Feb. 10, 2016 LMU Baseball Schedule |
2016 WCC Baseball Preseason Poll
The LMU baseball team, led by eighth-year head coach Jason Gill, was picked to finish tied with Saint Mary's for third in the competitive West Coast Conference, it was announced by the conference office after polling all 10 of the head coaches during the preseason. San Diego, which received six of the 10 first-place votes, topped the conference poll, earning 76 points, while Pepperdine (three) and the Lions (one) both earned at least one first-place vote. The WCC also announced the preseason All-Conference team, as junior outfielder Austin Miller was joined by sophomore right-hander Sean Watkins on the Preseason All-WCC squad.
Miller is one of 10 position players on the preseason All-WCC team, while Watkins, who is a two-way player for LMU, is one of five pitchers selected. All told, eight of the 10 WCC schools are represented on the preseason All-West Coast Conference team, led by Pepperdine which placed two position players and a pitcher on the squad. Gonzaga, LMU, Saint Mary's, San Diego and Santa Clara each placed two on the preseason list. This year's preseason team features one position player and one pitcher who were named to the 2015 advance list. Six student-athletes captured All-WCC honors last season with three each appearing on the 2015 first and second teams, including one major award winner: San Diego's Bryson Brigman (Freshman of the Year).
Miller, tabbed Preseason All-WCC a year ago, was a second team All-WCC selection as a sophomore in 2015 after hitting .314 with 43 runs scored, 11 doubles, two triples, three homers and 27 RBI while starting all 55 games for the Lions in centerfield. Miller reached at a .402 clip and slugged .422 while drawing 17 walks and 16 hit-by-pitches â€" tied for fifth-most in LMU history for a single season. The speedy outfielder swiped 15 bags in 21 attempts to lead the team, while also pacing the squad in runs, hits and on-base percentage. In WCC play, Miller batted .333 with five doubles, a triple, two homers, 19 runs scored and 14 RBI.
Watkins turned in the third-best ERA in LMU history (1.89) as a freshman in 2015. He also had the second-lowest opponent batting average in program history during his first season (.201) en route to garnering Freshman All-American honors and an honorable mention All-WCC nod. Watkins went 4-1 over 17 appearances and nine starts last year while combining on a pair of shutouts. The native of Pacifica, Calif. struck out 49 over 57 innings and did not allow an earned run over his first 19 collegiate innings of work. In conference play, Watkins went 3-0 with 31 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA over 43.1 innings.
The Lions finished the 2015 season with a 33-21-1 record, reaching the WCC Championship Game for the second straight year. The 33 victories were the most for a Lion team since recording 40 in 2000 (40-19).
The 2016 LMU baseball season begins on February 19 when the Lions travel to TCU for a three-game series with the Horned Frogs. LMU is scheduled to play only 21 regular-season home games this year.
2016 WCC Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Vote) | Pts.
1. San Diego (6) | 76
2. Pepperdine (3) | 72
3. LMU (1) | 56
3. Saint Mary's | 56
5. BYU | 51
6. Gonzaga | 43
7. Santa Clara | 38
8. San Francisco | 28
9. Pacific | 17
10. Portland | 13
2016 All-WCC Preseason Baseball Team â€" Position Players
Name | Institution | Yr. | Pos.
Aaron Barnett | Pepperdine | Jr. | C
Stevie Berman | Santa Clara | Jr. | C
Bryson Brigman | San Diego | So. | IF
Gio Brusa | Pacific | Sr. | OF
Brandon Caruso | Pepperdine | Jr. | OF
Taylor Jones | Gonzaga | Sr. | IF
Austin Miller | LMU | Jr. | OF
Colton Shaver | BYU | So. | C
Anthony Villa | Saint Mary's | Sr. | IF
Colton Waltner | San Diego | Jr. | C
2016 All-WCC Preseason Baseball Team â€" Pitchers
Name | Institution | Yr. | Pos.
Brandon Bailey | Gonzaga | Jr. | RHP
Corbin Burnes | Saint Mary's | Jr. | RHP
Sean Watkins | LMU | So. | RHP
Ryan Wilson | Pepperdine | So. | LHP
Mitchell White | Santa Clara | So. | RHP
