SAN BERNARDINO -- Year 21 of the Don Parnell era begins Thursday afternoon when his Coyotes baseball team plays host to Azusa Pacific.

The Coyotes, who were 23-23 overall and 20-18 in the CCAA, welcome back five starters, two players at designated hitter and a pitching staff that includes senior All-American closer Josh Pond.

Pond will be a story worth watching this spring as the San Diego native, who decided not to sign with the San Diego Padres, who drafted him in Round 39 of last year's Major League Baseball First-year draft. Pond (0-2 , 1.54 ERA) led the nation in saves with 16 and established school and CCAA records.

Senior LHP Cory Caruso (4-3. 4.48 ERA 61 1/3 innings), a Round 50 selection by the Miami Marlins, and senior RHP Casey McCarthy (3-5 6.11 ERA, 45 2/3) return off last year' s starting rotation.

The Coyotes will miss RHP Aaron Brooks (5-7, 2.74 ERA), who was outstanding his junior campaign. The San Bernardino native struck out 78, walked just eight batters in 92 innings and signed with the Kansas City Royals, who selected him in Round 9. Brooks went on to earn All-Pioneer League honors with the Class A affiliate in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Pond leads a relief corps that played a big role in establishing a team record ERA of 3.44. Senior LHP Josh Lee (4-0 1.98 ERA) threw 27 1/3 innings returns along with senior RHP Kyle Krogman (0-1 2.87 ERA, 15 2/3 innings), senior RHP Bryant Hollingsworth (0-2 3.09 ERA 11 2/3 innings), sophomore LHP Kerry Kelley (0-0 4.26 ERA, 6 1/3 innings), and senior RHP Jeff Terzo (0-0 4.82 ERA, 9 1/3 innings).

Senior 1B Brandon Day is back after leading the Coyotes in hitting last spring (.356-3HRs-33 RBI) and earning All-CCAA honors. Senior SS Mike Newell earned 44 starts and hit .244 and had a .952 fielding percentage.

Senior C Eric Dow (.226-4-24) had 37 starts behind the plate and was a key factor in the Coyotes' top ERA from a year ago.

LF Matt Winn (.244-4-22) and CF Ethan Chapman (.271-1-14) complete the returners in the outfield.

Seniors Darren Dworak (.313-0-4) and Matt Haney (.241-2-7) each had 13 starts at designated hitter. Haney can also provide relief duty as he appeared in three games and pitched 2 innings.

Other returners include senior Anthony Smith and Alex Gutierrez.

Newcomers include: C Paul Eshelman, INF Curtis Cassise, RHP Tony Guerra, RHP Ruben Rios, INF Jake Pilkerton, RHP Taylor Valentine, RHP Matt Levert, INF A.J. David, RHP James Janclaes, LHP Mike Mudron, 1B Andrew Harrison, OF Josh Herrera and OF Edwin Mendoza.

Chico State has been selected to capture the 2012 regular-season baseball title in a vote of conference coaches.

The Wildcats totaled 97 points and garnered seven first-place votes to finish ahead of Sonoma State in the balloting. The Seawolves collected 85 points and received three first-place votes. Three-time defending CCAA champion UC San Diego (78) was third in the balloting and Cal Poly Pomona finished fourth in the poll after totaling 72 points and receiving one first-place vote.

Cal State L.A. (69) was fifth and followed by Cal State San Bernardino (55), Cal State Dominguez Hills (44), Cal State Stanislaus (39), Cal State Monterey Bay (35), Cal State East Bay (16) and San Francisco State (15).

Chico State received five of 11 votes to claim the CCAA Championship Tournament that is scheduled for May 10-12 at Triton Ballpark in La Jolla. Sonoma State received three votes, Cal Poly Pomona garnered two votes, and Cal State L.A. was listed on one ballot to win the conference tournament.