Baseball Places Nine on All-Conference List, Four Pick Up WSC Gold Glove
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Nine Allan Hancock College baseball student-athletes were named to the 2024 Western State Conference (North) All-Conference list, while four were recognized as Gold Glove recipients, at the conclusion of the regular season campaign.
Stephen Espinoza, Gavin Long, and Cooper Bagby headlined the list of honorees after picking up First Team All-Conference recognition.
Espinoza led the Bulldogs with 48 RBIs and a .542 slugging percentage on the season en route to a .345 batting average. He registered 12 doubles, six triples, and three home runs on 58 hits after 168 at-bats. The Lompoc native picked up a Gold Glove designation for his work at shortstop this season where he recorded a .955 fielding percentage and was in on 23 double plays after 178 chances.
Long, now a two-time First Team selection, was tops for the team with a .349 batting average after going 60-for-172 at the plate. He notched 16 doubles, two triples, and one homer while tallying 23 RBIs and stealing a team-high of 11 bases this season.
Bagby put up impressive numbers for the Bulldogs on the mound while alternating between a starting pitcher and a closer throughout his sophomore campaign. The Ernest Righetti High School alum picked up seven wins and six saves through 20 appearances on the bump. He struck out 60 batters through 65 innings of work en route to a .242 batting average against mark and a 4.02 ERA.
Blake Edgmon and Tommy Kendlinger were both named to the Second Team All-Conference list and were tabbed as Gold Glove honorees for third base and right field, respectively.
Edgmon was tied for second on the team with a .405 on-base percentage and was fourth with a .307 batting average. He recorded 13 doubles, two triples, and two home runs to go along with 23 RBIs on 51 hits. The sophomore transfer had a .951 fielding percentage and was involved in 18 double plays with 163 total chances on the season.
Kendlinger closed out his second season at AHC with the team's third-highest slugging percentage (.459) and a .306 batting average, ranking him fifth amongst teammates. He tallied 11 doubles, three triples, and three shots over the fence on 52 hits while driving in 30 runs and finished second with eight stolen bases. The Ventura native, now a two-time WSC Gold Glove honoree, finished with a spotless fielding record for the second consecutive season after 91 total chances. Through two seasons, Kendlinger has registered 186 putouts and 10 assists with two double players and no errors in the grass.
Ricky Smith, Nick Brown, Jaiden Turner, and Austin Moccardini rounded out the All-Conference list after landing on the Honorable Mention squad while Bridger Coleman picked up the final Gold Glove selection for his work behind the plate.