May 25, 2005
Complete WCC/Rawlings All-Conference Teams and Awards
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(San Bruno, CA) - The West Coast Conference announced its 2005 WCC/Rawlings All-Conference baseball awards Wednesday. Eight Toreros were recognized among the league's top players. San Diego sophomore outfielder
Shane Buschini (San Ramon, CA/California HS) was rewarded for winning the league's batting title, hitting .398 during WCC play to become a unanimous selection on the All-WCC First Team.
Buschini had an outstanding sophomore campaign, posting a 19-game hitting streak in late April and early May, while also leading all Torero players in overall batting average (.352), runs scored (46), steals (15) and slugging % (.538).
Thanks in large part to a talented collection of young players, including Buschini and four other underclassmen that were recognized as All-WCC performers on Wednesday, San Diego posted the program's seventh consecutive winning season (30-27-1) in as many years under the direction of head coach Rich Hill.
Buschini's sophomore classmate C/DH Jordan Abruzzo (El Cajon, CA/El Capitan HS) and true freshman pitcher Matt Couch (Sacramento, CA/Del Campo HS) were both named to the All-WCC Second Team.
Abruzzo, who was also honored as a second team player a year ago, led USD and ranked among WCC leaders in HR (10), RBIs (42) and total bases (113). Couch emerged as one of the best starting pitchers in the conference in just his first collegiate season- winning five of his seven WCC starts to go 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA against league opponents.
Five other Toreros were listed as All-WCC Honorable Mention picks. Sophomore second baseman Keoni Ruth (Aiea, HI/Kamehameha HS) and senior first baseman Randy Curtis (Calabasas, CA/Calabasas HS) received All-WCC honors for the second straight season. Ruth totaled 40 hits in 27 games during conference play while Curtis committed just one error playing and starting in all 30 of USD's league games in 2005.
First time All-WCC honorees for USD included junior transfer and staff closer Matt Falk (San Juan Capistrano, CA/Dana Hills HS), senior utility player Jamie Hesselgesser (Westlake Village, CA/Westlake HS) and true freshman outfielder and leadoff hitter Justin Snyder (El Cajon, CA/El Capitan HS).
