Belton, TX - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team placed a total of eight players on the American Southwest Conference All-West Division Teams released today. UMHB had three First Team All-West selections, two Second Team All-West picks and three Honorable Mention All-West choices.
Outfielder Joseph Villegas, starting pitcher Jared Hopper and utility player R.B. Garza were all named to the All-West Division First Team. Villegas, a junior from Hays High School, led the Cru with a .465 batting average, 72 hits, 5 triples, 19 stolen bases and 47 runs scored. Villegas added six home runs and 39 RBI and became just the second player in UMHB baseball history to go over 200 career hits this season. Hopper, a sophomore from Northeast Christian Academy in Kingwood, led the Cru with a 6-4 record and 94 strikeouts. He also posted a 3.55 ERA and three complete games in 83.2 innings of work. Garza, a senior pitcher/infielder from Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, was second on the team with a .461 batting average and he added one home run and 18 RBI. Garza also went 5-4 as a pitcher with a 4.98 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 72.1 innings. Garza became the first pitcher in UMHB history to go over 200 career strikeouts this season.
The Cru placed a pair of players on the All-West Division Second Team in Andrew White and Sam VanHoozer. White, a junior outfielder from Cy-Creek High School, batted .333 with four home runs and 38 RBI. He finished with 15 extra base hits and was second on the team with 45 runs scored. VanHoozer, a freshman pitcher from Salado High School, made the team as a relief pitcher. VanHoozer finished with a team-best six saves and also posted a 3-1 record to go with a 3.63 ERA on the season.
Third baseman Josh Fredrick, catcher Ryan Moreau and designated hitter Derek Draeger all earned Honorable Mention All-West Division honors. Fredrick, a freshman from Troy High School, led the Cru with eight home runs and 47 RBI while batting .299. Moreau, a junior from Baytown Christian High School, batted .310 with 14 RBI and also tied for the team lead with 24 walks. Draeger, a freshman from Northeast Christian Academy, batted .385 and added six home runs and 31 RBI while tying for the team lead with 17 extra base hits. Draeger also posted those numbers despite missing the final nine games of the season with an injury.
The Cru went 22-17 overall and 12-9 in ASC West Division play this season. UMHB advanced to the ASC Championship Tournament for the third straight year before falling to Mississippi College in the opening round of the tournament. This is the fourth All-West Division selection for Garza. Villegas is a three-time All-West Division honoree and this is the second All-West Division selection for White. Hopper, VanHoozer, Fredrick, Moreau and Draeger are all first time All-West Division selections. The ASC baseball honors stop at the division level, there is no ASC All-Conference baseball team selected.
