Long Beach State University Athletics
Dirtbags Picked to Win the Big West
2/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 15, 2008
IRVINE-- Long Beach State Baseball is picked to win the Big West Conference according to the conference's coaches, the first time in recent memory that the Dirtbags are picked ahead of arch rival CS Fullerton. The Dirtbags received 77 overall points and five first place nods, while the Titans received 74 points and four place nods.
This is the closest pre-season poll between the two programs since 2003 when the two programs were separated by two points. LBSU ended up winning the Big West that year, despite being picked second and went onto the Super Regional.
The Dirtbags are also ranked No. 13 in Baseball America's pre-season poll, released today, the only Big West program ranked, despite featuring two of the eight teams that reached the College World Series in the nine-team conference.
The rest of the coaches pre-season standings are as followed: Cal Poly (58 points), UC Irvine (52), UC Riverside (51), UC Santa Barbara (29), Pacific (24), CS Northridge (20), UC Davis (20).
The 49ers have won eight conference titles, reached 18 NCAA Regionals and four College World Series. Last year the program had 11 former players in the Major Leagues, of which many of them will be a part of the team's Leadoff Weekend starting on Thursday. Information can be obtained by calling (562) 985-4662.
Season tickets are also on sale, which includes home games with four College World Series teams and five teams ranked in Baseball America's top-25. For tickets call (562) 985-4949.
Three of the top-15 teams in the country will be a part of the sixth annual College Baseball Media Day at the Walter Pyramid on February 13, including pre-season No. 1 UCLA and No. 11-ranked San Diego. Thirteen area schools will take part in the annual event. Media members are asked to RSVP by the end of the month.
2008 Coaches Poll Results
1. Long Beach State (5) - 77
2. Cal State Fullerton (4) - 74
3. Cal Poly - 58
4. UC Irvine - 52
5. UC Riverside - 51
6. UC Santa Barbara - 29
7. Pacific - 24
T8. Cal State Northridge - 20
T8. UC Davis - 20
Baseball America Pre-Season Top-25
1. UCLA
2. Arizona
3. Vanderbilt
4. Ole Miss
5. North Carolina
6. Missouri
7. Oregon State
8. Michigan
9. Arizona State
10. Miami
11. San Diego
12. South Carolina
13. DIRTBAGS
14. Rice
15. Baylor
16. Texas
17. Virginia
18. Fresno State
19. Louisiana-Lafayette
20. Wichita State
21. Texas A&M
22. Tulane
23. Clemson
24. East Carolina
25. Old Dominion
