DENVER – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow baseball team was picked third in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, while shortstop Greg Garcia, pitcher Nathaniel Klein and outfielder Sean Montplaisir garnered preseason all-WAC honors.

 

Four-time defending conference champion Fresno State was picked to win the conference, receiving 32 points. New Mexico State was picked second with 27 points with UH right behind, earning 26 points. Louisiana Tech (22 points), San Jose State (19), Nevada (15) and Sacramento State (6) rounded out the poll.

 

Hawai'i had three players named to the preseason all-WAC team, trailing just Fresno State and Nevada, who each had four. Klein was 3-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 2009, striking out 47 with just 13 walks. Garcia is a two-time second team all-WAC honoree, batting .316 with a league-leading five triples in WAC play last season. Montplaisir finished WAC play with a blistering .411 batting average, adding 20 RBI, 20 runs and 13 doubles.

 

Fresno State's Danny Muno and Derek Benny were named the WAC Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

 

The Rainbows open the 2010 season on Feb. 19, hosting No. 10 Oregon State at the Les Murakami Stadium at 6:35 p.m.

 

-UH-