WCC Release
 
Following a season in which the Loyola Marymount University Lions won their first ever West Coast Conference Tournament Championship, the Lions have been tabbed to finish third this year according to the 2020 WCC Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll. 
 
In addition to the preseason poll, which is voted on by all 10 of the conference head coaches, the WCC also released the 2020 All-WCC Preseason Baseball Team. LMU has two representatives on the team, as infielder Trevin Esquerra and right handed pitcher Nick Frasso earned spots. 
 
Esquerra, a Second Team All-WCC pick in 2019, hit a team-leading .322 while also pacing the Lions in numerous offensive categories including hits (75), homeruns (16), doubles (20), RBI (60) and slugging percentage (.622). Esquerra was also named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I West All-Region Second Team last year. The native of San Diego, Calif. was crucial in WCC play, hitting .288 with 18 runs, 32 hits, five doubles, and eight homers. He was also the team leader in multi-hit games with 24 and multi-RBI games with 19. 
 
Frasso, also a Second Team All-WCC selection in 2019, had an ERA of 2.22 to go with a pair of victories. He made 19 appearances, with five starts in 56.2 innings pitched while leading the Lions with 10 saves. Frasso was also recognized by the conference by being named to the WCC All-Tournament Team in 2019. The Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. native also paced the Lions in opposing team batting average at .154 and led LMU in games finished with 13.
 
For the second straight season, Gonzaga was selected by the Conference's ten head coaches to claim the WCC regular season title in 2020. In tight voting, the Zags (31-24, 18-9 WCC) received two first place votes and 71 overall. Defending regular season champion BYU (36-17, 19-8 WCC) earned five first-place votes and 68 total to place second on the poll.LMU (34-25, 15-12 WCC) broke through for the 2019 WCC Tournament Championship, making their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2000. The Lions were tabbed third with 65 points, including three first-place votes. Pepperdine (24-24, 14-13 WCC) and San Diego (32-21, 14-13 WCC) tied for fourth place on the survey with 52 votes apiece. San Francisco (30-26, 15-12 WCC) was slotted sixth in the poll with 46 votes. Saint Mary's (35-22, 17-10 WCC) was picked seventh with 40 points. Portland (20), Santa Clara (19) and Pacific (17) round out the 2020 poll.
 
The 2020 season begins on Friday, February 14 as the Lions host an opening weekend series against Pac-12 foe Washington at Page Stadium with first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m. First pitches for the 2020 WCC Baseball campaign will all begin on Feb. 14 with all ten teams in action.
 
2020 WCC Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll

Team (First Place Vote)		Pts.
1. Gonzaga	(2)	71
2. BYU	(5)	68
3. LMU	(3)	65
4. Pepperdine		52
4. San Diego		52
6. San Francisco		46
7. Saint Mary's		40
8. Portland		20
9. Santa Clara		19
10. Pacific		17

 
2020 All-WCC Preseason Baseball Team – Position Players

Name	Institution	Yr.	Pos.
Trevin Esquerra	LMU	Sr.	IF
Brett Harris	Gonzaga	Jr.	IF
Adam Kerner	San Diego	Jr.	C
Shane McGuire	San Diego	Jr.	C/IF
Mitch McIntyre	BYU	Jr.	OF
Chad Stevens	Portland	Jr.	IF
Tyler Villaroman	San Francisco	Sr.	OF
Jack Winkler	San Francisco	Jr.	IF
Ernie Yake	Gonzaga	Sr.	IF
Wyatt Young	Pepperdine	So.	IF

 
2020 All-WCC Preseason Baseball Team – Pitchers

Name	Institution	Yr.	Pos.
Nick Frasso	LMU	Jr.	RHP
Alek Jacob	Gonzaga	Jr.	RHP
Carlos Lomeli	Saint Mary's	Jr.	RHP
Riley Ornido	San Francisco	Sr.	RHP
Easton Walker	BYU	Jr.	RHP