LA GRANDE, Ore. – Trees may fall but this Oak stands tall today as Menlo College’s Jimmy Bosco has been named NAIA West Group Player of the Year by a vote of the Group’s head coaches.
Bosco, a 5-9 junior outfielder, batted .426 for the 2013 season which is second-best behind the .434 average of Lewis-Clark State’s Brady Steiger. Bosco’s home runs (15), slugging percentage (.805), and runs batted in (56) were all tops in the Group. He was also equal with Steiger in run scored with 51.
The Granite Bay, Calif. native batted .533 (8-15) while leading the Oaks to a runner-up finish in the NAIA West Group Tournament, losing to tourney host Concordia University. His eight tournament hits included a double while knocking in four runs. He also hit the tournament’s only home run at cavernous Porter Park. Bosco will also receive a Gold Glove award for his defense in the Oak’s outfield as he was not charged with a single error in 102 chances on the season.
Pitcher of the Year hardware will head north of the border and be awarded to Bryan Pawlina of the University of British Columbia.
The freshman right-hander from Courtenay, B.C. led the Group with a 2.47 ERA and nine wins against just one defeat with all nine wins coming during the regular season. Pawlina was also recognized for the job he did in relief once the ball was pitched with a Gold Glove award.
For good football receiver there is a good quarterback, and vica-versa. In Jimmy Bosco’s case, his quarterback (or receiver if you rather) is head coach Stefan McGovern.
After a finishing in a 19-9 first-place tie with British Columbia and a 30-win regular season, McGovern with selected as the West Group’s Coach of the Year by the other seven head coaches. In just his second season at the helm of the Oaks, McGovern has amassed 64 wins, claimed a Group Tournament championship and a second-place finish.
The NAIA West Group is comprised of four schools from the Cascade Collegiate Conference (College of Idaho, Concordia University, Corban University and Oregon Tech), plus four baseball independent institutions in University of British Columbia, Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho), Menlo College, and Simpson University (Calif.).
2013 All-NAIA West Group Team and Honors
Player of the Year: Jimmy Bosco, Menlo
Pitcher of the Year: Bryan Pawlina, British Columbia
Coach of the Year: Stefan McGovern, Menlo
|
Pos. |
Name |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
|
1B |
Brady Steiger |
Lewis-Clark State |
Jr. |
Port Orchard, Wash. |
|
2B |
Andrew Firth |
British Columbia |
Sr. |
London, Ont. |
|
3B |
Ethan Schlecht |
Oregon Tech |
Fr. |
Ashland, Ore. |
|
SS |
Tyson Popoff |
British Columbia |
Jr. |
Richmond, B.C. |
|
IF |
Dylan Rogers |
Oregon Tech |
Jr. |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
|
IF |
Derek Legg |
Corban |
Sr. |
Murrieta, Calif. |
|
OF |
Jimmy Bosco |
Menlo |
Jr. |
Granite Bay, Calif. |
|
OF |
Blake Drake |
Concordia |
So. |
Ramona, Calif. |
|
OF |
Cody Lavalli |
Lewis-Clark State |
Jr. |
Apple Valley, Wash. |
|
OF |
Jerod Bartnik |
British Columbia |
So. |
Surrey, B.C. |
|
C |
Daniel Comstock |
Menlo |
Fr. |
Petaluma, Calif. |
|
C |
Kyle Blackwell |
Lewis-Clark State |
Sr. |
Fruitland, Idaho |
|
P |
Derek Martinez |
Menlo |
Sr. |
Palmdale, Calif. |
|
P |
Jacob Kopra |
Corban |
Sr. |
Gresham, Ore. |
|
P |
James Jensen |
Menlo |
Sr. |
Castro Valley, Calif. |
|
P |
Sean Callegari |
British Columbia |
Jr. |
Richmond, B.C. |
|
RP |
Bryan Pawlina |
British Columbia |
Fr. |
Courtenay, B.C. |
|
DH |
Corey Metroyer |
Menlo |
Sr. |
Reno, Nev. |
2013 Gold Glove Award Winners
First Base: Kyer Vega, Menlo
Second Base: Derek Legg, Corban
Third Base: Jordan Johanson, Corban
Shortstop: Tyson Popoff, British Columbia
Left Field: Blake Drake, Concordia
Center Field: Jared Nelson, Oregon Tech
Right Field: Jimmy Bosco, Menlo
Catcher: Ben Talbot, Concordia
Pitcher: Alex Bos, Concordia