2024 Baseball All-Conference and Defensive Teams

While Benedictine Mesa went wire-to-wire for its second consecutive California Pacific Conference regular season title, the most notable achievement in 2024 was the one-two punch of Embry-Riddle's Travis Strickler and Drew Barragan.  The potent duo not only produced numbers that put them among the offensive leaders in the conference, but both earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team.  In recognition of their stellar performances that made an assault on the Cal Pac record books, Cal Pac coaches voted Strickler the Player of the Year and Barragan the Defender of the Year.

Strickler, the 2022 Cal Pac Newcomer of the Year and a three-time First Team selection, fashioned another outstanding season at the plate.  The senior outfielder from Glendale, Ariz., led the Cal Pac in Runs (71), Triples (8), and tied for first in Stolen Bases (23).  He was 2^nd in Hits (74), Runs Batted In (46), On Base Percentage (.507), Slugging Percentage (.796), Total Bases (144), and Doubles (27—the second most all time).  His .409 batting average ranked 4^th in the conference, as did his nine home runs.

Where Strickler ranked 2^nd in offensive categories, in almost every case it was behind Barragan, who put together one of the most impressive offensive single seasons in Cal Pac history.  In addition to leading the conference with 130 assists with a .938 Fielding Percentage, the 2023 Newcomer of the Year not only led the Cal Pac in five offensive categories, he set new all-time records in four of them:  Batting Average (.452—tied for the all-time best)), Runs Batted In (86—40 more than the second highest this season), Total Bases (160), and Doubles (29).  He led the nation in Hits (84), RBI, Doubles.  Also, Barragan led the conference in Slugging Percentage (.860), was 2^nd in Runs (53), and Home Runs (15), and ranked 3^rd in On Base Percentage (.505).

Westcliff's Eddie Rios was named the Pitcher of the Year following a superb season on the mound.  The lefty, and Honorable Mention last season, was the top hurler in the conference, registering the most innings (75), the most wins (8), and allowing opponents to hit a meager .193, the second lowest in conference history.  Rios also led the Cal Pac in Strikeouts (105), becoming the first conference pitcher to surpass 100 in a season.  He ranked 2^nd in Strikeouts per 9 Innings (12.48) and in Walks and Hits per Inning (1.19), and he was 3^rd in Earned Run Average (3.00).

Simpson's Garrett Brogdon was selected as the Cal Pac Newcomer of the Year.  The junior pitcher ranked 5^th in Strikeouts (67), 6^th in Strikeouts per 9 Innings (10.52), 7^th in WHIP (1.31), 9^th in ERA (4.71), and in 57.1 innings opponents hit only .235 against him.

Another Red Hawk pitcher garnered the Freshman of the Year award.  Chad Horton posted a 1-1 record, appeared in 23 games, threw 35 innings, striking out 34, and finishing with a 4.50 ERA.

Benedictine Mesa head coach Joe Silva took over the Redhawk program this season and was honored by his peers as the Coach of the Year.

Four other players were repeat honorees this season.  BENU's Kameron Haviland was voted to the First Team this season after earning Honorable Mention in 2022.  SU's Logan Gomes, who led the Cal Pac in Home Runs this year with 16 (third highest single season total), was voted to the First Team this year after receiving Honorable Mention last year.  SU pitcher Eric Winchester was an Honorable Mention in 2024 and 2022.  ERAU's Kevin Fedoruk, an All-Defensive Team pick this season, earned Honorable Mention in 2023.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Travis Strickler (Embry-Riddle)

PITCHER OF THE YEAR:  Eddie Rios (Westcliff)

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR:  Drew Barragan (Embry-Riddle)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:  Garrett Brogdon (Simpson)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:  Chad Horton (Simpson)

COACH OF THE YEAR:  Joe Silva (Benedictine Mesa)

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

First Team

Honorable Mention

Benedictine Mesa:  Cameron Jowaiszas, Jared Cruce, Matt Dinkel.  Embry-Riddle:  Miles Murphy, Gavin Botts, Kevin Fedoruk, Roberto Garza-Nunez, Cole Altherr.  La Sierra:  Stephan Chavez.  Park-Gilbert:  Diego Bejarano, Nick Miller.  Providence Christian:  Kyle Fuller.  Saint Katherine:  Jacob McLeod, Devin Padua, Christopher Paruleski.  Simpson:  Kade Kupihea, Maximiliano Lopez, Micah Kele, Eric Winchester.  Westcliff:  Kyle Douphner.

2024 ALL-DEFENSE TEAM