SEASIDE, Calif. — If the prognosticators know their stuff, expect the Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team to return to the postseason once again in 2018. CSUMB was tabbed for a fourth–place finish in the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season as picked by the conference baseball coaches.

Defending conference champion Chico State (6) and defending West Region Champion UC San Diego (5) split all but one of the 12 first place votes to claim the top two spots in the survey. Cal Poly Pomona, which advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series in two of the last three seasons, claimed the other first place vote and is projected to finish in third place.

CSUMB finished in third place in the CCAA's North Division in 2017, going 20–18 in conference action and 28–24 overall. The Otters won the CCAA North Division title in 2016. CSUMB won the CCAA title outright in 2013 and has advanced to the postseason in four of the last five years.

The Otters will go to battle in 2018 with another strong roster, headlined by 2017 first team All–CCAA second baseman Myles Hager (Tarzana/Chaminade Prep). Joining Hager will be fellow 2017 All–CCAA selections Hayden Duer (Davis HS) and Max Sanderson (Foothill HS/Chabot College).

Opening day for the Otters will be Thursday, Feb. 8 when they begin a 3–game series at Point Loma University in San Diego. The 2018 CSUMB home opener occurs Friday, Feb. 16 when the Otters open a 3–game series against West Oregon at the Otter Sports Complex.
 

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No.	SCHOOL [1st place votes]	POINTS	2017 (CCAA)	2017 (ALL)
1	Chico State [6]	116	34–4	45–11
2	UC San Diego [2]	113	24–13	44–19
3	Cal Poly Pomona [1]	104	27–11	34–22
4	CSUMB	84	20–18	28–24
5	Cal State L.A.	71	19–19	27–24
6	Sonoma State	70	19–19	24–21
7	Stanislaus State	69	23–15	34–18
8	Cal State East Bay	55	16–21	25–24
9	Cal State Dominguez Hills	38	12–26	14–35
10	Cal State San Marcos	27	7–31	17–33
11	San Francisco State	27	14–24	18–31
12	Cal State San Bernardino	18	12–26	14–35