2016 Schedule  I  Video: Pilots Open 2016 Season with First Practice

SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- The reigning West Coast Conference champion San Diego Toreros were picked to win it all once again this year in the 2016 preseason poll of the league's 10 head coaches. The Toreros earned six of 10 possible first-place votes and 76 overall points in the poll.
 
The Pepperdine Waves, who are the two-time defending WCC Tournament Champions, earned 72 points and picked up three first place votes. The Waves represented the conference in the NCAA postseason for the second straight year in 2015.
 
Loyola Marymount collected 56 points to go along with the remaining first place vote and was picked to finish third along with Saint Mary's. BYU was tabbed fifth with 51 points, followed by Gonzaga in sixth place with 43 votes.
 
Santa Clara (38), San Francisco (28), Pacific (17) and Portland (13) round out the poll.
 
The Pilots are in their first year under new head coach Geoff Loomis, who starred on the diamond for the Pilots from 1990-92. Loomis returns to The Bluff from Pacific Lutheran, where he compiled an impressive 327-197-2 (.624) record over the last 13 seasons. Loomis led the Lutes to 11 winning seasons during his tenure, including NCAA Regional appearances in 2007 and 2015 and Northwest Conference Championships in 2007 and 2009.
 
He'll lead a squad this year that returns 25 letter winners, including 12 seniors, and six position starters. Portland also features a veteran pitching staff as four starters return from last season. New to the program are nine newcomers.
 
The Pilots open the 2016 regular season with a four-game series at UC Davis the weekend of Feb. 29-31. The Pilots then return to the friendly confines where they'll play under the lights for the first time in program history when they host Oakland on Friday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field. Oakland will be in town for four games total and the weekend will also feature Portland Baseball's 2016 Diamond Dinner, which is scheduled for Saturday night, Feb. 27, following the afternoon game against the Golden Grizzlies.
 
Portland opens the WCC slate at LMU (March 18-20) and the 2016 WCC Baseball Championships will be held at Banner Island Ballpark May 26-28 in Stockton, Calif.
 
2016 WCC Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Vote), Points
1. San Diego (6), 76
2. Pepperdine (3), 72
3. Loyola Marymount (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 – 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, Loyola Marymount, 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 – Pitchers
Name, Institution, Yr., Pos.
Brandon Bailey, Gonzaga, Jr., RHP
Corbin Burnes, Saint Mary's, Jr., RHP
Sean Watkins, Loyola Marymount, So., RHP
Ryan Wilson, Pepperdine, So., LHP
Mitchell White, Santa Clara, So., RHP