The Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Western Athletic Conference. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I baseball tournament.
| Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament | |
|---|---|
| Conference baseball championship | |
 Western Athletic Conference Logo | |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Conference | Western Athletic Conference |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Format | Double-elimination tournament |
| Current stadium | Hohokam Stadium |
| Current location | Mesa, Arizona |
| Played | 1982–present |
| Last contest | 2024 |
| Current champion | Tarleton State (1) |
| Most championships | Fresno State & Hawaii (6) |
| Official website | WACSports.com Baseball |
Tournament
editThe Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament is an eight team double-elimination tournament held annually at various locations throughout the Western Athletic Conference region. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I baseball tournament. The other teams have to hope for an at-large bid.
History
editFrom 1963-1981, the WAC baseball champion was determined by a best of three playoff between the division champions.
The WAC baseball tournament first started in 1982. It began as a double elimination tournament involving the top two finishers in each division. The conference kept this format through 1987.
In 1988, the conference discontinued divisional play and the top four finishers in the regular season advanced to the double elimination tournament. This format lasted through 1992.
Divisional play again resumed in 1993. The conference did not hold a tournament and instead opted for a best of three playoff between the two divisional winners to determine the champion.
In 1997 and 1998, the WAC began a six-team tournament that included the winners of each of three divisions, along with three at-large teams.
In 1999, the WAC once again eliminated divisional play. The top six finishers in the regular season advanced to the tournament.
There was no tournament from 2000 until 2005.
In 2006, the WAC brought back a tournament and the top six finishers in the regular season advanced to the postseason.
In 2022 the WAC resumed divisional play and began an eight team tournament with the top four teams in each division advancing.
Champions
editBy year
edit| Year | School | Site | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|
| No tournament from 1963–1981. A two team "best of three" playoff was held instead. | |||
| 1982 | Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | |
| 1983 | BYU | Provo, UT | |
| 1984 | Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | |
| 1985 | BYU | Provo, UT | |
| 1986 | San Diego State | San Diego, CA | |
| 1987 | Hawaii | Provo, UT | |
| 1988 | BYU | Honolulu, HI | |
| 1989 | Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | |
| 1990 | San Diego State | Honolulu, HI | |
| 1991 | San Diego State | Honolulu, HI | |
| 1992 | Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | |
| No tournament from 1993–1996. A two team "best of three" playoff was held instead. | |||
| 1997 | Rice | San Diego, CA | |
| 1998 | Rice | San Diego, CA | |
| 1999 | Rice | Fresno, CA | |
| No tournament or playoff from 2000–2005. | |||
| 2006 | Fresno State | Fresno, CA | Ozzie Lewis, Fresno State |
| 2007 | Fresno State | Reno, NV | Brian Lapin, Fresno State |
| 2008 | Fresno State | Ruston, LA | Steve Susdorf, Fresno State |
| 2009 | Fresno State | Honolulu, HI | Jordan Ribera, Fresno State |
| 2010 | Hawaii | HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Kolten Wong, Hawaii |
| 2011 | Fresno State | HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Dusty Robinson, Fresno State |
| 2012 | Fresno State | HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Jordan Luplow, Fresno State |
| 2013 | UTSA | QuikTrip Park • Grand Prairie, TX | Matt Sims, UTSA |
| 2014 | Sacramento State | Cubs Field • Mesa, AZ | Chris Lewis, Sacramento State |
| 2015 | Cal State Bakersfield | HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | David Metzgar, CSU Bakersfield |
| 2016 | Utah Valley | HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Craig Brinkerhoff, Utah Valley |
| 2017 | Sacramento State | HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Justin Dillon, Sacramento State |
| 2018 | New Mexico State | HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Tristen Carranza, New Mexico State |
| 2019 | Sacramento State | HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Dawsen Bacho, Sacramento State |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic | ||
| 2021 | Grand Canyon | Hohokam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Pierson Ohl, Grand Canyon |
| 2022 | New Mexico State | Hohokam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Cal Villarreal, New Mexico State |
| 2023 | Sam Houston State | Hohokam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Walker Janek, Sam Houston State |
| 2024 | Tarleton State[1] | Hohokam Stadium • Mesa, AZ | Cole Miears, Tarleton State |
By school
edit| School | Tourney Titles | Title Years |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno State | 6 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 |
| Hawaii | 6 | 1982, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1992, 2010 |
| Rice | 3 | 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| San Diego State | 3 | 1986, 1990, 1991 |
| BYU | 3 | 1983, 1985, 1988 |
| Sacramento State | 3 | 2014, 2017, 2019 |
| New Mexico State | 2 | 2018, 2022 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 1 | 2015 |
| Grand Canyon | 1 | 2021 |
| Sam Houston State | 1 | 2023 |
| Tarleton State | 1 | 2024 |
| UTSA | 1 | 2013 |
| Utah Valley | 1 | 2016 |
- Italics indicate that the program is no longer a WAC member.
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ Tarleton State transitioning from Division II and ineligible for NCAA Regionals. Automatic bid goes to Grand Canyon.