NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HOPEFUL STARTS SEASON AT PALM SPRINGS STADIUM

A tournament pitting four of the most exciting teams on the west coast begins Friday, February 15 at Palm Springs Stadium.

The No. 6 Oregon State Beavers headline the four day tournament. The Beavers are a two-time national champion and will look to start their third championship campaign in Palm Springs.

Oregon State is led by Pac-12 preseason player of the year Michael Conforto, who was a second team All-American selection in 2012 hitting .349 with 13 home runs and 76 RBI in 58 games. The Beavers finished 40-20 last season, ultimately losing to LSU in the regional final.

MALHAM BATTLES ADVERSITY, EARNS FIRST PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT

The sharp crack of the bat resonates throughout a calm Palm Springs Stadium on a chilly Tuesday morning. A single player takes cuts off a tee in the batting cage. His father joins him to throw practice pitches to him. He is the only one of the 150 California Winter League players that has arrived at the field. It’s 7 a.m.

Actually 7 a.m. is an unusually late start for Brennan Malham of the Palm Desert Coyotes.

Malham, who draws eerie comparisons to Matt Holiday, wakes up as early as 5 a.m. to go to the gym.