PacWest Baseball: UH-Hilo Picked Last in Preseason Poll

University of Hawai’i at Hilo baseball coach Kallen Miyataki. UH-Hilo photo.

Coaches around the PacWest Conference don’t expect the University of Hawai’i at Hilo baseball team to be a major player this season.

UH-Hilo’s baseball program was ranked last out of 10 teams in the 2016 PacWest Preseason Poll, which is determined by voting from each of the conference’s head coaches.

California Baptist and Dixie State each received 88 points, tying for the top spot in the preseason poll. The Lancers received six first place votes, while Dixie State, last year’s champion, collected two first place votes.

Azusa Pacific picked up two first place votes as well and came in at third place. Rounding out the projected rankings were Point Loma Nazarene, Fresno Pacific, Concordia, Hawai’i Pacific University, Academy of Art, Holy Names, and Hawai’i-Hilo.

Kallen Miyataki returns to lead the UH-Hilo baseball team for a third season. His Vulcans were 11-36 last season and 7-24 in PacWest play.

Opening night for the University of Hawai’i at Hilo baseball team will be on Feb. 13, when the Vulcans open a two-game home series with the University of Hawai’i at Wong Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

2016 PacWest Preseason Baseball Poll (first place votes in parenthesis)

California Baptist (6) – 88 points

Dixie State (2) – 88

Azusa Pacific (2) – 78

Point Loma Nazarene – 66

Fresno Pacific – 63

Concordia – 52

Hawai’i Pacific – 49

Academy of Art – 25

Holy Names – 22

Hawai’i-Hilo – 19

2016 Preseason All-PacWest Baseball Team

Catcher – Mark Sanchez (Cal Baptist)

First Base – Antonio Chavarria (Cal Baptist)

Second Base – Drew McLaughlin (Dixie State)

Third Base – Stephen Lohr (Cal Baptist)

Shortstop – Tanner Morache (Dixie State)

Outfield – Mitch Dergazarian (Azusa Pacific), AJ Derr (Point Loma), Preston Scott (Fresno Pacific)

Pitcher – Rico Garcia (Hawai’i Pacific), Tyson Miller (Cal Baptist)

Relief Pitcher – Coleman Huntley III (Point Loma)