All-WAC Baseball Teams Announced
5/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Ruiz, a sophomore from Union City, Calif. (James Logan HS), led the WAC in hitting in conference games only with a .449 average. He was also first in doubles (14), hits (53) and on-base percentage (.529), third in RBI (28) and fourth in slugging percentage (.585). In all games, he led the WAC with a .376 batting average and a .488 on-base percentage. He also had 41 RBI, 41 runs scored, 17 doubles and four triples. Ruiz was the WAC's co-Freshman of the Year in 1999.
Baugh, a junior from Houston, Texas (Lamar), posted an 11-2 record with a 2.24 ERA and 114 strikeouts. He pitched a league-high 132.2 innings and made 19 appearances. In conference games, he was 6-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 77.1 innings.
Hernandez, a left-handed reliever from Fresno, Calif. (Central), was 5-1 in 24 appearances during the year. He had 53 strikeouts in 45.1 innings and a 6.55 ERA. In conference action, Hernandez had a 5.54 ERA with a 2-0 record and one save in 11 appearances. This marks the second straight year Fresno State has had the Freshman of the Year as second baseman Tom Creighton shared the award last year.
Piraro led San Jose State to its first regular season title in the WAC with a 19-11 mark and the Spartans' first NCAA tournament berth since 1971, when Piraro was a freshman on the team. The Spartans were 36-20 overall and have been ranked in the top 30 a couple of weeks this season.
Fresno State and Rice led the conference with four players each on the all-WAC first team. Hawai'i placed two players while San Jose State and TCU each had one. Two of the 12 first-team all-WAC performers from a year ago are repeat performers, including Fresno State Anthony Acevedo and Hawai'i's Jamie Aloy.
San Jose State placed five players on the second team, followed by Hawai'i-Hilo and Rice with two players and Fresno State, Hawai'i and TCU with one apiece.
2000 ALL-WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAM
First Team Name Team Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. Hometown (Last School) John Lukin Rice 6-3 215 Sr. C Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (Orange Coast) Jamie Aloy* Hawai'i 6-3 195 Sr. 1B Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii (Baldwin HS) Brandon Gemoll Fresno State 6-2 215 So. 1B San Jose, Calif. (Leland) Kenn Wakakuwa Hawai'i 5-10 180 Sr. 2B Hilo, Hawaii (Seminole State) Eric Arnold Rice 6-1 180 So. SS LaPorte, Texas (LaPorte) Nick Garcia Fresno State 6-1 185 Jr. 3B Lakewood, Calif. (Banning) Junior Ruiz San Jose State 5-10 185 So. OF Union City, Calif. (James Logan HS) Mark Hamilton TCU 6-3 200 Sr. OF Hurst, Texas (L.D. Bell) Anthony Acevedo* Fresno State 6-5 205 Sr. OF Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield College) Jesse Roman Rice 5-11 190 Jr. DH Gurabo, Puerto Rice (NE Texas CC) Kenny Baugh Rice 6-4 195 Jr. SP Houston, Texas (Lamar) Hans Smith Fresno State 6-9 255 Sr. RP Central Point, Ore. (Crater) Second Team Name Team Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. Hometown (Last School) Adam Shorsher San Jose State 6-2 210 So. C San Jose, Calif. (Leland HS) John Fagan San Jose State 6-5 190 Jr. 1B San Bernardino, Calif. (Mission JC) Brett Smith Rice 5-10 175 Sr. 2B Baytown, Texas (Galveston JC) Brandon Chaves Hawai'i-Hilo 6-3 180 So. SS Hilo, Hawaii (Hilo HS) Tony Tognetti San Jose State 6-1 195 Sr. 3B Gilroy, Calif. (Gavilan JC) Mitch Ackal Rice 6-1 200 Sr. OF Spring, Texas (Spring Hill College) Mike Bowlin Fresno State 6-0 195 Sr. OF San Jose, Calif. (San Jose City) Ryan Petersen Hawai'i-Hilo 6-0 185 Jr. OF Central Point, Ore. (Western Oregon) Sean Takamori# Hawai'i 5-9 184 Sr. OF Honolulu, Hawaii (Iolani HS) Tom Bates TCU 6-1 170 Jr. DH Sugar Land, Texas (Clements) Chris Key San Jose State 6-3 210 Sr. SP Reno, Nev. (College of the Sequioas) Tim Adinolfi San Jose State 6-4 200 Sr. RP San Jose, Calif. (Mitty HS) WAC Player of the Year: Junior Ruiz, San Jose State WAC Pitcher of the Year: Kenny Baugh, Rice WAC Freshman of the Year: Mike Hernandez (P), Fresno State WAC Coach of the Year: Sam Piraro, San Jose State *1999 First Team All-WAC #1999 Second Team All-WAC
