May 20, 2009
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Junior outfielder James Meador of the University of San Diego baseball team has been named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Joining Meador on the All-WCC first team, is right-handed pitcher AJ Griffin, senior shortstop Sean Nicol and sophomore outfielder/infielder Zach Walters. Taking home honorable mention honors was junior catcher Nick McCoy and Bryan Haar was named to the All-WCC Freshman team.
Meador is the second Torero in three year's to win the conference's top award and the fourth overall. He had a highly productive 2009 campaign as he led the league in batting (.438) hits (39), and total bases (60) during conference play. He was also tied for fifth in RBI (23) and was third in doubles (9) during league play. He was extremely consistent for San Diego as he recorded multiple hits in 15 of 21 league games. Overall, Meador was fourth in the league in batting (.376) and was second in hits (80). The Ramona, Calif. native was just two hits and three doubles away from entering the Toreros' all-time single season list.
Griffin, a 6-5 junior from El Cajon, Calif., entered the season as the all-time leader in career saves, then added three more to that record, which now stands at 28, before having to move into a starting role for the Toreros, due to injuries on the USD pitching staff. Griffin posted a 5-2 record in league games, with a 4.17 ERA and rung up 50 batters. Griffin was also named WCC Co-Pitcher of the Week once this season. Overall, Griffin posted a record of 8-3 with a 3.33 ERA and was second on the team in strikeouts with 85.
Nicol, a 5-11 senior from Scottsdale, Ariz., finished up his Torero career with a bang in 2009, as he hit .323 in WCC games with 30 hits, 10 doubles, six home runs and 20 RBI. He was named the WCC Player of the Week one this season. Nicol was not only solid at the plate in WCC action, but he also helped lead the USD offense overall, as he hit .359 with 79 hits, led the team in doubles with 19, had two triples, a team-best eight home runs and 39 RBI.
Walters, a 6-3 sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev., had a break-out type season in 2009, as he helped catapult the USD offense. In league games, Walters was second on the team as he hit .383 with 31 hits, six doubles, three triples, one home run and nine RBI. Overall, he led the team in hitting with a .377 batting average, had 72 hits, four doubles, one home run and 24 RBI.
McCoy, a 5-10 junior from San Diego, also put together a solid season, as hit .316 with 24 hits, eight doubles, one triple, two home runs and 40 RBI in league games. This is McCoy's first All-WCC honor of his career. Overall, McCoy hit .270, with 37 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, six home runs and 28 RBI. McCoy was also one of only three players in the nation, to record a home run off of San Diego State's ace Stephen Strasburg.
Haar, a 6-3 freshman from San Diego, busrted onto the scene in his rookie season, and earned his way into the starting first baseman role as conference play began. Haar hit .333 with 21 hits, five doubles, one triple, four home runs and 19 RBI in league play. Overall, Haar hit .298 with 39 hits, nine doubles, one triple, five home runs and 38 RBI.
