Outfielder Drew Heid returns for his junior season.
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Gonzaga University’s baseball team returned to the diamond this past week to begin their fall season.
The Bulldogs return six players that hit better than .300 for a last year’s squad that reached the 30-win plateau for the second consecutive season. This past summer a number of current and incoming Zags played in various collegiate summer leagues and nine players took home all-league honors following solid seasons for their respective clubs.
Senior infielder Evan Wells earned Alaskan Summer League first team honors after finishing second in the league in runs scored (33) and stolen bases (20), and also fourth in the league in hitting (.317).
Junior centerfielder Drew Heid was named the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League’s Most Valuable Player after playing for the Bend Elks. Heid led the league in hitting (.403), slugging percentage (.566), runs scored (39), hits (64) and total bases (90). The 2008 All-West Coast Conference selection also finished the summer tied for second in the league in home runs (5) and was third in RBI (28).
Pitcher Steve Ames, transferring to the Zags from Columbia Basin Community College, earned All-WCCBL first team honors after finishing the summer season tied for the league lead in wins (6), was third in the league in strikeouts (53) and held hitters to a .200 batting average. A number of other returning Bulldogs also earned WCCBL honors over the summer. Senior pitcher A.J. Proszek, redshirt junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle, incoming freshman infielder Ernesto Ortiz, incoming Walla Walla Community College transfer pitcher Jake Hiatt and Treasure Valley Community College transfer third baseman Cameron Edman all received All-WCCBL honorable mention.
Senior outfielder Grant Kvedar spent the summer playing for Team Canada and senior infielder Jason Chatwood earned Western Major League Baseball second team honors after leading the Saskatoon Jackets in hits (50), runs scored (31), RBI (28) and was third on the team in hitting (.329).
The Bulldogs will play their annual Alumni game Oct. 4 at noon at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field.
