CSUDH Baseball Earns Preseason West Region Ranking After Highly Decorated 2006 Season
January 24, 2007

Carson, CA - After receiving numerous awards including CCAA Pitcher, Player, and Coach of the Year last season, the 2007 Toros Baseball squad has earned the 6th seed in the 2007 preseason West Region poll, it was announced this afternoon by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

The West Region is comprised of teams from the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), and Independent leagues.

Only the top six teams in the region qualify for the regional tournament, with the regional champion joining winners from the other seven regional tournaments across the nation in Montgomery, Alabama, for the Division II College World Series, which runs May 26-June 2, and is hosted by Valdosta State University.

Last season the Toros came out of nowhere to capture the first seed heading into the CCAA tournament with a 33-18 overall record and a 20-10 record in conference play after being selected to finish 8th in the 2006 CCAA preseason poll.

This season, former CSUDH baseball assistant coach Murphy Su’a has been handed the reigns after 2006 CCAA Coach of the Year George Wing announced his retirement on August 28, 2006.

Returning from last year’s team is 1st-Team All-CCAA honoree Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) and the 2005 CCAA Freshman of the Year Matt Hopps (Torrance, CA/South HS).

Puckett was one of the top freshmen in the CCAA last season, boasting a .308 batting average and a .456 slugging percentage. The then freshman showed a balance of power and speed with 4 home runs, 11 doubles, and a pair of triples to go along with his 5 stolen bases.

After sporting a .298 batting average with seven home runs and 45 RBIs as a true freshman, Hopps shifted to the mound last season. On the hill, Hopps had the second-lowest ERA among starters at 4.18, while recording 53 strikeouts in 60.1 innings on the mound.

Four-year senior and captain Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) is coming off another solid season at second base, and should provide the leadership as he concludes his fourth and final year in Cardinal & Gold.

Hernandez hit over a .300 clip for the second straight season, drove in a career high 32 runs, and set the new single-season fielding record with a fielding percentage of .987, making just three errors on the season.

West Region Preseason Poll

1. Chico State
2. Western Oregon
3. Cal State L.A.
3. Mesa State
5. UC San Diego
6. Cal State Dominguez Hills