The competitiveness of the Big West Conference was shown throughout the season and in this year's annual awards as the league awarded the first-ever tri-pitcher of the year and co-player of the year, among other accolades, as selected by the nine Big West coaches. Headlining the nation's second-best pitching staff earned UC Irvine's Scott Gorgen a share of the 2008 Easton Big West Pitcher of the Year honors. Completing the trio of pitchers is Cal State Fullerton's Jeff Kaplan and the league’s ERA leader Long Beach State's Andrew Liebel. UC Davis' Jake Jefferies and Long Beach State's Shane Peterson were named 2008 Easton Big West Co-Player of the Year for their dominance at the plate. UC Santa Barbara's Mario Hollands collected 2008 Easton Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors and Ryan Pineda was tabbed Easton Big West Freshman Player of the Year. Guiding Long Beach State to a share of its first conference title since 2003 earned Mike Weathers Easton Big West Coach of the Year.
The 2008 Preseason All-America selection, Gorgen, constructed a stellar season on the mound that includes a league-best 109 strikeouts, a mark that pegged him as UC Irvine's all-time strikeout leader with 313 career strikeouts. Gorgen also ranks second in the league in innings pitched (104.0) and earned run average (1.90). As the Friday-night starter, the Concord, Calif., native owns a 10-3 record and is the catalyst of a UC Irvine pitching staff that boasts a 2.87 team ERA, second best in the nation. Gorgen, two-time Big West Player of the Week this season, is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes and Roger Clemens awards. One of his more impressive performances of the season came early on in the year when he logged his seventh career complete game, a one-hit shutout against San Francisco on March 4. He struck out 12 batters and issued one walk, while facing just two over the minimum.
As the Friday-night starter for the Cal State Fullerton Titans, Kaplan owns an 11-1 record in 15 starts with seven of his wins coming against Big West foes, which helped the Titans collect a share of their 15th Big West title. With the 2008 award, Kaplan becomes the 10th Titan to earn the distinct honor and fourth in the last five seasons. His 11 wins places him among the nation’s top 10 in victories this season. Prior to the start of postseason, the Dana Point, Calif., native has tossed 99.0 innings and recorded 82 strikeouts, ranking him fourth in the conference. Kaplan earned conference player of the week accolades after pitching a complete-game shutout and fanning 11 batters against Cal State Northridge.
Liebel, a 6-0 senior from Pomona, Calif., finished the regular season 8-3 with a 1.81 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 109.2 innings. The right-hander led the Big West in ERA, innings pitched and complete games (4). He also ranked second among league hurlers in strikeouts, tied for fourth in wins and third in opponent batting average (.235). Liebel issued only 17 walks while starting all 14 games he appeared in. He continues a long line of outstanding pitchers to don the Long Beach State uniform, becoming the sixth 49er to earn the highest distinction and first since Jered Weaver won back-to-back honors in 2003 and 2004. A two-time Easton Big West Pitcher of the Week, Liebel lasted no less than 6.0 innings in any start, and allowed two earned runs or less in 10 of his 14 starts. Liebel also is among the list of semifinalists for both the Golden Spikes award, given to the nation’s best player, and the Clemens Award, which recognizes the nation’s top pitcher.
Jefferies' power at the plate not only placed him among the top in the conference rankings, but guided the UC Davis Aggies to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament in their first season competing on the Division I level in the Big West Conference. The junior catcher owns a league-leading 93 hits, while also ranking second in batting (.396), fourth in on base percentage (.453), tied for third in RBI (54) and doubles (20) and fourth in total bases (127). A nightmare for pitching staffs all across the country, Jefferies ranks among the nation's top five in toughest to strike out. The Merced, Calif., native opened the season going 80 at bats without being struck out, the nation's top performance at the time. The Johnny Bench and Golden Spikes semifinalist registered 27 multi-hit contests and strung together the league's fourth-longest hitting streak (15).
Peterson, a 6-0 junior from Temecula, Calif., is the third 49er in the last eight seasons to earn the field player award, coming on the heels of current major leaguers Evan Longoria (2006) and Bobby Crosby (2001). Peterson is the fifth LBSU player overall to claim the award. He wielded a lethal bat as a starter in all 56 games, batting .399 with seven home runs and 50 RBI. Peterson led the Big West in average, on base percentage (.510) and walks (41). He had the ninth-most RBI among Big West players while ranking second in slugging percentage (.601) and sixth in hits (81). Peterson also led the team in runs scored with 49. A two-time recipient of Easton Big West Field Player of the Week accolades, Peterson tallied 22 multiple-hit and 11 multiple-RBI games.
