UHH Baseball Picked to Finish Seventh in PacWest
The University of Hawai’i at Hilo baseball team will have to pull off a major upset if it wants to win a conference championship.
Coaches from throughout the PacWest Conference picked the Vulcans’ baseball squad to finish seventh in the conference this year behind California Baptist, last year’s runner-up and the preseason pick in 2014.
UH-Hilo did not receive a first place vote and picked up 26 points. The only two teams behind the Vulcans are Holy Names and Academy of Art.
Kallen Miyataki returns to coach the Vulcans for a second season, this time without the interim tag next to his name. He brings back eight seniors, including starters Jordan Murai and Samuel Kim, as well as closer Michael Slifer.
UH-Hilo finished 14-33 last year and 9-21 in the PacWest.
2015 PacWest Baseball Preseason Poll
(first place votes in parenthesis)
1. California Baptist (5) – 82
2. Dixie State (2) – 72
3. Fresno Pacific (1) – 65
4. Azusa Pacific (1) – 62
5. Hawai’i Pacific – 53
6. Point Loma Nazarene – 41
7. Hawai’i-Hilo – 26
8. Holy Names – 23
9. Academy of Art – 9
2015 Preseason All-PacWest Baseball Team
Stephen Lohr (C) – California Baptist
Kevin Kline (1B) – Dixie State
Yuto Kata (2B) – Dixie State
Michael Hostetler (3B) – Fresno Pacific
Tyler Tokunaga (SS) – Hawai’i Pacific
Andy Crowley (OF) – California Baptist
Trey Kamachi (OF) – Dixie State
Derek Nakasato (OF) – Hawai’i Pacific
Nathan Antoun (DH) – California Baptist
Wilson Ashford (SP) – Fresno Pacific
John Conquy (SP) – Dixie State
Evan Parker (RP) – Dixie State
PacWest Preseason Player of the Year – Andy Crowley (California Baptist)
PacWest Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Wilson Ashford (Fresno Pacific)