Jan. 7, 2004

San Bruno, Calif. -- West Coast Conference coaches have selected Loyola Marymount baseball to finish fourth in 2004, the conference announced in the annual preseason poll. The Lions finished the 2003 season in sixth place with a 26-30 overall and 13-17 conference record.

LMU earned 33 votes in the preseason poll, good for the fourth place prediction. Pepperdine was picked to win the conference title in 2004, after garnering 49 votes.

The conference splits its eight teams into two divisions, with the Lions playing in the Coast division. LMU is listed in second in its division, behind San Diego's 39 votes.

The Lions take the field under the leadership of Head Coach Frank Cruz, who enters his eighth season at LMU. With three victories, Cruz will become the second LMU baseball coach to reach the 200-win milestone. "The poll is probably accurate for a preseason prediction," Cruz said. "The conference as a whole is even stronger this season than it has been in the past few years. We are fortunate to be predicted in the fourth spot, but once the conference season opens, anything can happen."

Coming off of three conference championships in the last six seasons, LMU returns 14 lettermen, led by All-WCC first-team selections Jonathan Higashi and Billy Lockin, and 2003 All-WCC second-team and honorable mention recipients Jonathan Oller and Joe Frazee. The Lions open the 2004 season at home in Page Stadium on Tuesday, February 10, when they face UC Riverside at 2:00 p.m.

2004 WCC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll
Place School (First Place Votes) Points
1. Pepperdine (7) 49
2. San Diego (1) 39
3. Santa Clara 36
4. Loyola Marymount 33
5. San Francisco 23
6. Gonzaga 22
7. Saint Mary's 13
8. Portland 9

-GO LIONS-