Lions Clean Up at Postseason Awards

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – Diego Barrera, Khadim Diaw, Cole Roberts and head coach Nathan Choate all received postseason awards from the West Coast Conference after the 2023 season.

Barrera took home the Pitcher of the Year award after posting an 8-2 record with a 2.33 ERA. The southpaw finished second in the conference in strikeouts but finished first in WHIP and walks per nine innings.

Diaw took home the Freshman of the Year award after a year in which he led the team in homeruns, batting average and slugging percentage. Diaw also played a pristine right field and notched a pair of outfield assists.

Roberts took home the Defensive Player of the Year award after a season in which he made three errors in 200 chances for a .985 fielding percentage at second base. "I call him butter because he's smooth like butter," said double play partner Benny Casillas when asked what it is like to play up the middle with Roberts.

Choate earned Coach of the Year after the Lions took home an outright regular season title for the first time in 25 years. The Lions finished four games ahead of second-place Portland and swept four WCC series. The Lions pitching staff really excelled under Choate's tutelage, ranking sixth nationally in walks per nine innings and 26th nationally in walk to strikeout ratio.

Barrera and Diego Baqueiro took home first team All-WCC honors, Diaw and right-handed pitcher Zach Kirby took home second team honors, Diaw took home freshman team honors and closer Merrick Baldo earned and honorable mention.

LMU opens up the WCC baseball tournament on Thursday against the lowest remaining seed after the opening round on Wednesday.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Merrick Baldo: RHP; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#24 Diego Baqueiro: INF; 6' 2"; Junior

#35 Diego Barrera: LHP; 6' 0"; Graduate Student

#6 Benny Casillas: INF; 6' 1"; Senior

#30 Khadim Diaw: C; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#2 Cole Roberts: INF; 5' 9"; Senior

#31 Zach Kirby: RHP; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#17 Merrick Baldo
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: RHP

#24 Diego Baqueiro
: 6' 2"; Junior
: INF

#35 Diego Barrera
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student
: LHP

#6 Benny Casillas
: 6' 1"; Senior
: INF

#30 Khadim Diaw
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: C

#2 Cole Roberts
: 5' 9"; Senior
: INF

#31 Zach Kirby
: 6' 2"; Senior
: RHP