LA JOLLA — Two-time defending conference champion and NCAA Division II Championship runner-up University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has been selected to win the 2011 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular season baseball title in a vote of conference coaches. This selection was announced on Wednesday, Jan. 26. The Tritons, who finished with a 54-8 record in 2010, 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. Cal State Dominguez Hills (81) was third in the balloting and followed by Cal State San Bernardino (69), Sonoma State (66), Cal State L.A. (56), Cal State Stanislaus (44) and Cal Poly Pomona (3). Cal State East Bay and San Francisco State tied for ninth in the voting with 24 points and Cal State Monterey Bay (17) was 11th. In addition to being picked to win the regular season title, UCSD received 10 of 11 votes to claim the CCAA Championship Tournament that is 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 their 2011 campaign ranked No. 2 nationally in Collegiate Baseball’s preseason poll. Southern Indiana, which defeated UCSD, 6-4, to claim the 2010 national championship, tops the preseason poll. UCSD is one of four CCAA teams to earn preseason national rankings from Collegiate Baseball. Cal State Dominguez Hills, which is coming off a 41-20 season that included an NCAA West Region Championship 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. UCSD plays three preseason games prior to opening the regular season. On Wednesday, Jan. 26, the Tritons host San Diego Christian College at 2 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 29, Point Loma Nazarene will help make history as the first ever night game is contested at Triton Ballpark. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. The preseason schedule wraps up on Tuesday, Feb. 1 when San Diego Christian returns for a 6 p.m. scrimmage under the lights. All three preseason games offer up free admission. The 2011 regular season begins with a four game series against Western Oregon Feb. 4-6. Friday’s opener starts at 6 p.m., Saturday’s doubleheader gets underway at noon and Sunday’s finalé begins at 11 a.m. 2011 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll 1. UC San Diego (10 first place votes), 100 points 2. Chico State (1), 84 3. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 81 4. Cal State San Bernardino, 69 5. Sonoma State, 66 6. Cal State L.A., 56 7. Cal State Stanislaus, 44 8. Cal Poly Pomona, 30 T9. Cal State East Bay, 24 T9. San Francisco State, 24 11. Cal State Monterey Bay, 17 CCAA Championship Tournament Teams UC San Diego Chico State Cal State Dominguez Hills Cal State San Bernardino Conference Tournament Champion UC San Diego (10) Sonoma State (1) — Staff report