WICHITA, Kan. ? The Wichita State baseball team has been voted first in the annual Missouri Valley Conference baseball preseason coaches poll, announced Feb. 5 by the league office.

The Shockers, which accumulated 73 points, including eight first-place tallies, outdistanced Creighton, which had 68 points and one first-place vote.

Wichita State also earned three preseason all-Valley honors as junior Conor Gillaspie was named at third base, junior Aaron Shafer as a starting pitcher and junior Anthony Capra as a relief pitcher.

The Shockers open play on Fri., Feb. 22 against Fordham in Wichita.

Valley Preseason Poll
1. Wichita State (8) 73
2. Creighton (1) 68
3. Southern Illinois 64
4. Missouri State 44
5. Northern Iowa 38
6. Evansville 37
7. Bradley 31
Indiana State 31
9. Illinois State 19

Preseason All-Valley Team
1B Darin Ruf, Creighton
2B Ryan Strausborger, Indiana State
SS Brandon Douglas, UNI
3B Conor Gillaspie, Wichita State
C Mark Kelly, Southern Illinois
DH Kevin Dubler, Illinois State
UT Dan Brewer, Bradley
OF Deric Manrique, UNI
OF Jim Viscomi, Evansville
OF Aaron Roberts, Southern Illinois
SP Aaron Shafer, Wichita State
SP Ben Mancuso, Creighton
RP Pat Venditte, Creighton
RP Anthony Capra, Wichita State