Wildcats baseball fourth in preseason poll

ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington Wildcats baseball squad was ranked fourth in the Greater Northwest Conference preseason poll Thursday, according to statement by GNAC.   

According to a statement by CWU Athletics, the Wildcats look to build on last year's GNAC tournament appearance and take another step forward under Head Coach Desi Storey. According to the GNAC’s statement, Storey has led the Wildcats for 35 seasons, holding a career record of 730-846-2. Since the conference was formed in 2002, his 316 league victories are the most of any GNAC coach as he begins his 25th season in the GNAC era.  

The Wildcats return a core of players who gained playoff experience last season. With 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 statement said.   

Among the key returners are outfielder Logan Blank and infielder Andre Garza, who 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.  

According to the GNAC’s statement, the 2026 GNAC Baseball Championships will run May 7-8 at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. The top-three teams in the 2026 GNAC regular-season standings will earn spots in the conference tournament, with the winner claiming the GNAC’s automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA West Region Championships.  

The Wildcats open their season on the road in a quadruple header with Stanislaus State on Jan. 31. Their first home game is on Feb. 27 at noon against Montana State Billings, which will also be their league opener for the GNAC.