PORTLAND, Ore. – The Central Washington University Baseball Team was picked to finish fourth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Wildcats look to build on last year's GNAC tournament appearance and take another step forward under Head Coach
Desi Storey, as the skipper enters his 35th season at the helm. With a returning core that gained valuable postseason experience and a wave of newcomers adding depth and competition across the roster, CWU enters the year focused on consistency, development, and finishing stronger in conference play.
The 2025 Wildcats leaned heavily on veteran leadership and offensive firepower, and while several of those cornerstones have moved on, a solid core returns to provide continuity. That group will be tasked with setting the tone for a younger, retooled squad entering the year.
Among the key returners are outfielder
Logan Blank and infielder
Andre Garza, both of whom saw consistent action last season and now step into more prominent leadership roles. Blank returns as one of the most experienced everyday position players on the roster, while Garza provides stability in the infield after logging meaningful innings in conference play.
On the mound, CWU brings back several arms that gained valuable experience in 2025.
Kellen Berg returns after handling high-leverage situations out of the bullpen, while pitchers such as
Drake Anderson,
Garet Hagy,
Kaden Haffner, and
Logan Thompson give the Wildcats a familiar foundation across the pitching staff. Catcher
Braden Zadow and outfielder
Max Bledy also return, offering defensive versatility and depth.
That returning nucleus will be joined by a sizable group of newcomers, signaling a shift toward youth and development. The incoming class includes a mix of freshmen and first-year Wildcats who add depth at nearly every position. Freshmen
Jacob Nadeau,
Xavier Espindola,
Kyler Malnar,
Jonathan Rominger, and
Logan Lipscomb bolster the position-player group.
2026 GNAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Pts. |
'25 Record |
GNAC Record (Finish) |
| 1 |
Northwest Nazarene (3) |
23 |
46-16 |
27-5 (1st) |
| 2 |
Montana State Billings (1) |
18 |
33-22 |
21-11 (2nd) |
| 3 |
Western Oregon |
15 |
18-26 |
14-18 (4th) |
| 4 |
Central Washington (1) |
14 |
25-26 |
15-17 (3rd) |
| 5 |
Saint Martin's |
5 |
3-46 |
3-29 (5th) |
Read the full GNAC story
HERE
