May 25, 2005

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(San Francisco) - Fresh off the most successful regular season in program history, an unprecedented eight USF Baseball players earned All-West Coast Conference recognition as announced today by the league office. The Dons shattered program records for overall victories (38) and WCC wins (20) and USF head coach Nino Giarratano was honored as the WCC Coach of the Year after directing his club to heights never achieved on the Hilltop.

Sophomore utility player Scott Cousins (Reno, NV) and senior right-handed pitcher Nick Pereira (Cupertino, CA) were unanimous All-WCC First Team picks, while senior designated hitter Cy Donald (Miliani, HI) and junior outfielder Stefan Gartrell (San Francisco) captured second team all-league accolades.

Senior second baseman Royce Fukuroku (Wailuku, HI), freshman shortstop Tavo Hall (Albuquerque, NM), junior right-hander Patrick McGuigan (Honolulu, HI) and Luke Sommer (Canby, OR) received All-WCC Honorable Mention nods.

Giarratano becomes just the second Dons coach to earn WCC Coach of the Year accolades and the first since USF legend Dante Benedetti won the award in 1971. The three-time National Junior College Coach of the Year (Collegiate Baseball) guided San Francisco to a remarkable turnaround, winning 11 more games than the previous year and six more league victories after being picked sixth in the preseason WCC coaches poll. The record setting season was made more impressive since the Dons did so without the benefit of a single returning all-league player. Under his direction, the Dons ranked in the top-10 among NCAA Division I leaders in team ERA (2.86) and fielding percentage (.976).

"Obviously I am very humbled to be Coach of the Year," Giarratano said. "This is a tremendous honor for me and my coaching staff which should take credit for many of our team accomplishments. It is such a great pleasure to work with such an outstanding staff."

Cousins turned in an outstanding sophomore campaign at the plate and on the mound for the Diamond Dons. The WCC Co-Player of the Month for March, batted .309, ranked fourth on the team with 50 hits and led USF in home runs with seven, including a stretch of six in 11 games. The left-handed Sunday starter was equally impressive on the mound, posting a 8-5 record with a 2.64 ERA, allowing just 28 earned runs in 95.1 innings and ranked second one of the nation's elite pitching staffs with 76 strikeouts.

"I am extremely excited for scott to have the opportunity to be on the WCC First Team. His ability to pitch, hit and play defense was the difference for us to be able to compete for the WCC crown on the final day of the regular season," Giarratano said.

Pereira enjoyed a breakthrough season on the hill for the Dons in 2005, posting a remarkable 10-3 overall record with a dazzling 2.21 ERA. The WCC Co-Pitcher of the Month for March tossed three complete games, paced the staff with 106.0 innings pitched and recorded a team-high 93 strikeouts. His 10 victories were the second most ever recorded in program single-season history, while his 93 strikeouts rank sixth. The MVP of the 2005 Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic posted a 23.1 scoreless innings streak, and took a no-hitter into the ninth inning at Fresno State.

"I am very happy for Nick. He is very deserving of the first team selection. He put together the most wins by a Dons pitcher since 1971 and made a difference for us on the mound all season long. It's a great honor for him, " Giarratano said.

Gartrell enjoyed a career year at the plate for the Diamond Dons as a junior and led the team in average (.364), extra base hits (17) and RBI (41) despite missing 11 games and 18 starts due to a shoulder injury. The San Francisco native becomes the first Don to win the WCC batting title since three-time All-American Taggert Bozied accomplished the feat in 1999. Gartrell hit .348 during WCC play with three doubles, two home runs and 20 RBI, while starting just 16 league games in the 21 he played. Gartrell posted a team-best and career-high 18-game hitting streak during the season and led the Dons with 17 multi-RBI games.

"Stefan is most deserving of an All-WCC nomination. He won the league batting title this season and is very deserving of any award coming his way," Giarratano said.

A 2001 Freshman All-American and a 2001 All-WCC Honorable Mention selection, Donald developed a reputation as one of the best situational hitters in the conference. Donald posted a .368 batting average on the season, collecting a double, triple, seven RBI and 13 runs. During league action, Donald hit at a remarkable .436 clip to lead the Dons with 17 hits, double, triple and seven RBI and paced the WCC in pinch-hits with nine, hitting .375 off the bench.

