The National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) announced its 2010 Preseason All-American list and the Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine pitching staffs were well represented. The six Big West pitchers recognized in this year's poll is the most by any conference.
The Titans, who finished last season fourth in the nation with a 3.53 earned run average, nabbed three spots with Daniel Renken (second team), Tyler Pill (third team) and Noe Ramirez (third team). Joining the pitching trio is teammate Christian Colon who captured first team honors at the shortstop position. Making the list for the defending Big West champion Anteaters were first team members Daniel Bibona and Eric Pettis and Christian Bergman, who received a third team nod.
Last season, Bibona (Lake Forest, Calif./Santa Margarita HS) secured UC Irvine's second straight Big West Pitcher of the Year accolade. The senior southpaw was undefeated in Big West play, boasting a 7-0 record and a 2.58 earned run average. Overall, he ranked second in the conference with a 2.69 ERA and topped the league with 12 wins and 108 strikeouts. His 12 victories placed him fifth in the country, while he grabbed the 20th slot in earned run average.
UC Irvine's go-to closer last season, Pettis (West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real), recorded 17 saves to tie a UCI single-season record. The right-hander, who ended the year ranked third in the nation in saves, was 5-2 on the mound with a 3.86 ERA. He fanned 37 batters in 42 innings while walking just seven batters. Pettis, a NCBWA Stopper of the Year finalist last season, is second in the UCI career records and third in the Big West annals with 34 saves.
Bergman (Altadena, Calif./St. Francis HS) was also stellar on the mound as the right-hander posted just one loss in conference games at 6-1. Bergman, who was 9-3 with a 3.50 ERA, hurled his first career complete game in 2009 against Utah, where he struck out a season-high nine batters holding the Utes to one run on four hits. Bergman registered 66 strikeouts in 97.2 innings while walking 16.
Renken (Cypress, Calif./ Orange Lutheran HS) posted an 11-3 record with a 2.69 ERA, good enough for second in the Big West. The sophomore hurler ranked in the top 25 in the nation in both victories and earned run average. In 123.2 innings pitched, a league high, Renken struck out 103 batters and held his opposition to a conference-best .206 batting average.
In his first season wearing a Titan uniform, Pill (Covina, Calif./Covina HS) accumulated 11 wins in 2009 to set a school record for most wins by a freshman, breaking Dustin Miller (2002) and Dave Weatherman's (1979) mark of nine victories. The southpaw's 11 wins as a freshman guaranteed him fourth place in the Big West record books. Pill, 2009 Big West Co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year, tallied a 4.06 ERA in 102.0 innings pitched. He struck out 74 batters and issued just 13 walks, to rank second in the Big West.
Fellow 2009 Big West Co-Freshman of the Year Ramirez (East Los Angeles, Calif./Alhambra HS) was close behind his fellow Titan teammate with nine victories on the mound last season. He concluded his freshman campaign ranked fourth in the Big West with a 3.33 earned run average and held his opposition to a leagues third-best .227 batting average. In 110.2 innings pitched, Ramirez tossed 100 strikeouts, ranking third in the conference.
In his sophomore season as a Titan, Colon (Corona, Calif., Canyon HS) hit a solid .357 and led the team and Big West with 91 hits. He also belted eight home runs, drove in 40 and stole 15 bases as the teams leadoff hitter. He was one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award honoring the nations top shortstop and earned his second consecutive invitation to the USA National Team, earning the status of being the only returning player from last years 24-0 gold medal team.