ARLINGTON, Texas – Abilene Christian was voted the top team in the preseason 2026 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Baseball Coaches Poll that was released on Tuesday.

Abilene Christian received three first-place votes and 33 voting points to finish atop the 2026 conference preseason coaches poll. Utah Valley was second with one first-place vote and 29 voting points, with California Baptist claiming the third slot with one first-place vote and 27 points. Sacramento State (two first-place votes, 22 points) and Tarleton State (15 points) rounded out the top five teams.

Utah Tech junior third baseman/right-handed pitcher Ryan Kroepel was voted the 2026 WAC Preseason Player of the Year. Kroepel was a first-team All-WAC selection in his debut season at Utah Tech in 2025, finishing with a .367 batting average overall in 55 games and a conference-best .467 in WAC games. Kroepel smashed six home runs and drove in 35 runs while scoring 33 times. On the mound, Kroepel was 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 19 appearances, earning eight saves. Kroepel limited the opposition to a .256 batting average against over 23.1 innings pitched, walking nine and striking out 14.

California Baptist junior pitcher Cody New was named the 2026 WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. New was an all-conference first team choice last season after posting a 6-3 record and 3.49 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts), adding one save in his lone relief appearance. New limited opposing hitters to a .217 batting average against, walking 31 and striking out 98 over 80 full innings pitched.

Kroepel and New were both selected to the 12-player preseason All-WAC team by the conference head coaches, with Kroepel being tabbed at both third base and relief pitcher. Abilene Christian and Tarleton State led the way with three total selections, followed by California Baptist, UT Arlington and Utah Tech with two choices each.

2026 WAC BASEBALL PRESEASON INFORMATION (as voted by WAC head coaches)
 
2026 WAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
 

Rank	Team (1st-Place Votes)	Points
1.	Abilene Christian (3)	33
2.	Utah Valley (1)	29
3.	California Baptist (1)	27
4.	Sacramento State (2)	22
5.	Tarleton State	15
6.	Utah Tech	11
7.	UT Arlington	10

2026 WAC Preseason Player of the Year
Ryan Kroepel, Jr., 3B/RHP, Utah Tech

2026 WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Cody New, Jr., LHP, California Baptist

2026 Preseason All-WAC Team
C – Sergio Guerra, Sr., Tarleton State
1B – Grant Watkins, Sr., Abilene Christian
2B – Slade McCloud, Sr., Tarleton State
3B – Ryan Kroepel, Jr., Utah Tech
SS – Chris Ramirez, So., California Baptist
OF – Braden Regala, So., Abilene Christian
OF – Rayner Heinrich, So., Tarleton State
OF – Xander McAfee, Sr., UT Arlington
DH – Diego Cardenas, Sr., Abilene Christian
SP – Cody New, Jr., LHP, California Baptist
SP – Caylon Dygert, Jr., RHP, UT Arlington
RP – Ryan Kroepel, Jr., Utah Tech