Tucson, Ariz. – The Pac-12 announced its all-conference baseball team Thursday and it was well represented with Arizona Wildcats.
The Cats had five players – Ryan Aguilar, Nathan Bannister, Bobby Dalbec, Zach Gibbons and Cody Ramer – selected to the All-Pac-12 team. Starting pitcher JC Cloney was named honorable mention. The five players selected to the all-conference team are the most by an Arizona team since 2012 when the Cats placed six on the team.
Aguilar, a first baseman, started all 58 games for the Wildcats this season and hit .314 and led the team with six home runs and 42 RBI. His 18 doubles also led the squad and were second most in the Pac-12. The senior from Yorba Linda, Calif., was second on the team with 12 stolen bases and was also stellar in the field with a .996 fielding percentage this season. He didn't commit an error in 30 Pac-12 games.
Bannister, named a Louisville Slugger 2nd-Team All-American earlier Thursday, was a fixture atop the Arizona starting rotation all season. The senior from Peoria went 9-2 in the regular season with a 2.72 ERA in 112.2 innings pitched. He struck out 84 and held opposing batters to a .201 batting average, which is the lowest mark by an Arizona starting pitcher in at least 20 years. He led the Pac-12 in innings pitched and was fourth in opposing batting average.
Dalbec, a two-way standout for the Cats, was selected to the team as a relief pitcher. Dalbec posted a 3.08 ERA and seven saves to go with an 8-4 record. He struck out 55 in 64.1 innings, while holding opposing batters to a .237 average. Dalbec, a junior right-hander from Parker, Colo., dominated left-handed hitters, holding them to a .180 batting average (18-100) in the regular season. The selection marks the second straight year Dalbec has been named to the all-conference team. He was named as a third baseman and pitcher last season.
Gibbons, a senior from Scottsdale, was named to the squad after garnering honorable mention honors in 2013. Gibbons finished second in the Pac-12 with a .385 batting average and led the Wildcats. He started all 56 games he appeared in, posting 33 runs scored, 84 hits (leading the conference), 12 doubles, 39 RBI and nine stolen bases. He was also flawless in the field, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage. Gibbons enters NCAA Regional play with 268 career hits, which is good enough for seventh all-time at Arizona.
Ramer, a senior from Simi Valley, Calif., was second on the team and fourth in the Pac-12 with his .356 batting average. He led the league with eight triples and was second in the league behind Gibbons with 83 hits, while starting all 58 games like Aguilar. Ramer posted 13 doubles, 53 runs scored (tied for the conference lead), eight triples, one home run and 35 RBI to go with eight stolen bases. He posted a .964 fielding percentage, playing both second base and shortstop.
Cloney, who went 6-3 with a team-leading 2.38 ERA, was selected honorable mention. Cloney held hitters to a .246 batting average against, making 15 starts, which tied for the team lead with Bannister.
The Cats will open play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Lafayette, Louisiana versus Sam Houston State at 11 a.m., MST. The game will be live streamed on ESPN3.
