AZUSA — Three Warriors have been named to the NCBWA All-West Region teams as it was announced on Thursday by the National College Baseball Writers Association.
Senior pitcher
Matt Pulos received the highest honor among the trio as he was placed on the All-West Region second team in a vote of a panel of sports information directors on the committee.
Senior outfielder
Braeden Oki and senior pitcher
Chase Wheatcroft both were honorable mention.
Pulos, already a D2CCA All-Region pick, made this team also as a reliever. Pulos set a Stanislaus State record with 32 consecutive scoreless innings. After two poor starts to begin the season, he was moved to the bullpen and became a dominant closer. As the closer he appeared in 14 games (all CCAA games) and threw 33 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs for a 0.53 ERA on eight hits with 57 strikeouts. He was 9 for 9 in save opportunities.
For the year, he struck out 68 in 42 innings with 15 runs on 23 hits and a 3.21 ERA in 17 appearances.
Wheatcroft went 6-4 with a 2.64 ERA as the Warriors' pitching ace. He was an All-CCAA first team pick with 53 Ks in 75 innings including a complete game shutout.
Oki, an All-CCAA second team selection, led the conference with 23 stolen bases in 23 attempts. He batted .342 with an on-base percentage of .443 as Stan State's leadoff batter and every day center fielder.
2019 NCBWA NCAA Division II All-West Region Teams
NCBWA West Region Player of the Year: Cole Kleszcz (Jr., Azusa Pacific)
NCBWA West Region Pitcher of the Year: Brandon Weed (Jr., UC San Diego)
NCBWA West Region Coach of the Year: Paul Svagdis (Azusa Pacific)
All-West Region First Team
Catcher: Justin Gomez (Sr., Azusa Pacific)
First Baseman: Daniel Cipriano (Jr., Montana State Billings)
Second Baseman: Gabe Chavez (Sr., Cal State San Bernardino)
Third Baseman: Osvaldo Tovalin (So., Azusa Pacific)
Shortstop: Shay Whitcomb (So., UC San Diego)
Utility: Connor McCord (Jr., Western Oregon)
Outfielder: Cole Kleszcz (Jr., Azusa Pacific)
Outfielder: Austin Ott (Sr., Cal State San Marcos)
Outfielder: Micah Pries (Jr., Point Loma)
Designated Hitter: Alex DeVito (Sr., Chico State)
Starting Pitcher: Zack Noll (Jr., Point Loma)
Starting Pitcher: Alex Roth (Jr., Western Oregon)
Starting Pitcher: Brandon Weed (Jr., UC San Diego)
Relief Pitcher: Mickey Walker (Sr., Saint Martin's)
All-West Region Second Team
Catcher: Jared McDonald (Sr., Western Oregon)
First Baseman: Pierson Loska (Jr., Cal State Dominguez Hills)
Second Baseman: Joe Quire Jr. (Sr., Azusa Pacific)
Third Baseman: Alex Eliopulos (Sr., UC San Diego)
Shortstop: Wyatt Setian (So., Montana State Billings)
Utility: John Balliet (Sr., Point Loma)
Outfielder: Thomas Delgadillo (Jr., Academy of Art)
Outfielder: Matt Dillon (Sr., Montana State Billings)
Outfielder: Jalen Garcia (Sr., Montana State Billings)
Designated Hitter: Cooper Moore (Jr., Concordia Irvine)
Starting Pitcher: Nick Estrella (Jr., Azusa Pacific)
Starting Pitcher: Andrew Lopez (Sr., Chico State)
Starting Pitcher: Preston Mott (Sr., UC San Diego)
Relief Pitcher: Matt Pulos (Sr., Stanislaus State)
All-West Region Honorable Mention
Catcher: Aaron Kim (So., UC San Diego)
First Baseman: Christian Kapeliela (Hawai'i Pacific)
Second Baseman: Patrick Chung (Sr., Western Oregon), Ryon Knowles (Jr., Cal Poly Pomona), Elijah Smith (Sr., Academy of Art)
Third Baseman: Chris Arpan (Jr., Montana State Billings), Collin Runge (Sr., Western Oregon)
Shortstop: Tristen Alvarez (Sr., Fresno Pacific), JT Navarro (Jr., Chico State), Tyler Odekirk (Jr., Cal State L.A.)
Utility: Alec Daily (Sr., Cal State L.A.), Joshua Nelson (Jr., Holy Names),
Outfielder: Kyle Dean (Jr., Cal State Monterey Bay), Adam Gordon (Sr., Cal State L.A.), Griffey Halle (Sr., Western Oregon), Jacob Maiben (Fr., Western Oregon), Braeden Oki (Sr., Stanislaus State), Cabot Van Til (Sr., Cal State San Marcos)
Designated Hitter: Nic Hernandez (Sr., Cal Poly Pomona), Joseph Kim (So., Azusa Pacific), Andrew Schleusner (Jr., Montana State Billings)
Starting Pitcher: Steen Fredrickson (Sr., Montana State Billings), Tim Holdgrafer (Sr., Cal Poly Pomona), Declan Kearney (So., Azusa Pacific), Garrett O'Callaghan (Sr., Holy Names), Greg Steinbeck (Jr., Cal State Monterey Bay), Chase Wheatcroft (Sr., Stanislaus State)
Relief Pitcher: John Kea (So., Hawai'i Hilo), Kyle Lucke (Sr., UC San Diego)
