SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team enters the 2026 campaign as the preseason No. 2 squad in the West Region, the NCBWA announced in its annual poll.
 
The Otters received 78 points and one first place vote, behind the preseason favorite of Northwest Nazarene, who tallied 87 points and seven first place votes.
 
CSUMB was tabbed the unanimous preseason favorite in the CCAA Coaches poll, receiving 81 points and all nine first-place votes.
 
The Otters have won three consecutive CCAA Tournaments and the last four CCAA regular-season titles. Last year, CSUMB went 39-19 overall and posted a 26-14 CCAA record. 

Monterey Bay won its NCAA Regional pod and reached the NCAA Super Regional for the third straight year.

The Otters return CCAA honorable mention selections Andrew Kotin and Noah Zertuche. Kotin posted seven saves and held opposing batters to a .202 clip. Zertuche batted .307 and added nine home runs and drove in 31. Monterey. Bay welcomes NCBWA All-Region and CCAA first-team transfer Kyle Olimpia from San Francisco State.

CSUMB will open the 2026 season on the road for a three-game set at Point Loma. The two squads face off in a doubleheader on Friday, Jan. 30, and close out the series with a Saturday matinee. 

Rank Team (1st Place Votes) 2025 Record Pts 
1 Northwest Nazarene (7) 46-16 87 
2 Cal State Monterey Bay (1) 39-19 78 
3 Point Loma (1) 39-18 74 
4 Westmont 43-14 67 
5 Chico State 31-22 50 
6 Hawaii Pacific 32-22 34 
7 Montana State Billings 33-22 33 
T8 Jessup 31-19 23 
T8 Cal State Dominguez Hills 29-22 23 
10 Cal Poly Pomona 15-34 12 

Receiving Votes: Cal State San Marcos (7), Western Oregon (6), Cal State San Bernardino (3), Concordia Irvine
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