Photo by: Arizona Athletics
Nine Cats Recognized by Pac-12 on All-Conference Teams
06/01/2017 | Baseball
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats placed five players on the All-Pac-12 team and four others on the honorable mention squad, the league announced Thursday.
First baseman JJ Matijevic, designated hitter Alfonso Rivas, outfielder Jared Oliva, pitcher JC Cloney and catcher Cesar Salazar were all named to the 32-man All-Pac-12 team. Outfielder Cal Stevenson, third baseman Nick Quintana and pitchers Cameron Ming and Cody Deason were named honorable mention. Oliva was also named to the All-Defense team. The Wildcats also placed five on the All-Pac-12 Team last year in Coach Jay Johnson's first year at the helm.
Matijevic, who finished the regular season with a .389 batting average, was officially named the Pac-12 batting champion. The junior first baseman from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, headlines Arizona's All-Pac-12 selections. Matijevic led the league in average, doubles, slugging percentage, hits, RBI and total bases. Matijevic hit .389 with 29 doubles, 10 home runs, 64 RBI and a .650 slugging percentage.
Rivas became the first Arizona sophomore to be named All-Pac-12 since Bobby Dalbec in 2015. The San Diego, California native batted .374 with 12 doubles, six home runs, 61 RBI and 52 runs scored. He also led the Pac-12 in on base percentage at .490. Rivas showed drastic improvement from his freshman season and became a staple in the middle of the lineup for Johnson.
Oliva, Arizona's starting centerfielder in all 56 games this regular season, posted a .328 batting average with 25 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 56 runs and 10 stolen bases. He and Matijevic were the only players to start all 56 games for the Wildcats. Defensively, Oliva, who was Arizona's lone selection to the All-Defense team, posted a .985 fielding percentage with just two errors.
Cloney, Arizona's Friday night starter all season, was named to the All-Pac-12 team after being an honorable mention pick last year. The left-hander went 7-1 in 14 starts with a 2.94 ERA. He struck out 66 to just 17 walks. Cloney limited opposing batters to a .244 average.
Salazar, one of the best defensive catchers in the conference, posted a .276 batting average with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 29 RBI. He threw out 10 of 34 potential base stealers and started 43 games behind the plate for the Wildcats, playing in 52 total games.
Stevenson led the Pac-12 in runs scored and walks, while batting .313. He scored 60 runs with 10 doubles, three triples and four home runs. Quintana batted .293 as a freshman with 16 doubles, six home runs and 37 RBI. He posted a .475 slugging percentage.
Ming went 7-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 70 innings. He also picked up two saves. Hitters batted just .247 against him this season. He struck out 58 to 19 walks. Deason went 5-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 51 innings.
The Wildcats will open NCAA Tournament play Friday at 4 p.m., MST against Sam Houston State. The game will be streamed on ESPN3.
First baseman JJ Matijevic, designated hitter Alfonso Rivas, outfielder Jared Oliva, pitcher JC Cloney and catcher Cesar Salazar were all named to the 32-man All-Pac-12 team. Outfielder Cal Stevenson, third baseman Nick Quintana and pitchers Cameron Ming and Cody Deason were named honorable mention. Oliva was also named to the All-Defense team. The Wildcats also placed five on the All-Pac-12 Team last year in Coach Jay Johnson's first year at the helm.
Matijevic, who finished the regular season with a .389 batting average, was officially named the Pac-12 batting champion. The junior first baseman from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, headlines Arizona's All-Pac-12 selections. Matijevic led the league in average, doubles, slugging percentage, hits, RBI and total bases. Matijevic hit .389 with 29 doubles, 10 home runs, 64 RBI and a .650 slugging percentage.
Rivas became the first Arizona sophomore to be named All-Pac-12 since Bobby Dalbec in 2015. The San Diego, California native batted .374 with 12 doubles, six home runs, 61 RBI and 52 runs scored. He also led the Pac-12 in on base percentage at .490. Rivas showed drastic improvement from his freshman season and became a staple in the middle of the lineup for Johnson.
Oliva, Arizona's starting centerfielder in all 56 games this regular season, posted a .328 batting average with 25 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 56 runs and 10 stolen bases. He and Matijevic were the only players to start all 56 games for the Wildcats. Defensively, Oliva, who was Arizona's lone selection to the All-Defense team, posted a .985 fielding percentage with just two errors.
Cloney, Arizona's Friday night starter all season, was named to the All-Pac-12 team after being an honorable mention pick last year. The left-hander went 7-1 in 14 starts with a 2.94 ERA. He struck out 66 to just 17 walks. Cloney limited opposing batters to a .244 average.
Salazar, one of the best defensive catchers in the conference, posted a .276 batting average with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 29 RBI. He threw out 10 of 34 potential base stealers and started 43 games behind the plate for the Wildcats, playing in 52 total games.
Stevenson led the Pac-12 in runs scored and walks, while batting .313. He scored 60 runs with 10 doubles, three triples and four home runs. Quintana batted .293 as a freshman with 16 doubles, six home runs and 37 RBI. He posted a .475 slugging percentage.
Ming went 7-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 70 innings. He also picked up two saves. Hitters batted just .247 against him this season. He struck out 58 to 19 walks. Deason went 5-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 51 innings.
The Wildcats will open NCAA Tournament play Friday at 4 p.m., MST against Sam Houston State. The game will be streamed on ESPN3.
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