COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo baseball team has been tabbed to finish tied for second in the 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released Wednesday.
In the Preseason Coaches' Poll, the ThunderWolves, who were tied for third in the RMAC last season with a 32-20 overall record and a 22-10 mark in the league, received 53 points to sit in a tie for second place with MSU Denver, who earned 53 points and one first place vote. The head coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams in the preseason poll.
Colorado Mesa, who won its 13th consecutive RMAC Baseball Championship last year, as picked to repeat at the league champion as the Mavericks, who went 42-14 overall and 26-4 in the league last season, were a unanimous choice for the top spot as they earned 64 points and eight of the nine first-place votes.
Behind CSU Pueblo and MSU Denver, UCCS was tabbed to finish fourth as the Mountain Lions received 41 points in the preseason poll after posting a 23-26 overall record and a 12-18 mark in the league in 2025.
Regis, who went 35-16 overall and 24-6 in the league, was tabbed fifth as the Rangers earned 32 points in the preseason poll, while Colorado School of Mines was picked to finish sixth as the Orediggers earned 31 points in the preseason poll after going 13-34 overall and 8-22 in the RMAC a season ago.
Adams State, who went 19-35 overall and 13-19 in the RMAC and advanced to the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament, was tabbed to finish seventh as the Grizzlies earned 23 points.
The final two teams in the Preseason poll were New Mexico Highlands (14 points) at No. 8 and Colorado Christian (13 points) at No. 9.
Fifth-year Pack head coach
Bobby Applegate, who has led the Pack to four straight 20-plus win seasons and has compiled a 110-100 overall record at his alma mater, welcomes back five position starters and four of its top nine pitchers from last season's team that won 32 games, which were the most wins for the program since posting a 41-16 record during the 2015 season. In addition, the Pack welcomes back one All-RMAC selection f and the RMAC Co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year from a season ago.
The Pack's lone returning All-RMAC performer is redshirt senior pitcher
Jacob Petersheim (Broadway, Va./Broadway), who was a First-Team All-RMAC selection last season after posting a 5-3 record and a 6.475 ERA in 16 appearances and eight starts. In 53.1 innings of work, Petersheim struck out 51, walked 16 and was second in the RMAC in walks per nine innings (2.39) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.57).
In addition to Petersheim, sophomore
Tyler Clementz (Gilbert, Ariz./Basha) returns after being named the Co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year last season. During the 2025 campaign, Clementz went 3-2 with an 8.15 ERA in 14 appearances and four starts. He also recorded one save and in 38.2 innings of work, he struck out 35 and walked 12.
Along with announcing the Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll, the league also revealed its Preseason All-RMAC Team, which recognizes the 16 of the league's top returning players this season. Petersheim is one of four returning First-Team All-RMAC selections on the Preseason All-RMAC Team.
Petersheim is joined on the Preseason All-RMAC Team by junior pitcher
Jack Novak (Highlands Ranch, Colo./ThunderRidge). As a sophomore in 2025, Novak made team-high tying 16 appearances out of the bullpen and posted a 2-2 record and a team-best 2.66 ERA and led the team with four saves, which was sixth-best in the RMAC. In 23.2 innings of work, Novak recorded 14 strikeouts and 17 walks and opposing batter hit just .207 against the right-hander.
Applegate's fifth Pack team opens its 2026 campaign with a three-game series at Rawlings Field on Feb. 4-6 against MSU Billings. The teams will play one game each day with the games on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 starting at 1 p.m. and the series finale on Feb. 6 scheduled for 12 p.m. first pitch. The first RMAC series of the 2026 season for the Pack is scheduled March 13-15 at Rawlings Field in Pueblo against Colorado Mesa.
