Ten Hancock Baseball Players Receive All-Conference Honors, Three Named to First Team
Sophomores Ismael Hernandez and Zach Rudd, as well as freshman second baseman Travis Welker were named to the First Team to lead a contingent of ten Allan Hancock College baseball players who received postseason recognition from coaches in the Western State Conference's North Division. Sophomore catcher Reed Odland, and three freshmen: pitcher Trevor Garcia, outfielder Mike McLean, and infielder Jeff Ray were named to the All-WSC Second Team. Freshmen pitchers Dylan Kelley and Isaac Baez, along with sophomore Jake Shusterich received honorable mention.
The Bulldogs finished the 2019 season fourth in the Western State Conference standings at 9-11 and 19-20 overall under Head Coach Chris Stevens.
After playing in three games last season, Rudd saw action in 31 games in 2019 and led the team with a .307 batting average and 25 RBI. The Righetti High School graduate ranked in the top five on Hancock with ten doubles, three home runs, and 31 hits despite missing a stretch of eight games. The centerfielder enjoyed nine multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 performance against College of the Canyons that included a double, triple, and 5 RBI.
Zach Rudd Ismael Hernandez Travis Welker
Hernandez led the Bulldogs with 39 hits. The Cabrillo High School graduate ended the season with a .295 batting average, 24 RBI, eight doubles, and one triple. He posted 10 multi-hit games, including a game against Oxnard where he had three hits and drove in a career-high four runs. On the mound, he went 3-4 with a 3.90 ERA. He struck out 23 over 27 2/3 innings, and led the conference with four saves. He finished his Hancock career with a 6-8 record, 11 saves, and 57 strikeouts over 65 1/3 innings. He pitched in 41 total games, which ranks No. 2 all-time in program history. Hernandez also ended with a lifetime .308 batting average and 38 RBI.
Welker played 29 games for Hancock, hitting .280 with 12 doubles, 13 RBI, 20 runs scored, and 30 hits. The Santa Ynez High School graduate had 10 multi-hit games, including four in a row. Welker was also recognized for his defensive efforts, receiving the conference's Gold Glove for second basemen.
Odland was one of four Bulldogs named to the Second Team. He posted a .268 batting average with eight doubles, 22 RBI, and scored 24 runs. He ranked third in the conference with five home runs. The catcher drew 22 walks, which resulted in a .427 on-base percentage that ranked sixth in conference. He threw out 15 of the 51 runners attempting to steal or 23 percent. Over the course of two seasons, Odland hit .261 with 11 doubles, and 33 RBI.
Reed Odland Trevor Garcia Jeff Ray
Garcia went 4-4 and logged a conference-leading 81 2/3 innings with a 2.53 ERA to earn a spot on the Second Team. His 65 strikeouts ranked fifth among conference pitchers. The freshman struck out a season-high 10 hitters over seven innings against L.A. Pierce. He also twice fanned nine in a game. At the plate, the Santa Maria High School graduate hit .247 and drove in seven runs.
Ray scored a team-high 31 runs to go with 37 hits, 12 doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 13 RBI on his way to Second Team recognition. The shortstop stole seven bases and hit .262. He had 11 multi-hit games, including two games with four hits. The Lompoc High School graduate went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, and scored four times in a win against Oxnard.
McLean was the third freshman to be named to the Second Team. The outfielder hit .279 with four doubles, one home run, 14 RBI, and scored 14 times. He ranked second on the team with 20 walks, and led the Bulldogs with eight stolen bases. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate had five games with two or more hits, including two three-hit contests.
Kelley, Shusterich, and Baez received honorable mention. Shusterich clubbed four home runs, which ranked fifth in the conference. After a slow start, he heated up down the stretch to finish with a .255 batting average, nine doubles, 17 RBI, and .413 on-base percentage. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, and 3 RBI against Taft. He pitched in 12 games, including nine starts. He went 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA over 42 1/3 innings. After two seasons, Shusterich finished with a .329 career batting average with 11 home runs, 56 RBI, 20 doubles, and scored 45 times.
Jake Shusterich Dylan Kelley Isaac Baez
Kelley made 10 starts for Hancock and threw in 13 games overall. The Dos Pueblos High School graduate went 3-4 with a 3.65 ERA. He struck out 32 over 69 innings.
After playing in three games last season, Rudd saw action in 31 games in 2019 and led the team with a .307 batting average and 25 RBI. The Righetti High School graduate ranked in the top five with ten doubles, three home runs, and 31 hits despite missing a stretch of eight games. He enjoyed nine multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 performance against College of the Canyons that included a double, triple, and 5 RBI.
Baez received honorable mention after pitching in 15 games, 12 of them in relief. He went 3-4 with one save and 35 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings. He threw 7 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in his final three appearances with five strikeouts, picking up one victory.