UC San Diego gets CCAA coaches’ nod

UC San Diego Athletics

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Two-time defending conference champion and NCAA Division II championship runner-up UC San Diego has been selected to capture the 2011 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular-season baseball title in a vote of conference coaches.

The Tritons totaled 100 points and garnered 10 first-place votes to finish ahead of Chico State in the balloting. The Wildcats collected 84 points and received one first-place vote.

UC San Diego received 10 of 11 votes to claim the CCAA Tournament, scheduled for May 12-14 at Pacific’s Klein Family Field in Stockton. Sonoma State also garnered a vote to win the postseason tournament.

The Tritons will open the 2011 campaign ranked No. 2 nationally in Collegiate Baseball’s preseason poll. Southern Indiana — which defeated UC San Diego 6-4 to claim the 2010 national championship — tops the preseason poll.

UC San Diego is one of four CCAA teams to earn preseason national rankings. Cal State Dominguez Hills, which is coming off a 41-20 season that included an NCAA West Region berth, is ranked No. 27. Cal State San Bernardino is No. 34, following a season in which the Coyotes posted a 29-17 record and advanced to the CCAA Tournament.

Chico State is one of three teams tied for 40th in the preseason poll. The Wildcats concluded the 2010 season with a 35-20 record and reached the NCAA West Regional.

The 2011 campaign is set to open Feb. 3 as Cal State San Bernardino, Sonoma State, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A. will be in action. CCAA play begins on Feb. 18.