A trio of Titans make up half of the top Big West baseball honors, while Cal Poly, Cal State Northridge and UC Irvine divvy up the remaining accolades. Cal State Fullerton's Dylan Floro was named 2012 Big West Pitcher of the Year, Matt Chapman earned Big West Freshman Player of the Year distinction and first-year coach Rick Vanderhook was named Big West Coach of the Year. Cal Polys Mitch Haniger walked away with the Big West Player of the Year accolade, while D.J. Crumlich was the Big West Defensive Player of the Year selection and Jerry Keel nabbed the Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year award.
Haniger's selection for player of the year is the first Cal Poly recipient since Grant Desme received the honor back in 2007. The junior from Santa Clara, Calif., led the league in a multitude of categories, including runs batted in (64), home runs (13) and total bases (132), while also ranking in the top five in various other statistical categories. Nationally, Haniger ranks 11th in runs batted in and 13th in runs batted in per game (1.14). Starting all 56 Mustang contests, the center fielder hit .346 on the year while powering out a league-best .626 slugging percentage. Haniger was recognized for his efforts twice this season, picking up Big West Player of the Week honors on Feb. 27 and April 26.
The selection of Floro as pitcher of the year snapped a four-year run by UC Irvine. The junior from Merced, Calif., is the first Titan to be named pitcher of the year since Jeff Kaplan was part of the trio that was named tri-pitcher of the year back in 2008. In 107.1 innings pitched, Floro tied for first in the league with 10 wins, tying him for 11th in the country, while owning a 2.52 earned run average. Among the countrys best, he also ranks sixth in walks allowed per nine innings (.92) and 13th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.18). He ended the 2012 regular season on a high note as he was named Big West Pitcher of the Week after he assisted the Titans in capturing the Big West crown.
UC Irvine continues to stake its claim on the newly-added defensive player of the year award with the selection of Crumlich. Two-way player Brian Hernandez picked up the inaugural Big West Defensive Player of the Year award last season. The senior shortstop finished second in the conference in assists with 160 and placed seventh after fielding 28 double plays. Crumlich also ranked sixth in the conference in hits (72) and doubles (16).
This is the second year in-a-row that the orange and blue are represented by the Big West Freshman Player of the Year. Last season, Michael Lorenzen picked up the award and this season Chapman holds the honor. Chapman finished fourth in batting average (.288) on a Titan squad that ranked second in the conference. The shortstop from Trabuco Canyon, Calif., started 47 of his 50 games played and recorded 51 hits, 24 runs and 22 RBI.
As a freshman, Keel led the Cal State Northridge Matadors with an impressive 2.07 earned run average, placing him second in the Big West Conference. The freshman pitcher of the year tallied 91.1 innings pitched in 16 appearances, including 13 starts. Hailing from Palmdale, Calif., Keel struck out 48 batters and allowed just 26 runs, 21 of which were earned. He concluded the year with a 6-3 record.
First-year head coach Rick Vanderhook guided the Cal State Fullerton Titans to their 25th Big West Conference championship overall and 10th in the last 14 years with a 17-7 mark, one game over Cal Poly, to earn Big West Coach of the Year accolades. Vanderhook becomes the fifth Cal State Fullerton coach to earn the distinction (Dave Serrano 2010-11; George Horton 1998, 1999 and 2004-06; Augie Garrido 1987, 1995; Larry Cochell 1990). Along with the conference title came an automatic bid into the 2012 NCAA Tournament, which gives the Titans their 21st consecutive appearance in the postseason, the third-longest active consecutive streak in the nation behind Miami (40 years) and Florida State (35 years).
Cal Poly and Big West Champion Cal State Fullerton dominated the All-Big West First Team selections, with the Mustangs receiving seven nods to lead the conference, while the Titans picked up five honors.. Long Beach State, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara also made the list with each team earning one selection. Representing the Mustangs are Chris Hoo (C), Jimmy Allen (3B), Mike Miller (SS), Mitch Haniger (OF), Tim Wise (DH), Joey Wagman (SP) and Reed Reilly (RP). Titan sophomore Michael Lorenzen collected first-team nods in two positions - utility and closer, while Carlos Lopez (1B), Richy Pedroza (2B) and Dylan Floro (SP) also made the elite list for Cal State Fullerton. Brennan Metzger grabbed first team accolades for Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara was represented by outfielder Brett Vertigan and starting pitcher Andrew Thurman was the lone Anteater to make first team.
