June 29, 2011
SPOKANE, Wash. - Three Gonzaga University baseball players were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-West Region teams. Catcher Cameron Edman was named first team while pitcher Cody Martin and two-way player Marco Gonzales received second team honors.
The ABCA divides the 298 Division I baseball schools into eight regions. The West Region includes schools from the West Coast, Western Athletic, Pacific-10 and Big West conferences. The 36 West Region coaches nominated their players and then voted the players to either first or second teams.
Edman, who was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 29th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft earlier this month, did not miss a start this past season. He led the Bulldogs with a .346 batting average and in doubles with 23. He also led the WCC in home runs with nine. An All-WCC selection, Edman batted .373 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 20 RBI in league play.
As a first team selection, Edman is eligible for the ABCA's All-America recognition which will be announced in a later date.
Martin, who was taken by the Atlanta Braves in the seventh round of the MLB draft, posted the best earned-run average among Division I pitcher with a 0.86 in 52 2/3 innings pitched as the college baseball season came to an end Tuesday evening. Also an All-WCC selection, Martin returned to the role as the Bulldogs closing pitcher and within the program's records, he broke his single-season record with 12 saves and with 88 career appearances tied Brandon Harmon (2005-08) for the most of any Bulldog. His 271 career strikeouts rank third on the all-time list.
Gonzales had a standout rookie season with the Bulldogs. He became the first Bulldog to receive four WCC post-season awards such as Co-Player of the Year, Co-Freshman of the Year, All-WCC and WCC All-Freshman team. Gonzales started 15 games as a pitcher, 29 as a first baseman and two as a left fielder. As a member of the Bulldogs pitching rotation, Gonzales led the WCC in wins (11), owned a 2.57 ERA in 105 innings pitched. In addition to throwing four complete-games, he finished second in the league in strikeouts (90) behind teammate and fellow left-hander Ryan Carpenter. At the plate, Gonzales batted .291 with 10 doubles and 14 RBI. He recorded 253 putouts, turned in 35 assists and committed only one error for a fielding percentage of .997.