"This honor caps a wonderful career for a senior who captured an award that has eluded him for quite some time," Giarratano said.

Another 2001 Freshman All-American, Royce Fukuroku turned in the finest season of his distinguished career in 2005. The diminutive 2001 All-WCC Second Team pick ranked second on the team in batting average (.329), hits (57), doubles (11) and home runs (5) and continued to make opponents pay for taking his 5-foot-3 inch height for granted. One of the most dynamic and capable infielders on the West Coast, Fukuroku earned all-tournament honors at the 2005 Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic.

Hall turned in a remarkable freshman campaign for the Dons in 2005 and was the only Don to start in all 56 contests. A member of the 2005 Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic All-Tournament Team, Hall hit .303 and led the team in hits (70), at-bats (231), runs (43), total bases (84) and ranked second in stolen bases (16). Hall's 231 at-bats shares third place in the single-season record book, while his 70 hits fall two shy of the top-15 on the single-season charts.

USF's career saves leader turned in another stellar season on the hill for the Dons in 2005. McGuigan broke his own single-season saves record with seven on the season and established career-bests in ERA (1.66), wins (5), innings (54.1) and strikeouts (50). McGuigan ended the 2005 regular season just 1.2 innings shy of meeting the NCAA statistical requirements for Division I Baseball, but would currently rank ninth nationally. On the season, only four of 21 inherited runners scored off the Dons closer.

Sommer made an instant impact for the Dons during his freshman campaign, ranking fourth on the team with a .315 batting average and demonstrated some power, clubbing 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 17 RBI. The Oregonian elevated his game during league action, hitting at a .339 pace with six doubles, triple and belted two homers to go along with 11 RBI.

"Royce, Tavo, Patrick and Luke performed at a remarkably high level for this team all season long. Their dedication boosted this team to a new level. I am extremely proud of these individuals and what we were able to accomplish together as a team this season," Giarratano said.

2005 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE TEAM
Player of the Year - Chad Tracy, Pepperdine
Pitcher of the Year - Paul Coleman, Pepperdine
Freshman of the Year - Barry Enright, Pepperdine
Coach of the Year - Nino Giarratano, San Francisco
2005 All-WCC First Team
Chad Tracy - Pepperdine - C
Bryan Bryne - Saint Mary's - 1B
Scott Campbell - Gonzaga - 2B
Delaney Gallagher - Saint Mary's - 3B
Kevin Drever - Santa Clara - SS
Shane Buschini - San Diego - OF
Sam Carter - Saint Mary's - OF
Chris Pettit - Loyola Marymount - OF
Scott Cousins - San Francisco - UT
Steve Kleen - Pepperdine - UT
Paul Coleman - Pepperdine - P
Nick Pereira - San Francisco - P
Anthony Rea - Santa Clara - P
2005 All-WCC Second Team
Kiel Thibault - Gonzaga - C
Bobby Carlson - Gonzaga - 1B
Eric Farris - Loyola Marymount - 2B
Darin Holcomb - Gonzaga - 3B
Danny Worth - Pepperdine - SS
James Cooper - Loyola Marymount - OF
Stefan Gartrell - San Francisco - OF
Mike Sansoe - Saint Mary's - OF
Jordan Abruzzo - San Diego - DH
Cy Donald - San Francisco - DH
Matt Couch - San Diego - P
Barry Enright - Pepperdine - P
Jeff Stevens - Loyola Marymount - P
Honorable Mention
Gonzaga: Patrick Donovan, Josh Monroe
Loyola Marymount - Sean Dovel, Joe Frazee, Evan Shahak
Pepperdine - Donald Brown, Kea Kometani, Adrian Ortiz, David Uribes
Portland - Matthew Peters, Jesse Rodgers, Travis Vetters
Saint Mary's - Adam Hicks
San Diego - Randy Curtis, Matt Falk, Jamie Hesselgesser, Keoni Ruth,
Justin Snyder
San Francisco - Royce Fukuroku, Tavo Hall, Patrick McGuigan, Luke Sommer
Santa Clara - Eric Newton, Kris Watts