ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State Baseball pitcher Will Kates was selected to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-Central region team as a starting pitcher.

Kates earned NCBWA All-Central Region Second Team honors after leading the Rangers' pitching staff last season that helped lead the Rangers to their second consecutive 30-win season. Kates finished the season with a 2.42 ERA, which is the lowest for a Northwestern starting qualified pitcher in the Division II era. He ranked second in ERA for the Great American Conference.
 
He finished the season with six wins on the season, tied for ninth in the conference, while leading the GAC in opposing batting average at .212. He earned First Team All-Conference for starting pitching.
Preseason All-Central Region Team

C	Collin Helms, Harding
1B	Tyler Sardelli, Arkansas Tech
2B	Jackson Merovsh, Washburn
SS	Cole Dawson, Arkansas Tech
3B	Logan Lacey, Harding
OF (3)	Issac Pegors, UMary
	Levi Lampert, Southwest Minnesota State
	Noah Steele, Emporia State
DH	Dagen Brewer, Pitt State
UTL	Louis Magers, Minnesota State
SP (3)	Ashton Michek, Augustana
	Sam George, Minnesota State
	Will Kates, Northwestern Oklahoma
RP	Braden Cannon, Wayne State
	Brandon Chavez, Fort Hays State

 
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