Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament

Last updated
Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament
Conference Baseball Championship
Logo WAC.png
Western Athletic Conference Logo
Sport Baseball
Conference Western Athletic Conference
Number of teams8
Format Double-elimination tournament
Current stadium Hohokam Stadium
Current location Mesa, Arizona
Played1982–present
Last contest 2022
Current champion New Mexico State (2)
Most championships Fresno State & Hawaii (6)
Official website WACSports.com Baseball

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.

Contents

Tournament

The 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

From 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

By year

YearSchoolSiteMVP
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 StadiumMesa, 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 ParkGrand Prairie, TX Matt Sims, UTSA
2014 Sacramento State Cubs Field • Mesa, AZ Chris Lewis, Sacramento State
2015 Cal State Bakersfield HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZDavid Metzgar, CSU Bakersfield
2016 Utah Valley HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZCraig Brinkerhoff, Utah Valley
2017 Sacramento State HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZJustin Dillon, Sacramento State
2018 New Mexico State HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZTristen Carranza, New Mexico State
2019 Sacramento State HoHoKam Stadium • Mesa, AZDawsen Bacho, Sacramento State
2020Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021 Grand Canyon Hohokam Stadium • Mesa, AZPierson Ohl, Grand Canyon
2022 New Mexico State Hohokam Stadium • Mesa, AZCal Villarreal, New Mexico State

By school

SchoolTourney TitlesTitle Years
Fresno State62006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
Hawaii61982, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1992, 2010
Rice31997, 1998, 1999
San Diego State31986, 1990, 1991
BYU31983, 1985, 1988
Sacramento State32014, 2017, 2019
New Mexico State22018, 2022
Cal State Bakersfield12015
Grand Canyon12021
UTSA12013
Utah Valley12016

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The 2012 Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament began on May 23 and ended on May 26 or 27. The top six regular season finishers of the league's seven teams met in the double-elimination tournament held at HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa, AZ. Fifth seeded Fresno State won their sixth and final tournament championship and claimed the Western Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. The Bulldogs joined the Mountain West Conference after the 2012 season.

The 2013 Mountain West Conference Baseball Tournament took place from May 22–26. All six of the league's teams met in the double-elimination tournament held at California State University, Fresno's Pete Beiden Field. It was Fresno State's first year in the league after joining from the Western Athletic Conference. San Diego State won the tournament for the second time, earning the Mountain West Conference's automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

The 2014 Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament took place from May 21 to May 25. The top six regular season finishers of the league's ten teams met in the double-elimination tournament held at Cubs Park, spring training home of the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona. Sacramento State won the tournament for the first time, earning the Western Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. No team currently in the league has won a WAC Tournament Championship.

The 2015 Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament will take place beginning on May 20 and ending on May 24. The top six regular season finishers of the league's ten teams will meet in the double-elimination tournament to be held at Sloan Park, spring training home of the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona. The winner will earn the Western Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

The 2016 Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament will take place beginning on May 25 and ending on May 28 or 29. The top six regular season finishers of the league's ten teams will meet in the double-elimination tournament to be held at Hohokam Stadium, spring training home of the Oakland Athletics in Mesa, Arizona. The winner will earn the Western Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

The 2000 Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was held March 9–11 at the Selland Arena at Fresno State University in Fresno, California.

The 2017 Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament was a postseason baseball tournament for the Western Athletic Conference for the 2017–18 season. It began on May 24 and ended on May 27. The top six regular season finishers of the league's ten teams met in the double-elimination tournament held at Hohokam Stadium, spring training home of the Oakland Athletics in Mesa, Arizona. The winner earned the Western Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

The 2001 Patriot League Baseball Tournament was held on May 12 and 13, 2001 to determine the champion of the Patriot League for baseball for the 2001 NCAA Division I baseball season. The event matched the top three finishers of the six team league in a double-elimination tournament. Second seeded Bucknell won their second championship and claimed the Patriot's automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. Brad Gething of Bucknell was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The 2002 Patriot League Baseball Tournament was held on May 11 and 12, 2002 to determine the champion of the Patriot League for baseball for the 2002 NCAA Division I baseball season. The event matched the top three finishers of the six team league in a double-elimination tournament. Top seeded Navy won their fourth championship and claimed the Patriot's automatic bid to the 2002 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. Matt Foster of Navy was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The 2003 Patriot League Baseball Tournament was held on May 10 and 11, 2003 to determine the champion of the Patriot League for baseball for the 2003 NCAA Division I baseball season. The event matched the top three finishers of the six team league in a double-elimination tournament. Top seeded Bucknell won their third championship and claimed the Patriot's automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. Brian Day of Bucknell was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The 2004 Patriot League Baseball Tournament was a collegiate baseball tournament held on May 8 and 9, 2004 to determine the champion of the Patriot League for baseball for the 2004 NCAA Division I baseball season. The event matched the top three finishers of the six team league in a double-elimination tournament. Top seeded Army won their third championship and claimed the Patriot's automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. Justin Long of Army was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The 2005 Patriot League Baseball Tournament was held on May 14 and 15, 2005 to determine the champion of the Patriot League for baseball for the 2005 NCAA Division I baseball season. The event matched the top three finishers of the six team league in a double-elimination tournament. Top seeded Army won their fourth championship and claimed the Patriot's automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. Walker Gorham of Army was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The 2007 Patriot League Baseball Tournament was held on May 13 and 14, 2007 to determine the champion of the Patriot League for baseball for the 2007 NCAA Division I baseball season. The event matched the top three finishers of the six team league in a double-elimination tournament. Top seeded Lafayette won their first championship and claimed the Patriot's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. Mike Raible of Lafayette was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The 2018 Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament will take place beginning on May 23 and ending on May 26 or 27. The top six regular season finishers of the league's ten teams will meet in the double-elimination tournament to be held at Hohokam Stadium, spring training home of the Oakland Athletics in Mesa, Arizona. The winner will earn the Western Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

The 2019 Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament took place beginning on May 22 and ending on May 25 or 26. The top six regular season finishers of the league's ten teams met in the double-elimination tournament to be held at Hohokam Stadium, spring training home of the Oakland Athletics in Mesa, Arizona. The winner, Sacramento State, earned the Western Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

The 2022 Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament will take place beginning on May 25 and ending on May 28. The top four regular season finishers of the league's two divisions will meet in the double-elimination tournament to be held at Hohokam Stadium, spring training home of the Oakland Athletics in Mesa, Arizona. California Baptist, Dixie State, and Tarleton State are ineligible for the postseason as both programs are still in the transition to Division I. The winner will earn the Western Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

References