Photo by: Eric Evans
Seven Ducks earn all-conference recognition
05/23/23 | Baseball
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Heading into the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament, seven Oregon players have been named to the All-Pac-12 Conference team including three first-team selections.
For the second consecutive season, Oregon placed three players on the first team. Infielders Sabin Ceballos and Drew Cowley claimed first-team recognition as did starting pitcher Jace Stoffal. Outfielders Colby Shade and Tanner Smith, infielder/outfielder Rikuu Nishida and closer Josh Mollerus all earned honorable mention honors while Shade was also named to the league's all-defensive team.
Ceballos, a junior from Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, claimed first team honors after transferring to Oregon from San Jacinto Community College before the season. The Ducks' third baseman led the Ducks in batting average (.349), on-base percentage (.450) and walks (31) during the regular season, while ranking second in home runs (13), RBI (54) and slugging percentage (.640). In the Pac-12 Conference, Ceballos ranked eighth during the regular season in RBI, ninth in slugging percentage, 11th in batting average and 12th in both home runs and OBP. Ceballos enters the Pac-12 Tournament seventh in both home runs and RBI on the Ducks' all-time single-season list.
A year after earning second-team All-ABCA West Region honors, Cowley claimed first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. A semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award honoring the nation's top shortstop, Cowley finished the regular season leading the Ducks in hits (70), home runs (15), RBI (60) and slugging percentage while ranking second in OBP (.427) and walks (26). The senior set a new single-season record for RBI at Oregon, while ranking second in home runs and in a tie for third in runs scored heading into the conference tournament. Among Pac-12 players, the Upland, Calif., native is third in doubles (19), fifth in RBI, sixth in home runs, eighth in slugging percentage, 11th in hits and 16th in batting average.
Oregon's Friday night starter on the mound, Jace Stoffal put together one of the top seasons ever by an Oregon pitcher on the way to being named first-team All-Pac-12. The right-hander from Roseburg, Ore., finished the regular season 6-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 10 starts with 56 strikeouts in 57.1 innings while holding opposing batters to a .184 average. He claimed Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week honors three times while finishing with a team-high five quality starts. He has wins over the top two seeded teams (Stanford and Oregon State) in the Pac-12 Tournament, earning pitcher of the week recognition after both victories. In all, he boasts a 4-0 record against teams in the Pac-12 Tournament with a pair of no-decisions (both Oregon wins).
Mollerus, a graduate transfer from Campbell, Calif., earned honorable mention honors after finishing the regular season with a team-best eight saves with a 1-2 record and a 3.18 ERA. The Ducks' closer fanned 43 in 28.1 innings pitched while holding opposing hitters to a .173 batting average. He didn't allow a run over the first 19.0 innings he pitched during the season and his eight saves are tied for the ninth most in a single-season at Oregon. Mollerus heads into the Pac-12 Tournament tied for third in the conference in saves.
Nishida, a junior college transfer from Osaka, Japan, claimed honorable mention honors after finishing the season batting .316 with a team-high tying 54 runs scored, five home runs, 13 doubles, a triple and 31 RBI while batting in the leadoff spot. He set a new Oregon single-season stolen bases record (20) and ranks in a tie for third on the single-season runs list. He ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in stolen bases and finished the regular season as the second toughest hitter to strike out in the league.
Shade, a junior from Fort Collins, Colo., nabbed honorable mention all-league honors while also earning a spot on the Pac-12 Conference All-Defensive Team as an outfielder. Oregon's centerfielder batted .326 with six home runs, 14 doubles, two triples, 49 runs scored and 27 RBI while swiping 12 bags.
Smith, a senior from Newport Beach, Calif., was named honorable mention all-league after completing the regular season as one of Oregon most accomplished players in program history. The Ducks' left fielder set 10 new school records (7 career, 3 single season) during his time at Oregon. As a senior, he batted .311 with nine home runs, 18 doubles, one triple, 41 runs scored and 36 RBI.
For the second consecutive season, Oregon placed three players on the first team. Infielders Sabin Ceballos and Drew Cowley claimed first-team recognition as did starting pitcher Jace Stoffal. Outfielders Colby Shade and Tanner Smith, infielder/outfielder Rikuu Nishida and closer Josh Mollerus all earned honorable mention honors while Shade was also named to the league's all-defensive team.
Ceballos, a junior from Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, claimed first team honors after transferring to Oregon from San Jacinto Community College before the season. The Ducks' third baseman led the Ducks in batting average (.349), on-base percentage (.450) and walks (31) during the regular season, while ranking second in home runs (13), RBI (54) and slugging percentage (.640). In the Pac-12 Conference, Ceballos ranked eighth during the regular season in RBI, ninth in slugging percentage, 11th in batting average and 12th in both home runs and OBP. Ceballos enters the Pac-12 Tournament seventh in both home runs and RBI on the Ducks' all-time single-season list.
A year after earning second-team All-ABCA West Region honors, Cowley claimed first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. A semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award honoring the nation's top shortstop, Cowley finished the regular season leading the Ducks in hits (70), home runs (15), RBI (60) and slugging percentage while ranking second in OBP (.427) and walks (26). The senior set a new single-season record for RBI at Oregon, while ranking second in home runs and in a tie for third in runs scored heading into the conference tournament. Among Pac-12 players, the Upland, Calif., native is third in doubles (19), fifth in RBI, sixth in home runs, eighth in slugging percentage, 11th in hits and 16th in batting average.
Oregon's Friday night starter on the mound, Jace Stoffal put together one of the top seasons ever by an Oregon pitcher on the way to being named first-team All-Pac-12. The right-hander from Roseburg, Ore., finished the regular season 6-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 10 starts with 56 strikeouts in 57.1 innings while holding opposing batters to a .184 average. He claimed Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week honors three times while finishing with a team-high five quality starts. He has wins over the top two seeded teams (Stanford and Oregon State) in the Pac-12 Tournament, earning pitcher of the week recognition after both victories. In all, he boasts a 4-0 record against teams in the Pac-12 Tournament with a pair of no-decisions (both Oregon wins).
Mollerus, a graduate transfer from Campbell, Calif., earned honorable mention honors after finishing the regular season with a team-best eight saves with a 1-2 record and a 3.18 ERA. The Ducks' closer fanned 43 in 28.1 innings pitched while holding opposing hitters to a .173 batting average. He didn't allow a run over the first 19.0 innings he pitched during the season and his eight saves are tied for the ninth most in a single-season at Oregon. Mollerus heads into the Pac-12 Tournament tied for third in the conference in saves.
Nishida, a junior college transfer from Osaka, Japan, claimed honorable mention honors after finishing the season batting .316 with a team-high tying 54 runs scored, five home runs, 13 doubles, a triple and 31 RBI while batting in the leadoff spot. He set a new Oregon single-season stolen bases record (20) and ranks in a tie for third on the single-season runs list. He ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in stolen bases and finished the regular season as the second toughest hitter to strike out in the league.
Shade, a junior from Fort Collins, Colo., nabbed honorable mention all-league honors while also earning a spot on the Pac-12 Conference All-Defensive Team as an outfielder. Oregon's centerfielder batted .326 with six home runs, 14 doubles, two triples, 49 runs scored and 27 RBI while swiping 12 bags.
Smith, a senior from Newport Beach, Calif., was named honorable mention all-league after completing the regular season as one of Oregon most accomplished players in program history. The Ducks' left fielder set 10 new school records (7 career, 3 single season) during his time at Oregon. As a senior, he batted .311 with nine home runs, 18 doubles, one triple, 41 runs scored and 36 RBI.
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