feb. 1 against St. Mary’s College at Municipal Stadium. First pitch will be at 2:30 p.m.

2002 WAC BASEBALL COACHES’ POLL
(Points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis as coaches
not allowed to vote for their own team)
Rk. Team 1 2 3 4 5 Total
1. Rice 5 – – – – 25
2. Fresno State – 5 – – – 20
3. Nevada 1 1 3 – – 18
4. San Jose State – – 3 2 – 13
5. Hawai‘i – – – 3 2 8
6. Louisiana Tech – – – 1 4 6

PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAM
OF Austin Davis, So., Rice
OF Chris Dickerson, Sr., Nevada
OF A.J. Porfirio, Sr., Rice
OF Tobey Riday-White, Sr. Fresno State
1B Gregg Omori, Sr., Hawai‘i
2B Gabe Lopez, Sr., San Jose State
SS Jose Enrique Cruz, So., Rice
3B Hunter Brown, Sr., Rice
C Adam Shorsher, Sr., San Jose State
UTI Cullen Simmons, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DH Ben Fritz, Jr., Fresno State
SP Mateo Miramontes, So., Nevada
SP Darrell Rasner, Jr., Nevada
SP Bob Runyon, Sr., Fresno State
RP Ben Fritz, Jr., Fresno State
Player of the Year - Hunter Brown, Sr., Rice
Pitcher of the Year - Bob Runyon, Sr., Fresno State

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