May 20, 2015
RENO, Nev. - Seven San Diego State baseball players have been named to the 2015 Mountain West all-conference squad including four first-team and three second-team selections. The seven honorees represent the most for the Aztecs since the 2005 campaign when they had seven athletes on the all-league squad.
Named to the first team were third baseman Ty France and shortstop Danny Sheehan along with starting pitchers Bubba Derby and Mark Seyler. Second-team selections include catcher Seby Zavala, DH/utility player Steven Pallares and outfielder Chase Calabuig.
France, who was named to last year's all-MW team as well, led SDSU in conference play with a .381 batting average. The junior recorded seven doubles, a triple, two home runs and 24 RBI in 29 conference contests. He ranked among the top seven in the Mountain West in seven offensive categories and leads SDSU with an overall batting average at .360.
Sheehan, one of 25 finalists for the national Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award, enters the week with an overall average of .297. His credentials include 14 doubles, three homers and 36 RBI along with nine stolen bases. In league play he hit .261 and finished fifth in stolen bases with five and second in sacrifice bunts with seven.
Junior right-hander Bubba Derby, now a three-time all-league selection, compiled a conference record of 5-3 with a 3.76 earned run average. His 78 strikeouts in league play in 64.2 innings led the Mountain West. With an overall mark of 7-3 and a 3.26 earned run average, he ranked among the league leaders in five pitching categories. His strikeout total of 119 was far and away the best in the conference and is the fourth-highest ever for an Aztec hurler.
Seyler posted a record of 6-1 along with a 2.91 earned run average in 10 conference starts. His 51 strikeouts ranked second in the MW while his opponent batting average of .215 was fourth-best. His overall mark of eight victories tie for the most in the league while his 75 strikeouts rank third.
Zavala earned second-team accolades after a solid year behind the plate. His .287 average in league action was complemented by six doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI in 29 games. He enters the week as the Aztecs' season leader in all game with nine homers and 53 RBI.
Pallares is winding up a stellar senior season in which he batted .295 in conference play with six doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. He concluded conference action ranked among the top 10 in five offensive categories. His overall stats include a .342 batting average along with 16 doubles, seven home runs and 42 RBI.
Freshman Chase Calabuig ended the Mountain West season with a .347 batting average along with three doubles, a home run and 41 RBI. His .459 on-base percentage in league games was second among the Aztec hitters. He enters this week's conference tournament with an overall average of .326, seven doubles and 24 RBI along with a .434 on-base mark.
The Aztecs are in Reno, Nev., this week for the annual Mountain West Tournament being hosted by the University of Nevada. SDSU opens play on Thursday, May 21, at 3:00 p.m. against an opponent to be determined.