College baseball season opens this week, with Long Beach State expected to battle Cal State Fullerton for supremacy in the Big West Conference, Pepperdine forecast as a West Coast Conference title contender and UCLA and USC hoping for bounce-back seasons in the always-competitive Pac-12 Conference.
Here’s a look at the Los Angeles-area teams:
2016: 25-31, 12-18 in Pac-12 (10th)
Top returners: Griffin Canning, RHP, 5-8, 4 saves, 3.70 earned-run average, 2017 preseason Baseball America third-team All-American; Sean Bouchard, 1B, .295, 23 runs, 36 runs batted in; Kyle Molnar, RHP, 5-5, 3.32 ERA.
Top newcomers: Nick Valaika, SS, redshirted last season after appearing in 11 games as a freshman in 2015; Chase Strumpf, SS, JSerra HS.
Opener: Friday, San Jose State at Jackie Robinson Stadium, 6 p.m.
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2016: 28-28, 15-15 in Pac-12 (7th)
Top returners: Mitch Hart, RHP, former freshman All-America made only 10 starts last season because of an injury; Corey Dempster, OF, .290, 6 HR, 35 runs, 10 SB; Frankie Rios, Inf., .323, 32 runs.
Top newcomers: Christian Moya, OF, South Hills HS; Chris Clarke, RHP, Newbury Park HS; Brady Shockey, OF, JSerra.
Opener: Friday, Coppin State at Dedeaux Field, 6 p.m.
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2016: 33-22, 11-13 in Big West (7th, tie)
Top returners: Fred Smith, Inf., .314, 34 runs, 21-game hitting streak; Dylan Alexander, C, threw out 18 of 32 base-stealers; Conner O’Neil, RHP, 5-5, 3.07 ERA, 10 saves, 70 K in 58 2/3 IP.
Top newcomers: Riley Conlan, OF, Moorpark College; Kevin Riley, Inf., Chaffey College; Nick Sablock, LHP/OF, El Camino College.
Opener: Friday, Portland at Matador Field, 2 p.m.
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2016: 36-23, 17-7 in Big West (1st)
Top returners: Colton Eastman, RHP, 8-3, 2.24 ERA, 100 K in 100 2/3 IP, 2017 preseason Baseball America third-team All-America; Timmy Richards, Inf., .280, 12 doubles, 9 HR, 38 runs, 31 RBI, 10 SB; Connor Seabold, RHP, 7-6, 2.48 ERA, 10.67 K-to-BB ratio; John Gavin, LHP, 6-3, 2.09 ERA.
Top newcomers: Dillon Persinger, Inf., state JC player of the year from Golden West College; Chris Prescott, LF, Orange Coast College.
Opener: Thursday, Stanford at Goodwin Field, 7 p.m.
2016: 38-22, 15-9 in Big West (2nd)
Top returners: Darren McCaughan, 10-1, 2.03 ERA, Big West Conference pitcher of the year; Luke Rasmussen, DH, .305, 5 HR, 46 RBI; Daniel Jackson, 1B/C, .321, 6 HR; Brock Lundquist, OF, .315, 36 RBI; David Banuelos, C, .299, 26 RBI.
Top newcomers: AJ Jones, RHP, College of Southern Nevada; Markus Montelongo, Inf., South Mountain (Ariz.) CC.
Opener: Friday, Oklahoma at Blair Field, 6 p.m.
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2016: 31-25, 11-13 in Big West (7th, tie)
Top returners: Keston Hiura, OF, .358, 41 runs, 7 HR, 41 RBI; Mikey Duarte, SS, redshirted last season, .345 and All-Big West in 2015; Cameron Bishop, LHP, 5-5, 4.61 ERA; Calvin Faucher, RHP, 3-1, 8 saves, 0.71 ERA.
Top newcomers: Christian Koss, Inf., Riverside JW North HS; Andre Pallante, RHP, San Clemente HS.
Opener: Friday, Minnesota at Anteater Ballpark, 6:30 p.m.
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2016: 26-29, 12-12 in Big West (4th, tie)
Top returners: Mark Contreras, Util., .333, 14 doubles, 32 runs; Angel Landazuri, RHP, 5-5, 4.73 ERA; Colby Schultz, Inf., 4 HR, 27 runs; Ryan Lillie, RHP, 4-3, 7 saves, 4.15 ERA.
Top newcomers: Daniel Martinez, SS/RHP, Ramona HS; Connor Cannon, RHP/1B, Temecula Valley HS.
Opener: Friday, vs. Nebraska at Tempe (Ariz.) Diablo Stadium, noon.
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2016: 43-20, 13-11 in Big West (3rd)
Top returners: Kyle Nelson, LHP, 7-2, 2.18 ERA, 10 saves; Austin Bush, 1B, 11 HR, 49 RBI; JJ Muno, .294, 18 HBP, 17 SB; Clay Fisher, SS, .285; Noah Davis, RHP, 7-4, 4.46 ERA.
Top newcomers: Colton Burns, 2B, College of the Canyons; Landon Silver, OF, Huntington Beach HS; Armani Smith, Util., Concord De La Salle HS.
Opener: Thursday, at Loyola Marymount, 2 p.m.
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2016: 26-27, 13-14 in West Coast (6th, tie)
Top returners: Phil Caulfield, OF, .309, 27 runs; Niko Decolati, OF/RHP, .306, 4 HR, 33 RBI; Blake Redman, RHP, 6-5, 4.50 ERA.
Top newcomers: Cooper Uhl, C, Trabuco Hills HS; Trevin Esquerra, Inf., San Diego Patrick Henry HS.
Opener: Thursday, UC Santa Barbara at Page Stadium, 2 p.m.
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2016: 29-24, 16-11 in West Coast (4th)
Top returners: Ryan Wilson, LHP, 2-0, 6 saves, 0.63 ERA; Aaron Barnett, C, .292, 15 doubles; Ben Rodriguez, 1B, .289, 9 HR; Matt Gelalich, OF, .275.
Top newcomers: Will Jensen, RHP, Cottonwood (Utah) HS; Brandt Belk, Inf., Houston Westside HS; Quincy McAfee, Inf., Houston Westside HS.
Opener: Friday, St. Joseph’s at Eddy D. Field Stadium, 2 p.m.
Sights and sounds from Saturday's Dodgers FanFest at Dodger Stadium.
Sights and sounds from Saturday's Dodgers FanFest at Dodger Stadium.
Sights and sounds from Saturday's Dodgers FanFest at Dodger Stadium.
Sights and sounds from Saturday's Dodgers FanFest at Dodger Stadium.
After a first half in which he played like that impostor in a Tom Brady mask, the New England Patriots quarterback put on a Super Bowl performance for the ages Sunday, leading his team back from a 25-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, 34-28.
After a first half in which he played like that impostor in a Tom Brady mask, the New England Patriots quarterback put on a Super Bowl performance for the ages Sunday, leading his team back from a 25-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, 34-28.
Chargers owners Dean and John Spanos talk about the team as it prepares to relocate to L.A.
Chargers owners Dean and John Spanos talk about the team as it prepares to relocate to L.A.
New Rams Coach Sean McVay talks about his vision for the team.
New Rams Coach Sean McVay talks about his vision for the team.
Lindsey Thiry and Nathan Fenno discuss the Chargers' announcement they are moving to Los Angeles.
Lindsey Thiry and Nathan Fenno discuss the Chargers' announcement they are moving to Los Angeles.
mike.hiserman@latimes.com
Twitter: @MikeHiserman
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