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Four Bulldogs Earn All-WCC Recognition
May 21, 2008
Spokane, Wash. - Four members of the Gonzaga University baseball team earned All-West Coast Conference accolades Wednesday, as announced by the conference office. Drew Heid highlights the pack, earning All-WCC accolades, while Matt Fields, Cody Martin and Evan Wells were awarded honorable mention honors. In addition, Martin was also named to the WCC All-Freshman team. Heid earned all-conference recognition after hitting at a .478 clip duing WCC play. He drove in 10 runs on 33 hits, including nine doubles and a triple, while scoring a team-leading 16 runs. The sophomore ranked in the top-10 in league play in multiple categories. The native of Goldendale, Wash. ranked second in batting average, tied for fifth in hits, tied for second in doubles, second in on-base percentage (.542) and seventh in slugging percentage (.638). The honor was the first of Heid's career, as he transferred to Gonzaga this season from Walla Walla Community College. Fields earned the first conference accolade of his career, after posting a 5-2 record, with a 4.30 earned run average against WCC opponents. In seven starts, the junior allowed 23 runs, 22 earned, on 50 hits while striking out 46 and walking only 14 over 46.0 innings pitched. The Lake Stevens, Wash. native ranks in the top-10 in league in multiple categories, including tied for second in wins, second in strikeouts, sixth in innings pitched and tied for first in games started. Martin was awarded both honorable mention and all-freshman accolades, following an impressive rookie campaign. The native of Dos Palos, Calif. made eight appearances in WCC action, including two starts, as he posted a 3-0 record, three saves, and a 5.13 earned run average. In 26.1 innings pitched, Martin allowed 16 runs, 15 earned, on 33 hits, while striking out 18 and walking just seven. He ranked in the league's top-10 in saves and complete games with one. In addition to his solid play during the league season, Martin posted a record breaking season, including becoming Gonzaga's single season save leader with nine.
Wells was awarded honorable mention accolades, the first of his career, after hitting .333 during WCC play. The junior scored 14 runs on 25 hits, including three doubles, while driving in seven. In addition to his efforts at the plate, Wells contributed defensively at second base, not committing an error during league play. The native of Olympia, Wash. ranked in the top-10 in two WCC offensive categories - first in walks (19) and sixth in on-base percentage (.480). Four different West Coast Conference programs shared in the All-Conference individual honors, with Pepperdine's Eric Thames and San Diego's Brian Matusz highlighting this year's honorees. Thames and Matusz were unanimous selections as WCC Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, while Santa Clara's Thain Simon was tabbed for Freshman of the Year honors, and San Francisco's Joey Railey took home the first-ever WCC Defensive Player of the Year award. San Diego skipper Rich Hill was named WCC Coach of the Year for the second straight season after leading the Toreros to the league's regular season crown. Gonzaga finished the 2008 campaign with a 30-23 record, including going 10-10 in West Coast play. The 30 wins propelled the Zags to their second straight season with 30 or more victories, marking the first time in 27 years the feat has been accomplished. |
