Fresno Pacific Athletics

Coming off its first appearance in the NAIA World Series last spring, the Fresno Pacific baseball team is No. 9 in the pre-season NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 Poll released this week.

The Sunbirds, 39-21 last season, received 497 points. Defending national champion Lubbock Christian is ranked No. 1 with 684 points, and runner-up Point Loma Nazarene is second with 649 points.

The poll is conducted by coaches representing all 25 NAIA conferences.

Last season, the fourth for the Fresno Pacific program, the Sunbirds finished second in the Golden State Athletic Conference (24-12). They then earned the trip to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, by winning five straight elimination games to claim a regional in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Sunbirds won one game in Lewiston, 8-6 over Embry-Riddle. But losses to host school Lewis-Clark State and Lee of Tennessee eliminated the Fresno team.

Sunbirds coach Oscar Hirschkorn said the preseason ranking is an indication of the hard work his players have put in.

"I'm happy how far we've come as a program," Hirschkorn said. "And proud of what these players have accomplished.

"Getting to the World Series was a huge honor for this program. Now we have that taste and want to go back."

The baseball season doesn't get started for a couple of months, and Hirschkorn is hoping his team can play well enough to maintain its standing in the poll.

"The preseason poll, when all is said and done, never really means anything," he said. "It's nice for the players and the parents and the people who have supported us.

"But the only poll that matters is the final one."

Fresno Pacific opens its 2010 season Feb. 1 against Cal State Stanislaus in Turlock.