Pineda led a Matador incoming class that featured 12 high school players and one junior college player to claim Easton Big West Freshman Player of the Year. He hit .325 on the season and registered a team-high 38 runs and 32 RBI. Blasting 17 doubles ranks the Las Vegas, Nev., native seventh in the Big West Conference. Pineda was clutch for Cal State Northridge during the 2008 campaign and he carried the momentum all they way through to his final at bat of the season where he blasted a walk-off solo home run that lifted the Matadors to a 6-5 victory over UC Davis in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Hollands has made an immediate impact on the UC Santa Barbara baseball program, earning a spot in the Gauchos' weekend rotation and being tabbed Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year. In 14 starts, Hollands pitched 86.0 innings and posted a 4.03 ERA en route to a 7-3 record. The El Cerrito, Calif., native also recorded 61 strikeouts, second best on the Gaucho squad.
Long Beach State entered the 2008 season as the preseason favorite for the Big West title and the 49ers did not disappoint, tying Cal State Fullerton for the conference crown with a 16-8 mark in the final series of the season. Earning a share of its first conference title since 2003 and the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament solidified the 49er skipper for coach of the year. This is Weathers' second coaching honor during his seven-year stint at Long Beach State. In 2003 he received Big West Coach of the Year accolades after guiding the 49er program to a conference title and a postseason run to the NCAA Super Regionals.
UC Irvine received four 2008 Easton All-Big West First Team nods to lead all conference teams. Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Davis and UC Riverside each placed two on the first team, while Santa Barbara claimed one spot. Long Beach State's Shane Peterson and UC Irvine's Scott Gorgen are making their second appearance on the first team list. The complete 2008 All-Big West selections are on the following page.
2008 Easton Big West All-Conference Team
2008 BIG WEST CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jake Jefferies, UC Davis
Shane Peterson, Long Beach State
2008 BIG WEST FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Pineda, Cal State Northridge
2008 BIG WEST TRI-PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Scott Gorgen, UC Irvine
Jeff Kaplan, Cal State Fullerton
Andrew Liebel, Long Beach State
2008 BIG WEST FRESHMAN PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Mario Hollands, UC Santa Barbara
2008 BIG WEST COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike Weathers, Long Beach State
| FIRST TEAM |
| Player |
School |
Ht. |
B-T |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Jake Jefferies |
UC Davis |
6-3 |
L/R |
Jr. |
C |
Merced, Calif. |
| Shane Peterson^ |
Long Beach State |
6-0 |
L/L |
Jr. |
1B |
Temecula, Calif. |
| Drew Garcia |
UC Riverside |
6-0 |
S/R |
Jr. |
2B |
El Cajon, Calif. |
| Brent Morel |
Cal Poly |
6-2 |
R/R |
Jr. |
3B |
Bakersfield, Calif. |
| Ben Orloff |
UC Irvine |
5-11 |
R/R |
Jr. |
SS |
Simi Valley, Calif. |
| Erik Komatsu |
Cal State Fullerton |
5-10 |
L/L |
Jr. |
OF |
Camarillo, Calif. |
| Logan Schafer |
Cal Poly |
6-1 |
L/L |
Jr. |
OF |
Los Gatos, Calif. |
| Mike Zuanich |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-4 |
R/L |
Sr. |
OF |
Torrance, Calif. |
| Ryan Scoma |
UC Davis |
6-2 |
L/R |
Jr. |
DH |
San Carlos, Calif. |
| Aaron Wible |
UC Riverside |
6-3 |
R/R |
Sr. |
UTL |
Riverside, Calif. |
| Scott Gorgen^ |
UC Irvine |
5-10 |
R/R |
Jr. |
SP |
Concord, Calif. |
| Jeff Kaplan |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-0 |
