The preseason honors continue for Carson High graduate Darrell Rasner.
Rasner, a junior right-handed pitcher, was picked to be the 2002 Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year by Baseball America for the University of Nevada. Rasner was one of four Nevada players to be picked to the all-WAC preseason team by the publication. He was also chosen to the all-WAC preseason team by the conference's coaches.
In addition, Baseball America chose Rasner as the fifth-best prospect from the WAC for the 2002 Major League draft. Rasner was part of Baseball America's Fab 50 as well. He was ranked 47th among college juniors.
In Baseball America's WAC Best Tools section, Rasner's breaking ball was judged to be the best in the conference. Rasner was 8-5 with a 4.20 earned run average and 96 strikeouts last year for the Wolf Pack.
Nevada was ranked 39th in the nation and picked to finish third in the WAC behind Rice and Fresno State by Baseball America. The conference coaches also picked Nevada to finish third behind Rice and Fresno State. The WAC was chosen as the nation's ninth best conference by Baseball America.
Other Baseball America all-WAC preseason choices were first baseman JaRell McIntyre (.388, 11 home runs, 47 RBIs in 2001), outfielder Chris Dickerson (.317, 11 homers, 46 RBIs) and pitcher Mateo Miramontes (10-3, 5.13 E.R.A., 76 strikeouts.
Dickerson and Miramontes were also named to the coaches all-WAC preseason team.
Baseball American chose Miramontes as the WAC's top prospect for the 2003 draft. Miramontes also made Baseball America's Fab 50 as he was ranked 43rd among sophomores.
McIntyre was chosen as the WAC's best defensive first baseman by Baseball America. Nevada opens the season Feb. 1 at Pepperdine.