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Bauer picked by WAC coaches as best pitcher

Ricky Bauer is the preseason pick of the Western Athletic Conference coaches as the league's pitcher of the year.

The senior right-hander was 8-4 with a 3.60 earned-run average a year ago. He struck out 72 and walked 12 in 115 innings.

Nevada catcher Brett Hayes is the preseason player of the year selection.

Four other Rainbows are preseason All-WAC selections: senior outfielder Greg Kish, junior third baseman Rocky Russo, sophomore right-hander Darrell Fisherbaugh and senior right-hander Steve Bryant.

Rice, for the ninth consecutive season, was the coaches' choice to win the league title. The Owls received the maximum five first-place votes for 25 points.

UH was picked to finish fourth, but the Rainbows trailed No. 3 Nevada by just two points and No. 2 Fresno State by four points. Louisiana Tech and San Jose State tied for fifth with seven points.

Pipeline Classic holding period announced

The holding period for the 34th annual Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic will begin next Saturday and continue through Feb. 4. The 1-day event will be held when the conditions at Pipeline are the best available.

Forty-eight of the world's best bodysurfers will be on-call during the holding period.

The event will have a format of preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and a final heat. At the end of the competition, the top six bodysurfers will compete in a final push to determine the new champion.