May 25, 2005
Complete 2005 All-WCC Selections in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
San Bruno, Calif. - Seven Lions were recognized Wednesday as All-West Coast Conference performers, the conference announced. Junior Chris Pettit headlined the selections, being named to the all-conference first-team.
Freshman Eric Farris and juniors James Cooper and Jeff Stevens were second-team selections. Receiving honorable mention recognition were seniors Joe Frazee and Evan Shahak and freshman Sean Dovel.
Pettit received his first career all-conference selection after hitting .380 in WCC play this season. The junior ranked in the top 10 in the WCC in more offensive categories than any other conference player, including leading the league in runs scored (38) and doubles (14). A three-year starter in the outfield for the Lions, Pettit also finished WCC play ranked in the top three in hits (41), stolen bases (10), RBI (26), total bases (67), on base percentage (.473), and slugging percentage (.620).
The San Dimas, Calif., native was named the WCC's Player of the Week twice in four weeks, winning the selection on April 11 and May 3 after leading the Lions to wins over top-ranked Cal State Fullerton, 21st-ranked USC, and Pepperdine. Pettit was also twice listed among the nation's best in the College Baseball Foundation's National Weekly Honor Roll.
Farris was one of five freshman named to the All-WCC second-team after finishing league play second among all hitters with a .388 average. He was also among conference leaders in stolen bases (7), runs scored (24), on base percentage (.432), and slugging percentage (.515).
The Lions' second baseman was the final WCC Player of the Week after helping LMU secure its second straight Coast Division title with a four-game sweep of Gonzaga. For his effort, he was named to the College Baseball Foundation's National Weekly Honor Roll. After missing the first half of the season due to a hand injury, Farris debuted as the Lions' second baseman at the end of March and led the Lions to a 21-11 record.
After receiving all-conference honorable mention recognition in 2004, Cooper made his first career appearance on the second-team this season. Cooper finished ranked fifth in batting average, hitting .358 in WCC play. He was also among the conference leaders in triples. The three-year starter in the Lions' outfield added 19 RBI and 17 runs scored.
The 2005 all-conference selections mark back-to-back second-team honors for Stevens. The Lions' junior right-hander went 6-4 with a 3.33 ERA that placed him among the conference's top 10 ERAs. Stevens's 73 innings pitched led all pitchers, and he ranked second in strikeouts (58) and victories (6). With six career saves, he is one save shy of ranking among LMU's top 10 all-time leaders in career saves.
Frazee, Shahak, and Dovel rounded out the Lions' selections with honorable mention recognition after earning at least one all-conference vote from the WCC coaches. The selection is the fourth for Frazee, who was a second-team selection in 2004. His four years of WCC recognition make him the only player in LMU history to be listed among the conference's top players for four seasons. The senior outfielder hit .311 in conference play after leading the league most of the season in overall games statistics. He also ranked fifth in doubles (10) and eighth in runs scored (23) in WCC play.
In his first season of action with the Lions, Shahak hit .375 with 56 at bats as LMU's designated hitter. He added 16 RBI, a .589 slugging percentage, and a .400 on-base percentage.
The second LMU freshman to receive recognition this season, Dovel hit .302 with 12 RBI and 41 total bases. He connected for his first career home run in the televised 9-1 victory over San Diego.
After winning its second straight West Coast Conference Coast Division title last weekend, LMU will host the WCC Baseball Championship Series for the second straight year at Page Stadium this weekend. The Lions will fight for their seventh conference crown in the televised three-game series that begins Friday at 3:00 p.m.
-GO LIONS-
