The 2009 Wayland Baptist baseball team has been picked to finish third in the first Sooner Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Pioneers had their most successful season ever in 2008, finishing with a 43-16-1 record. Seven of eight position players return off that team, including NAIA All-Region catcher Brett Sheppard and All-Conference second baseman Brett Cook.

Starting pitcher Todd Jeffress, an All-Region selection a year ago and the WBU career leader in wins, is also back for his final season.

Oklahoma City University, which finished third in the NAIA World Series last year, is the preseason favorite to win the SAC in 2009, according to the vote by the conference coaches.

The poll has the Stars on top with eight of 11 first place votes and 98 points. Lubbock Christian got the remaining three first place votes and was second with 93 points.

Wayland Baptist is rated third with 78 points, followed by Oklahoma Baptist with 75, Rogers State with 66, Southern Nazarene with 52, Science & Arts of Oklahoma at 49, Northwestern at 30, St. Gregory's with 28, Oklahoma Christian with 24 and Mid-America Christian with 12.

The Stars' rating is not based on last year's success alone. OCU has three preseason NAIA All-Americans back in pitcher David Odquist, third-basemen Brent Weaver and outfielder Garrett Regan.

Lubbock Christian won the SAC regular season title last year and finished the season with an amazing 53-4 record.

OBU, which returns SAC Player of the Year and preseason All-American Josh Collazo, was 44-16 a season ago. Rogers State, 35-16 last season, is the only other conference school with a preseason All-American - shortstop Blake Kelley.