This week
The Point Loma baseball team will host Cal State LA in its 2016 home opener on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 2:00 p.m. The teams will also play a game on Friday, Feb. 12 at PLNU, at 2:00 p.m., before closing the series out with a doubleheader at CSULA on Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m.
 
Follow along
If you are unable to attend this week's games, or any PacWest games this season, they will all be available for fans to follow on live stats and live video. Live stats will be free of charge while video stream will vary in price based on the venue. PLNU home matches are $8.95 on a pay-per-view basis. To access both live stats and live video visit plnusealions.com/gameday.
 
Fiesta Fridays return
For the second consecutive year, Point Loma will be holding a Fiesta Friday celebration at all its Friday games. This season the Sea Lions have teamed up with Miguel's Cocina to provide chips, salsa and their famous white sauce at every Fiesta Friday. We look forward to seeing everyone there.
 
A look at the Sea Lions
Point Loma opened the season with a daunting road trip to Chico State, and dropped all three games in the series. The Sea Lions' pitchers threw well, posting a 2.10 earned run average, but unfortunately the offense averaged only 1.0 runs per game against a quality Wildcats pitching staff. Devin Carter went 6-for-11 over the weekend with two stolen bases. He is hitting .545 and leads the team with six total bases. Newcomer Mike Gordner is hitting .308 and Tanner Handa is batting .300. Starting pitchers Kevin Lillicrop and Trevor Abshire have 1.50 earned run averages after posting six inning starts.
 
A look at the Golden Eagles
Cal State LA opened up the season with a three-game series against California Baptist. CSULA went 1-2 in the series, winning the opening game 8-2. The Golden Eagles posted a 2.25 earned run average as staff and allowed just 26 hits in 28 innings. Offensively, CSULA hit .218 while averaging 4.0 runs scored.
 
Huntley named preseason All-American
Point Loma's Coleman Huntley III was named the closer on the Hero Sports preseason All-American team. He is the first to ever earn this honor. Nicknamed the "Polar Express," Huntley paced NCAA Division II during the regular season with 13 saves. As a junior he struck out 30 batters in 25 innings, and ended the year with a 2-2 record and a 2.52 ERA.
 
Point Loma places two on PacWest preseason team
AJ Derr and Coleman Huntley III were both named to the PacWest preseason team.  AJ Derr, a senior from Turlock, Calif. (Pitman HS), earned third team All-PacWest honors last season as an outfielder after leading PLNU with a .340 batting average and a .434 on-base percentage. He had 19 RBI and scored 36 runs. He also added nine stolen bases. Coleman Huntley III paced NCAA Division II in the regular season with 13 saves and was named to the Daktronics All-West Region team.
 
PLNU picked fourth in PacWest
The Point Loma baseball team was picked to finish fourth in the PacWest Conference standings, according to the preseason coaches' poll.  PLNU is coming off a 33-18 season in 2015, in which they set the school record with a 17-game winning streak and qualified for the NCAA West Regional. The Sea Lions earned 66 points in the poll. They were three ahead of Fresno Pacific (63) for fourth place, and 12 back of Azusa Pacific (78) for third. California Baptist and Dixie State tied for first in the poll with 88 points apiece. CBU received six of the 10 first-place votes from the league's coaches.
 
Next week
Point Loma will host a four-game series against Eastern New Mexico starting on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 2:00 p.m.