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)