draft pick Austin Allen and the school’s first-ever SSC Pitcher of the Year in Scotty Ward. However, Florida Tech has welcomed University of Florida transfers Tyler Deel and John Sternagel to help bolster an already strong core of returning players, featuring all-region performer Reid Neal and 2015 freshman standout Ty Cohen.
As the defending West Region Champions, the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos were unanimously picked by the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) coaches to repeat as the league champions in 2016. The conference office announced the results of the poll on Thursday.
CPP did see the loss of some big names with five draftees last season. Cody Ponce, Christian Kelley, Kyle Garlick, Richie McWilliams, and Chris Powell all were selected in the 2015 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
The Broncos do see the return of a number of starters though in the upcoming 2016 season as All-American Ryan Olson, the CPP record holder for pitcher winning percentage at 100%, will take the mound again. Joining Olson will be the 2015 West Regional MVP Ryan Webberley and the CCAA Tournament MVP Michael Zidek. Also with spots on the mound will be senior Max Bethell and junior Michael Koval.
Back to coach for his sixth season is Randy Betten. Betten was named the 2015 CCAA Coach of the Year at the CCAA banquet prior to the Championship Tournament.
With the addition of Cal State San Marcos into the CCAA, the season's schedule has changed its format and split into two divisions. All teams now will play four-game series against the in division teams and three-game series against the out-of-division teams.
CPP was selected to finish first in the conference will 11 first-place votes and 121 points. They also received 61 total points to sweep the south region vote. UC San Diego was picked to finish second to the Broncos in both the overall count and the southern region.
The Rams, which finished 2015 with a 42-18 record, ended its season with is second program appearence in the NCAA DII College World Series. The team also claimed its third Lone Star Conference tournament title while it finished 21-14 in conference play.
In addition, the NCBWA also named shortstop Paxton DeLaGarza, outfielder Nehwon Norkeh and pitcher Graylon Brown to its 2016 Preseason All-Region First Team. DeLaGarza averaged .338 from the batter's box, knocking in a team first 53 RBIs. The senior also launched a team second nine home runs and led Angelo State with a .595 slugging percentage. Norkeh was .319 from the plate cranking a team leading 10 homers and a team second 40 runs batted in. From the mound Brown played a key role as the team's primary closer recording the most saves in a single season (12) and will look to increase his record for the career saves in Ram baseball history (17). He finished the year credited with three wins, having pitched 48.2 innings with a 3.33 ERA. Pitcher Bryce Zak was named to NCBWA's All-Region Second Team. He earned five wins in 70.2 innings pitched, and closed out the season with a 2.67 ERA to earn second team All-LSC honors. Zak was second in the LSC in runs allowed (27) and earned runs allowed (21). The Rams were joined by fellow Lone Star Conference members West Texas A&M at No.6 and Texas A&M – Kingsville at No.7. ASU was the only member of the LSC to be ranked in the D2 Baseball News preseason poll.
#10
Courtesy of broncoathletics.com
CAL POLY
POMONA
#13
ANGELO STATE
Courtesy of Angelosports.com
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