Baseball coaches from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference have picked California and West Chester as the favorites to win respective Western and Eastern Division titles in 2008.

In the Western Division, California is followed by Slippery Rock, Shippensburg, IUP, Lock Haven and Clarion.

In the East, Kutztown, Mansfield, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg and Millersville fall in place behind West Chester.

California is looking to capture its fifth consecutive Western Division title and advance to the PSAC Championship game for the third time in the last five years. The Vulcans are coming off a 2007 season in which they went 15-5 in the PSAC West, 36-15 overall.  The 36 wins surpassed their 2006 school record (33) and marks the fourth-straight 30-win season.  Last year's edition also recorded the school's first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1983.

The 2008 edition will be without graduated team stat leaders Dusty Woodring and PSAC West Player of the Year Lee Rohan but returns plenty of pop to the lineup.  Five All-PSAC selections from a year ago return and will be led the trio of senior third baseman Jeremy Potter, senior designated hitter Alex Lefcakis and junior outfielder Jon Shelby.

Potter leads all returnees in batting average (.336), on-base percentage (.406), hits (46), and stolen base percentage (.917).  Lafcakis returns to anchor the middle of the California offense after leading the team in doubles (13) and RBIs last season (31).  Shelby will also make an strong impact in the Vulcan lineup as he was in the team's top five in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, and runs scored last season.

California's pitching is highlighted by a deep staff and will be led by Andrew Rafalski, Jon Squeglia, Corry Ryan and Ryan Heeman.  Rafalski and Squeglia combined for 10 wins, five wins respectively.  Rafalski held opponents to a team-best .198 batting average and a 4.30 ERA in 46.0 innings.  Squeglia posted a 3.46 ERA in 52.0 innings of work, starting nine of 10 appearances.  Ryan tied for the team lead in saves (3) with Rafalski.

West Chester returns eight All-PSAC selections from last year's squad that finished 13-7 in the PSAC East, 33-17 overall.  The Golden Rams advanced to the PSAC Tournament and the NCAA North Atlantic Regional, marking the third straight year West Chester has appeared in the regional championship game.

West Chester will be led by All-PSAC East First Team selections Drew Pare and reigning Eastern Division Rookie of the Year Nick Spisak.  Pare led the Rams in on-base percentage (.434), runs scored (50), hits (71) and stolen bases (12).After a strong rookie campaign, Spisak finished the season ranked in the top four in almost every major category for West Chester. 

The Golden Rams returns a solid core of defensive starters and have a deep pitching staff that features returning right-handed juniors Dave Slusser and Jason Bowman.  Slusser appeared in 14 games, starting seven, and compiling a 4-3 record with a 4.72 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched.  Bowman posted the second most wins on the staff last season (5-2) while notching a team-best four saves in 21 appearances (37.1 IP).  His 2.89 ERA ranked third on the staff.