IRVINE, Calif.--Three Vulcans have been named to the 2019 All-Pacific West Conference Baseball Team, announced today by the conference office.
In a vote of the PacWest coaches, Hawai`i HIlo's John Kea, Casey Yamauchi and Dylan Spain earned the honors. The Vulcans had a banner season, finishing 26-19 overall and 21-11 (second place) in the PacWest.
Kea, a redshirt sophomore, was a First Team selection as a relief pitcher. The Kapolei native (St. Louis School) led the PacWest in saves with 10, breaking his own UHH single-season record of nine. In 19 appearances out of the bullpen, he fanned 37 batters in 34.2 innings of work.
Yamauchi, a freshman from across the street (Waiakea HS), had terrific rookie season. He played a number of positions and earned the all-conference award as a Utility Fielder. He played in the outfield, shortstop and second base, leading the Vulcans in hitting with a .320 average. In 163 at-bats, he struck out just eight times and was second on the team in stolen bases (11), getting caught just once.
Spain missed three starts with an injury but still compiled a 5-1 record with a 3.80 ERA and was named to the Third Team. He had a brilliant 1-0 win over regional-bound Point Loma, allowing just three hits against a team that had not been shutout all season. He pitched three complete games, and the Honolulu product (St. Louis School) also pitched a seven-inning, four-hit shutout against Academy of Art.
PacWest champion Azusa Pacific claimed four of the six individual honors, including Player of the Year Cole Kleszcz and Coach of the Year Paul Svagdis. Point Loma's Zack Noll was named the Pitcher of the Year.
