Eight Zags Earn All-WCC Recognition

May 23, 2003

MALIBU, Calif. - Eight Gonzaga University baseball players earned All-West Coast Conference recognition on Friday morning as the league released the All-Conference team. Junior first baseman Gordon Corder was the Bulldogs only first team selection with three players earning second team honors and four players garnering honorable mention recognition.

Corder, a junior college transfer from Tacoma, Wash., ranked among the league leaders this season as he hit .382 with 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 57 RBI. Corder led the Bulldogs in all four categories as his 22 doubles was the second best single-season effort in Gonzaga history.

Earning second team All-WCC honors were sophomore pitcher Eric Dworkis, senior catcher Sam Hess and senior utility player Danny Evans. Dworkis finished the season with an 8-5 record, 2.88 ERA and a team high 81 strike outs. A right-hander from Bellevue, Wash., Dworkis' 2.88 ERA was the eighth best single-season mark in school history. Hess, a fifth-year senior from Colbert, Wash., helped pace the Bulldogs offense over the second half of the season as he hit .301 on the year and .365 in league play. Hess caught 51 of 52 games on the season including 29 straight innings earlier this year against Portland. Evans rotated between third base and shortstop as the Glendale, Ariz., native finished the season with a .330 average after appearing in 50 games. Evans finished the season with four home runs to rank second on the club.

Four players earned honorable mention honors led by senior second baseman Eric Rodland. Also earning honorable mention honors were sophomore outfielder Jeff Culpepper, junior relief pitcher John Gonzalez and junior outfielder David Johnson. Rodland, the Bulldogs career hits leader, earned his third All-WCC honor after earning first-team honors last season and second team honors in 2001. Rodland, a native of Snohomish, Wash., finished his Bulldogs career with 669 career hits to also rank eighth on the WCC career charts. Right fielder Jeff Culpepper, from Woodinville, Wash., earned his first All-WCC honor after hitting .330 on the season with 13 doubles and 40 RBI. Gonzalez, a left-hander from Camarillo, Calif., earned honorable mention recognition after posting a 2-3 record with six saves. The six saves are the second highest single-season total at Gonzaga matching Tucker Urdahl's six saves in 1999. David Johnson, a left fielder from Agoura Hills, Calif., rounds out the Bulldogs All-WCC honorees after hitting .309 on the season with eight home runs and 35 RBI. Johnson also swiped seven bases to tie for second on the club in the category.

The West Coast Conference Player of the Year vote was split between Scott Dierks of Santa Clara and Kevin Estrada of Pepperdine. The Waves Greg Ramirez was named the WCC Pitcher of the Year while Frank Sanchez was tabbed the Coach of the Year. Bryan Byrne of Saint Mary's was named the WCC Freshman of the Year.

FIRST TEAM        SCHOOL              POS YEAR    HOMETOWNJacob Barrack       Pepperdine      P   JR  Vista, CAJoe Diefenderfer    Santa Clara     P   SR  San Luis Obispo, CAGreg Ramirez        Pepperdine      P   SR  Oxnard, CAJon Higashi     Loyola Marymount    C   JR  Canoga Park, CAGordon Corder       GONZAGA             1B  JR  Tacoma, WADavid Uribes        Pepperdine      2B  FR  West Covina, CABryan Byrne     Saint Mary's        3B  FR  Danville, CAKevin Estrada       Pepperdine      SS  SR  El Segundo, CAScott Dierks        Santa Clara     OF  SR  Los Gatos, CAJosh Hansen     San Diego       OF  JR  Irvine, CAJoey Prast      San Diego       OF  JR  Poway, CATony Perez      San Diego       UT  SR  Chula Vista, CARyan Sittauer       San Francisco       DH  SR  Lynnwood, WA
Co-Player of the Year:  Scott Dierks, Santa Clara            Kevin Estrada, PepperdinePitcher of the Year:    Greg Ramirez, PepperdineFreshman of the Year:   Bryan Byrne, Saint Mary'sCoach of the Year:  Frank Sanchez, Pepperdine
SECOND TEAM       SCHOOL              POS YEAR    HOMETOWNKevin Annis     San Francisco       P   SR  Reno, NVEric Dworkis     GONZAGA             P   SO  Bellevue, WAPatrick Overholt    Santa Clara     P   FR  Sandy, UTSam Hess     GONZAGA             C   SR  Colbert, WAChris Kelly     Pepperdine      1B  JR  Las Vegas, NVA.J. LaBarbera      Santa Clara     2B  SR  Whittier, CAJonathan Oller      Loyola Marymount    3B  SO  Tarzana, CAArmand Gaerlan      San Francisco       SS  JR  Fremont, CAKory Casto      Portland        OF  JR  Aurora, ORBrandon Daguio      Pepperdine      OF  FR  Fountain Valley, CAJack Headley        Santa Clara     OF  SR  Gilroy, CADanny Evans       GONZAGA             UT  SR  Glendale, AZJosh Whitesell      Loyola Marymount    DH  JR  Rialto, CA
Honorable MentionGONZAGA:        Jeff Culpepper, John Gonzalez, David Johnson, Eric RodlandLoyola Marymount:   Joe Frazee, Billy LockinPepperdine:     Ty Harper, Patrick RooneySaint Mary's:       Eric Bowden, Nick Conte, Tim SpoonerSan Diego:      Freddy SandovalSan Francisco:      Ryan Hanson, Joe Jacobitz, Derek Tate

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