Gonzales Named To Two Preseason All-America Accolades
12/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University baseball sophomore Marco Gonzales has been named to two preseason All-American accolades. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named Gonzales second team All-American and Collegiate Baseball named him to the Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America third team.
In addition, the Bulldogs received votes in Collegiate Baseball's 2012 preseason poll for the second straight year.
Gonzales had an outstanding rookie campaign last year, going 11-2 in 15 appearances as a pitcher with a 2.57 ERA, four complete-games and 90 strikeouts, second most in the West Coast Conference. As a position player, he carried a .291 average with 15 doubles, a triple and 14 RBI.
Gonzales went 0-2 in his first three starts as a pitcher to start his career but after he received his first win at the University of Missouri, he would win his next five starts, which during the streak he pitched three straight complete-games.
The Fort Collins, Colo., native came through for the Bulldogs in game two against the University of San Francisco. He struck out a career-high 12 batters and was one out short from his fifth complete-game, but his brilliant performance helped the Bulldogs beat the University of San Francisco 7-5 to force a WCC championship game on the final day of the regular season.
Gonzales was named WCC Co-Player of the Year, Co-Freshman of the Year and was All-WCC and All-WCC Freshmen team selections.
Three of Gonzaga's upcoming opponents are ranked in Collegiate Baseball's top 40. The University of Arkansas leads the pack at No. 8 followed by Arizona State University at No. 17 and the University of Oregon at No. 27.
Six of Gonzaga opponents all are receiving votes, the University of San Diego, San Francisco, University of Hawai'i, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois and University of Nebraska. The University of Florida tops the preseason poll after posting 53-19 record a season ago.
The Bulldogs will open the 2012 season Feb. 17 against the University of Nebraska in Peoria, Ariz. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. PT.
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's
NCAA Div. I Pre-Season Top 40 Poll
(As of Dec. 19, 2011)
Rank School ('11 Final Record), Points
1. Florida (53-19), 497
2. South Carolina (55-14), 494
3. Stanford (35-22), 490
4. North Carolina (51-16), 488
5. Texas (49-19), 485
6. Texas A&M (47-22), 484
7. Rice (42-21), 482
8. Arkansas (40-22), 479
9. Georgia Tech. (42-21), 476
10. Texas Christian (43-19), 474
11. St. John's (36-22), 470
12. Louisiana St. (36-20), 468
13. Florida St. (46-19), 465
14. Miami, Fla. (38-23), 464
15. Louisville (32-29), 460
16. Oklahoma (41-19), 458
17. Arizona St. (43-18), 457
18. Georgia (33-32), 455
19. UCLA (35-24), 454
20. Arizona (39-21), 452
21. Cal. St. Fullerton (41-17), 449
22. California (38-23), 447
23. Vanderbilt (54-12), 445
24. Oregon St. (41-19), 443
25. Clemson (43-20), 437
26. Stetson (43-20), 435
27. Oregon (33-26-1), 432
28. Baylor (31-28), 430
29. U.C. Irvine (43-18), 425
30. Southern Miss. (39-19), 422
31. Missouri St. (33-23), 419
32. College of Charleston (39-22), 417
33. Virginia (56-12), 413
34. Georgia Southern (36-26), 412
35. Texas St. (41-23), 408
36. Central Florida (39-23), 406
37. Wichita St. (39-26), 403
38. Jacksonville (37-24), 400
39. Florida International (40-20-1), 397
40. Southern California (25-31), 395
OTHER TEAMS RECEIVING VOTES: Coastal Carolina, Oklahoma St., Charlotte, East Carolina, Kent St., Creighton, Oral Roberts, Troy, South Alabama, San Diego, Gonzaga, San Francisco, Fresno St., Hawaii, Dallas Baptist, N.C. State, Mississippi St., Auburn, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Stony Brook, Maine, Connecticut, Seton Hall, Notre Dame, South Florida, Liberty, Winthrop, Purdue, Michigan St., Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas St., Texas Tech., Missouri, Cal Poly, Long Beach St., U.C. Riverside, James Madison, Tulane, Houston, Manhattan, Rider, Central Michigan, Illinois St., New Mexico, San Diego St., Nevada-Las Vegas, Austin Peay St., Samford, Elon, N.C. Greensboro, S.E. Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana-Lafayette, Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, San Jose St., New Mexico St., Cal. St. Bakersfield.
