The last five full baseball seasons in the Pacific West Conference have seen either Azusa Pacific or Point Loma hoist a trophy as the end of the campaign. According to the PacWest coaches, you wouldn't expect 2024 to be any different.
The Cougars are the preseason favorites by one poll digit, edging the Sea Lions, 76-75. But Point Loma had more first place votes (5) than APU (4). Last year, the Sea Lions won the regular season title, but the Cougars claimed the crown for the first-ever PacWest Tournament.
That's business as usual lately in the PacWest.
The Cougars won the PacWest regular season title in 2017, 2018 and 2019. There were no championships in 2020 or 2021 (COVID-19), and when full play resumed, it was the Sea Lions winning in 2022 and 2023. The Cougars have been to the NCAA postseason six straight times and PLNU has advanced past the regular season in four of the last five seasons.
First pitch for the 2024 season is on Feb. 1.
HAWAI'I HILO
Hawai'i Hilo takes the seventh spot, just one voting point ahead of rival HPU. The Vulcans return Third Team pick Alec Yamauchi but must replace five-year star Casey Yamauchi. The Vulcans went 25-19 last season under veteran head coach Kallen Miyataki.
2024 Baseball PacWest Preseason Awards
Player of the Year
Scott Anderson | Point Loma | SS | SR
Pitcher of the Year
Riley O'Sullivan | CUI | P | SR
2024 Baseball PacWest Preseason Team
| POS |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
YEAR |
| C |
Jordan Smith |
Fresno Pacific |
SR |
| 1B |
Spencer Rasmussen |
Azusa Pacific |
SR |
| 2B |
Tommy Rover |
Fresno Pacific |
JR |
| 3B |
AJ Ortiz |
Biola |
SR |
| SS |
Scott Anderson |
Point Loma |
SR |
| OF |
Michael Dixon II |
Concordia |
SR |
| OF |
Esai Santos |
Point Loma |
GR |
| OF |
Jack Malone |
Point Loma |
JR |
| DH |
Jake Entrekin |
Point Loma |
JR |
| SP |
Riley O'Sullivan |
CUI |
SR |
| SP |
Isaac Mendez |
Azusa Pacific |
SR |
| SP |
Dylan Miller |
Point Loma |
SR |
| RP |
Jake Vargas |
Azusa Pacific |
SR |
| UTL |
Omar Lopez |
Azusa Pacific |
SR |
