Jags picked 4th in RRAC Baseball Preseason Poll

WACO – The Red River Athletic Conference released its 2024 baseball preseason coaches poll on Thursday.

UHV, which won the RRAC Tournament for the first time in 2023, was picked to finish fourth this season behind unanimous favorite and No. 5-ranked LSU Shreveport, LSU Alexandria and Louisiana Christian. The Jaguars (28-27 in 2023) knocked off LSU Alexandria, 12-2 in seven innings, in the tournament championship last season.

"The preseason poll is added motivation for our team," said second-year head coach Jonathan Stavinoha. "We feel, with the guys we have, this team can compete for the regular season conference title. We're looking forward to proving people wrong."

UHV returns all but five starters from last year's roster, including most of its pitching staff. The Jaguars also return first team All-RRAC catcher Hal Perez, second teamers Hayden Leopold and Kaden Fikac, and Gold Glove center fielder Raul Lopez.

The Jaguars also had the 19^th ranked junior college recruiting class in the nation according to NAIA Ball and The JUCO Baseball Blog.

UHV opens its season at Riverside Stadium with a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, Jan. 26, to kick off a four-game series with Wayland Baptist.

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2024 RRAC Preseason Coaches Poll