For the first time ever, the Wayne State baseball team is facing a team from Hawaii and opening the season in Hawaii.
            This weekend the Wildcat baseball team opens their 2026 season at Hawaii Hilo, playing five games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The two teams play doubleheaders Friday night at 7 p.m. Central Time (3 p.m. in Hilo) and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (12 p.m. in Hilo) and a nine-inning game Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. in Hilo).
            Wayne State is picked to finish fourth in this year's Preseason NSIC Baseball Coaches Poll released January 22^nd.  Last season, the 'Cats were 30-22 overall and tied for third in the NSIC with a 25-15 league mark.
            The Wildcats return five position starters along with two starting pitchers and six relief pitchers from last season.  Listed as Players to Watch this season are junior outfielder Max Heard and senior relief pitcher Braden Cannon.
            Heard was one of four players to start all 52 games last season, posting a .286 batting average while leading the team in home runs (8), RBI (49) and doubles (20).  Cannon is Wayne State's all-time saves leader with 27 and led the team in ERA and saves last season going 2-1 in 17 games with 10 saves and a 2.61 ERA, fanning 20 batters in 20.2 innings of work.
            Other key returning starters for the 'Cats include senior outfielder Cam Madsen (.308, 52 hits, 17-18 SB, 47 runs scored), third baseman Braden Cannon (.297, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 41 hits, 41 runs scored), outfielder Brayden Chaney (.278, 17-17 SB, 22 hits, 28 runs scored) and senior catcher Casey Prychak (.256, 12 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 24 runs scored).
            Top returning pitchers are junior starter Kyler Hanson (1-3, 6.90 ERA in 11 games and six starts) and sophomore Carson Obrecht (1-1, 7.03 ERA in eight games and six starts).
            Returning relievers include Cannon, lefthander Conlin Grady (1-2, 6.75 ERA in 18 games), senior righthander Kadyn Van Hill (2-1, 8.02 ERA in 15 games), lefthander Adam Eggert (2-0, 10.32 ERA in 11 games) and lefthander Braden Sweet (0-1, 15.26 ERA in eight games).
            Hawaii Hilo is a member of the PacWest Conference and was 14-35 last season with a 12-31 league mark and was picked to finish 11^th out of 12 teams in this year's Preseason PacWest Baseball Coaches Poll released last week.
            Top returners for the Vulcans include second baseman Braeden Mondeau, who hit .293 last year with four homers and 28 RBI with 41 hits and 29 runs scored.  First baseman Mark Fedro had a .250 average last year with 27 hits and 14 runs scored, outfielder Noah Nakaoka started 28 games and posted a .266 average with one homer and 20 RBI while Tui Ickes started 21 games and hit .247.
            Two returning starters are back on the hill for Hawaii Hilo with senior righthander Orlando Leon Jr. (2-4, 9.00 ERA, two complete games) and senior lefthander Brayden Hiraki (0-2, eight starts, 9.00 ERA). 
            Sophomore righthander Xavier Pressley was 4-4 last season in 16 games (two starts) with a 7.62 ERA.  Junior lefthander Devin Hayashi had a 1-0 mark in 15 games with a 3.71 ERA. 
            Last year, the Vulcans opened their season against another Northern Sun Conference team – the Sioux Falls Cougars.  USF won the five-game series 3-2 with the Cougars taking the first three games followed by Hilo wins in the final two matchups.