The Southland's 10 Division I college baseball programs are scheduled to open the season Friday, with the usual suspects appearing primed for a run toward a regional invitation.
UCLA and USC, regional teams last season, are expected to be among the top contenders in the Pac-12 Conference, with defending champion Cal State Fullerton and perennial contender UC Irvine the favorites in the Big West Conference, and Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount expected to be among the stronger teams in the West Coast Conference.
Here's a look at each of the local teams:
Pac-12 Conference
UCLA
2015 record: 45-16, 22-8 in conference (1st).