It's the earliest start ever for the Wayne State College baseball team.  The 2020 Wildcats open the season this weekend play at the Alpine Fresh 4 HIM Classic in Cleburne, Texas playing one game Friday, two games Saturday and another Sunday to start the season.
            Wayne State was picked to finish fourth in the Preseason NSIC Coaches Poll released January 16^th after going 32-18 last season and 23-12 in the NSIC (fifth place).  The Wildcats return a wealth of experience on the mound and in the field for the 2020 season.
            The Wildcats return five All-NSIC performers from last season.  Sophomore right hander Ryan Obrecht was a First Team All-NSIC and Second Team All-Central Region selection last season after a 7-2 record and 2.04 ERA, leading the NSIC in opponent batting average (.194) while ranking fourth in ERA. 
            Seniors Hunter Wienhoff (8-3, 2.74 ERA) and Aidan Breedlove (7-3, 4.64 ERA) are both three year starters.  Wienhoff was a Second Team All-NSIC honoree last season. 
            Offensively, the 'Cats return a pair of All-NSIC Second Team performers in junior outfielder Alex Logelin and junior designated hitter Andrew Hanson.  Logelin is the top returning hitter for the "Cats after recording a .317 average last season that included an NSIC high 21 doubles.  Hanson was All-NSIC for a second straight season after posting a .303 average with 54 hits and 31 RBI.  Senior first baseman Bryce Bisenius anchors an offense with plenty of power after leading the team last season in homers (9) and RBI (45).
            The season-opening tournament for the Wildcats in Texas features eight teams.  WSC will be in Bracket 2 and face Newman (Kan.) Friday at 12:30 p.m. followed by games on Saturday vs. Southern Arkansas (4:30 p.m.) and Oklahoma Panhandle State (8 p.m.).  The 'Cats will play a game to be announced against a team from Bracket 1 on Sunday to close out tournament play.
           Live stats of the game can be found at: https://ccucougars.com/sports/2019/11/13/2019-4him-tournament-page.aspx
           
            ABOUT NEWMAN
            Newman University went 17-30 last season and 3-18 in the Heartland Conference.  The Jets are now members of the MIAA and were picked to finish 11^th out of 12 teams in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
            WSC is 6-9 all-time against Newman with the teams most recently playing each other in the 2018 season when the two teams split a four-game series in Wichita. 
 
            ABOUT SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
            The Muleriders are a perennial power from the Great American Conference, going 29-20 overall and 21-11 in league play last season.  Southern Arkansas missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years last season and returns a pair of All-Region performers in senior second baseman Austin Baker (.348, 32 stolen bases) and senior relief pitcher Matt Kortendick (9 saves, 6 wins, 1.51 ERA). 
            Southern Arkansas added plenty of talent in the off-season with Division I transfers Kobe Morris at shortstop (Alabama) and right handed pitcher Zach Smith (Central Arkansas) along with several junior college transfers.
            This will be the first-ever meeting in baseball between WSC and Southern Arkansas.
 
            ABOUT OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE
            The Aggies were 20-27 last season and 11-16 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. 
            Wayne State is 4-1 all-time against Oklahoma Panhandle State.  The Wildcats went 3-1 against the Aggies in a four-game series during the 2016 season played in Goodwell, Oklahoma.