2012 Big West All-Conference Team
2012 BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mitch Haniger, Cal Poly |
2012 BIG WEST FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matt Chapman, Cal State Fullerton |
2012 BIG WEST PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Dylan Floro, Cal State Fullerton |
2012 BIG WEST FRESHMAN PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Keel, Cal State Northridge |
2012 BIG WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
D.J. Crumlich, UC Irvine |
2012 BIG WEST COACH OF THE YEAR
Rick Vanderhook, Cal State Fullerton |
| FIRST TEAM |
| Player |
School |
Ht. |
Wt |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Chris Hoo |
Cal Poly |
5-9 |
185 |
So. |
C |
Cupertino, Calif. |
| Carlos Lopez |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-2 |
220 |
Jr. |
1B |
Northridge, Calif. |
| Richy Pedroza |
Cal State Fullerton |
5-6 |
150 |
Jr. |
2B |
Covina, Calif. |
| Jimmy Allen |
Cal Poly |
5-11 |
185 |
So. |
3B |
Vista, Calif. |
| Mike Miller |
Cal Poly |
5-8 |
170 |
Sr. |
SS |
Concord, Calif. |
| Mitch Haniger |
Cal Poly |
6-2 |
215 |
Jr. |
OF |
Santa Clara, Calif. |
| Brennan Metzger |
Long Beach State |
5-11 |
185 |
Sr. |
OF |
San Marcos, Calif. |
| Brett Vertigan |
UC Santa Barbara |
5-9 |
175 |
Jr. |
OF |
Garden Grove, Calif. |
| Tim Wise |
Cal Poly |
6-4 |
180 |
So. |
DH |
Camarillo, Calif. |
| Michael Lorenzen |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-3 |
195 |
So. |
UTL |
Placentia, Calif. |
| Joey Wagman |
Cal Poly |
6-0 |
180 |
Jr. |
SP |
Danville, Calif. |
| Dylan Floro |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-2 |
180 |
Jr. |
SP |
Merced, Calif. |
| Andrew Thurman |
UC Irvine |
6-3 |
200 |
So. |
SP |
Orange, Calif. |
| Reed Reilly |
Cal Poly |
6-4 |
210 |
Fr. |
RP |
Dana Point, Calif. |
| Michael Lorenzen |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-3 |
195 |
So. |
CP |
Placentia, Calif. |
| |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Player |
School |
Ht. |
Wt |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Scott Kalush |
UC Davis |
6-1 |
205 |
Sr. |
C |
San Mateo, Calif. |
| Vince Gonzalez |
UC Riverside |
6-3 |
195 |
Sr. |
1B |
Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| Brandon Trinkwon |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-1 |
160 |
So. |
2B |
Tustin, Calif. |
| Paul Politi |
UC Davis |
6-0 |
195 |
Jr. |
3B |
Los Gatos, Calif. |
| D.J. Crumlich |
UC Irvine |
6-0 |
190 |
Sr. |
SS |
Irvine, Calif. |
| David Armendariz |
Cal Poly |
6-1 |
210 |
So. |
OF |
Granada Hills, Calif. |
| Anthony Hutting |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-0 |
185 |
Jr. |
OF |
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. |
| Christian Ramirez |
UC Irvine |
5-9 |
175 |
Sr. |
OF |
Santa Ana, Calif. |
| Nick Lynch |
UC Davis |
6-1 |
195 |
Fr. |
DH |
Burlingame, Calif. |
| Greg Mahle |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-2 |
210 |
Fr. |
UTL |
Westminster, Calif. |
| Kyle Anderson |
Cal Poly |
6-2 |
195 |
Sr. |
SP |
Aptos, Calif. |
| Jerry Keel |
Cal State Northridge |
6-6 |
280 |
Fr. |
SP |
Palmdale, Calif. |
| Shawn Stuart |
Long Beach State |
6-3 |
210 |
Sr. |
SP |
Turlock, Calif. |
| Andrew Vasquez |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-6 |
200 |
Fr. |
SP |
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. |
| Willie Kuhl |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-3 |
185 |
Fr. |
RP |
Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| Jon Maciel |
Long Beach State |
6-2 |
210 |
So. |
RP |
Yorba Linda, Calif. |
| Matt Vedo |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-2 |
205 |
Sr. |
RP |
Colusa, Calif. |
| Kyle Fredrichs |
Long Beach State |
6-1 |
190 |
So. |
CP |
San Clemente, Calif. |
| |
| HONORABLE MENTION |
| Player |
School |
Ht. |
Wt |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Kellen Hoime |
Long Beach State |
5-11 |
190 |
Sr. |
C |
Sacramento, Calif. |
| Jordan Fox |
UC Irvine |
5-9 |
170 |
Sr. |
1B |
Hacienda Heights, Calif. |
| Tommy Reyes |
UC Irvine |
6-1 |
185 |
Sr. |
2B |
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. |
| Juan Avila |
Long Beach State |
6-1 |
190 |
Jr. |
3B |
Lomita, Calif. |
| Matt Chapman |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-1 |
195 |
Fr. |
SS |
Trabuco Canyon, Calif. |
| Johnny Bekakis |
Long Beach State |
6-0 |
170 |
So. |
OF |
Concord, Calif. |
| Lance Roenicke |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-1 |
185 |
Sr. |
OF |
Chino Hills, Calif. |
| Steven Keller |
Cal State Northridge |
6-0 |
205 |
Sr. |
DH |
Agoura, Calif. |
| Ryan Strufing |
Long Beach State |
6-2 |
195 |
So. |
SP |
Niwot, Colo. |
| Anthony Kupbens |
UC Davis |
6-3 |
205 |
Sr. |
SP |
San Jose, Calif. |
| Eddie Orozco |
UC Riverside |
6-4 |
205 |
Sr. |
SP |
Riverside, Calif. |
| Race Parmenter |
UC Irvine |
6-0 |
180 |
Jr. |
CP |
Huntington Beach, Calif. |
| ^Two-time All-Big West First Team selection |
| $Three-time All-Big West First Team selection |