Feb. 18, 2013

CollegeBaseballInsider.com surveyed college coaches around the country to preview the 2013 college baseball season by sharing their thoughts on the teams and players to watch in their conferences. CBI compiled their answers to provide insight on the upcoming season. click here for CBI Conference Previews

Today, we take a look at the West Coast Conference (six of nine coaches responded).

No change in membership from 2012

2012 regular season champion: Pepperdine

The team to beat: San Diego

The top starting pitchers: *Marco Gonzales, Gonzaga; Abe Bobb, San Francisco; Travis Radke, Portland; Trevor Megill, Loyola Marymount

The top closer: Michael Wagner, San Diego

The pitcher you least want to face: *Marco Gonzales, Gonzaga

The most underrated pitcher: Abe Bobb, San Francisco

The best defensive catcher: *Colton Plaia, Loyola Marymount

The best catcher arm: *Colton Plaia, Loyola Marymount

The best defensive infielder: Austin Davidson, Pepperdine

The best infield arm: Kris Bryant, San Diego

The best defensive outfielder: Justin Maffei, San Francisco

The best outfield arm: No player received more than one vote

The best pure hitters: *Kris Bryant, San Diego; Clayton Eslick, Gonzaga; Marco Gonzales, Gonzaga

The biggest power threats: *Colton Plaia, Loyola Marymount; *Kris Bryant, San Diego; Turner Gill, Portland

The hitter you least want to face: *Kris Bryant, San Diego

The toughest hitter to strike out: Clayton Eslick, Gonzaga

The most underrated hitter: No player received more than one vote

The best baserunner: *Justin Maffei, San Francisco

The best game coach: Nino Giarratano, San Francisco

The assistant coach most ready for a head-coaching job: Jay Johnson, San Diego

*unanimous selection