The Chico State baseball team took home a conference-leading 11 awards Thursday at the California Collegiate Athletic Association awards ceremony in Stockton.
Head coach Dave Taylor was named CCAA Coach of the Year after leading this season’s team to a 29-10 conference record and a 39-13 overall record. Taylor also earned his 300th career victory at Chico State this season.
Pitcher Nick Baker was named Pitcher of the Year after leading the conference with nine wins. Baker posted a 1.56 ERA in 98.1 innings pitched this season.
Pitcher Brad Lohse won the first Newcomer of the Year award for baseball in school history. Lohse, a sophomore transfer from Shasta Community College, recorded an 8-0 record with an ERA of 1.46, ranking him third in the conference. Lohse also tossed four complete game shutouts this year, setting a Chico State career record.
The Chico State first team All-CCAA winners included Baker, Lohse, pitcher Luke Barker, catcher Peter Miller, third baseman Ruben Padilla and shortstop Cody Slader.
Barker, the Wildcat’s closer, led the CCAA in saves with 14 and recorded an ERA of 2.64.
Miller hit .326 this season with 43 hits, two home runs, four doubles and 28 RBIs.
Padilla has been solid, hitting .330 this season with 63 hits, 10 doubles and 24 RBIs.
Slader has been key on the diamond with a fielding percentage of .978 and completing 41 double plays.
Seniors Ryan McClellan and Ryne Clark earned second team All-CCAA awards for their performances this season.
McClellan, an infielder, posted a batting average of .306 with 53 hits, seven doubles and 29 RBIs. On defense, McClellan completed 34 double plays and had a fielding percentage of .959.
Clark roamed the outfield with a .984 fielding percentage. In the batter’s box, he was second on the team with a batting average of .338. He also had 69 hits, six doubles, four triples and 24 RBIs.
Rounding out the third team All-CCAA awards were pitcher Robert Hook, first baseman Tyler Madrid and third baseman Dylan Garcia.
Hook was a solid relief pitcher all season long, tossing 39 innings and recording six wins. He had 16 strikeouts this season and finished the regular season with a 2.77 ERA.
Madrid played in 45 games this season, hitting .291 with 34 hits, four doubles, one triple and three home runs. Madrid was almost perfect on defense with a fielding percentage of .977.
Garcia played in 34 games this season, hitting .337 and an on-base percentage of .398. He scored nine runs, had 29 hits and 11 RBIs.
Sharon Martin can be reached at [email protected] or @SharonBMartin on Twitter.