R/R |
Sr. |
SP |
Dana Point, Calif. |
| Andrew Liebel |
Long Beach State |
6-0 |
R/R |
Sr. |
SP |
Pomona, Calif. |
| Christian Bergman |
UC Irvine |
6-1 |
R/R |
So. |
RP |
Altadena, Calif. |
| Eric Pettis |
UC Irvine |
6-2 |
R/R |
So. |
CP |
West Hills, Calif. |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Player |
School |
Ht. |
B-T |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Chris McMurray |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-1 |
R/R |
Jr. |
C |
Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| Wes Dorrell |
Cal Poly |
6-2 |
L/R |
So. |
1B |
Clovis, Calif. |
| Adam Ching |
Pacific |
5-8 |
S/R |
Sr. |
2B |
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. |
| Ty Kelly |
UC Davis |
6-0 |
S/R |
So. |
3B |
Tracy, Calif. |
| Patrick Rose |
UC Santa Barbara |
5-11 |
R/R |
Sr. |
3B |
Laguna Niguel, Calif |
| Shane Carlson |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-0 |
R/R |
Jr. |
SS |
Stevenson Ranch, Calif. |
| Joey Gonzales |
UC Riverside |
5-10 |
L/L |
So. |
OF |
Riverside, Calif. |
| Josh Fellhauer |
Cal State Fullerton |
5-11 |
L/L |
So. |
OF |
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. |
| Ollie Linton |
UC Irvine |
5-8 |
L/L |
Jr. |
OF |
Winnetka, Calif. |
| Luke Yoder |
Cal Poly |
6-0 |
R/R |
So. |
DH |
Bakersfield, Calif. |
| Richard Cates |
Cal State Northridge |
5-11 |
L/R |
Jr. |
UTL |
Yuba City, Calif. |
| Cory Arbiso |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-3 |
R/R |
Jr. |
SP |
La Mirada, Calif. |
| Mike Ford |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-3 |
R/R |
So. |
SP |
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Eddie Gamboa |
UC Davis |
6-2 |
R/R |
Sr. |
SP |
Merced, Calif. |
| Michael Martin |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-2 |
R/R |
Sr. |
RP |
Red Bluff, Calif. |
| Justin Fitzgerald |
UC Davis |
6-4 |
R/R |
Jr. |
CP |
Cloverdale, Calif. |
| Edwin Quirarte |
Cal State Northridge |
6-2 |
R/R |
Jr. |
CP |
Oxnard, Calif. |
| HONORABLE MENTION |
| Player |
School |
Ht. |
B-T |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Joe Oliveira |
Pacific |
6-0 |
R/R |
Jr. |
C |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Eric Oliver |
UC Santa Barbara |
6-1 |
R/R |
Jr. |
1B |
Irvine, Calif. |
| TS Reed |
Cal State Northridge |
5-6 |
R/R |
Fr. |
2B |
Murrieta, Calif. |
| Jason Tweedy |
Long Beach State |
5-11 |
L/R |
Sr. |
2B |
Newark, Calif. |
| Ryan Pineda |
Cal State Northridge |
6-0 |
R/R |
Fr. |
3B |
Las Vegas, Nev.. |
| Christian Colon |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-0 |
R/R |
Fr. |
SS |
Corona, Calif. |
| Danny Espinosa |
Long Beach State |
6-0 |
S/R |
Jr. |
SS |
Santa Ana, Calif. |
| Jason Corder |
Long Beach State |
6-2 |
R/R |
Sr. |
OF |
Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| Jonathan Jones |
Long Beach State |
5-10 |
R/R |
Jr. |
OF |
Vacaville, Calif. |
| Ryan Lee |
Cal Poly |
6-0 |
R/R |
Jr. |
OF |
Los Altos, Calif. |
| Nick Longmire |
Pacific |
6-2 |
R/R |
Fr. |
OF |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Ryan Royster |
UC Davis |
6-1 |
L/L |
Sr. |
OF |
Sacramento, Calif. |
| Gary Brown |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-0 |
R/R |
Fr. |
UTL |
Diamond Bar, Calif. |
| John Parham |
Cal State Northridge |
5-9 |
R/R |
Jr. |
UTL |
Rialto, Calif. |
| Phil Hann |
Cal State Northridge |
6-2 |
R/R |
Sr. |
SP |
Huntington Beach, Calif. |
| Brad McAtee |
UC Davis |
6-5 |
R/R |
Jr. |
SP |
Poway, Calif. |
| Bryce Stowell |
UC Irvine |
6-2 |
R/R |
So. |
SP |
La Habra, Calif. |
| Andy Suiter |
UC Davis |
6-3 |
L/L |
So. |
RP |
Woodside, Calif. |
| Adam Jorgenson |
Cal State Fullerton |
6-0 |
R/R |
Sr. |
RP |
Costa Mes, Calif. |
^Two-time All-Big West First Team selection