LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Chaminade University baseball team is picked to finish 11th in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Poll as voted by the conference coaches.
The Silverswords, who are entering Year 2 of the sport's revival, received 29 points in the poll, 11 behind the University of Hawai'i Hilo and 14 ahead of PacWest newcomer Menlo College.
Three-time defending conference champion Point Loma was picked by the coaches to four-peat, receiving nine of the 12 first-place votes. Westmont College, which finished as the runner-up in its first year as a PacWest member, got two first-place votes as the predicted second-place finisher. Concordia University Irvine was picked third while Azusa Pacific was fourth. Hawai'i Pacific University, which received the final first-place vote, was picked fifth.
The top four eligible teams at the end of the regular season receive berths to the PacWest Championships starting May 7 in Fresno, California, which will determine the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA West Regionals. First-year members Jessup University, Vanguard University and Menlo are not eligible as they are transitioning from the NAIA.
The Silverswords return 22 players from a season ago including senior All-PacWest Third Team first baseman
Casey Kudell (Irvine, Calif./Irvine Valley College/Irvine HS), who finished second on the team at .331 and 32 RBI and sophomore outfielder
Aydan Lobetos (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) who hit .298 and led the 'Swords with 10 stolen bases.
Head coach
Chad Konishi also has his top three pitchers of the rotation back in
Max Patterson (Honolulu/Olympic College/Kalani HS), whose three wins lead the team,
Xavier Stoker (Cedar City, Utah/College of the Canyons//Canyon View HS) and
Mac Elske (Lake Oswego, Ore./Lower Columbia CC/Lakeridge HS).
Brayden Wells (Pullman, Wash./Lower Columbia CC/Pullman HS), who started seven games before an injury cost him the second half of the season, also returns as does closer
Rhyn Chambers (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente), who had four saves and a 1.66 ERA.
Chaminade opens the season with a two-game series against Drury University, starting Friday, Jan. 31 at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park Baseball Complex. First pitch is at 6 p.m. The second game of the series will move to newly refurbished Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu on Sunday, Feb. 2.
PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll
| 1. |
Point Loma |
139 (9) |
| 2. |
Westmont |
132 (2) |
| 3. |
Concordia |
110 |
| 4. |
Azusa Pacific |
103 |
| 5. |
Hawai'i Pacific |
97 (1) |
| 6. |
Fresno Pacific |
83 |
| T7. |
Jessup |
66 |
| T7. |
Biola |
66 |
| 9. |
Vanguard |
56 |
| 10. |
Hawai'i Hilo |
40 |
| 11. |
CHAMINADE |
29 |
| 12. |
Menlo |
15 |
