Rookie headlines Chapman's All-West Region nods

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University baseball team was once again one of the best teams in the West Region in 2010. So it comes as no surprise that a quartet of Panthers have been selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association Division III All-West Region team. Headlining the group is freshman RHP Brian Rauh who was named West Region Pitcher of the Year.

Joining Rauh on the All-West Region first team is senior 1B Matt Luzar. Junior RHP Jordan Sigman also earned third team honors. Meanwhile, Chapman had two players earn Rawlings West Region Gold Glove Awards: Luzar and senior CF Ryan Hall. It is the first such honor for all four players.

Rauh emerged as the ace of what was arguably the best pitching staff in the West Region all season long. After beginning the season in the bullpen, the rookie right-hander eventually posted an 11-0 record with a team-low 2.38 ERA and ranked seventh in the nation with 100 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings. He was the only freshman named to the D3Baseball.com All-America team after opponents batted just .175 against him.

The freshman becomes the first Chapman pitcher since Devin Drag in 2007 to earn the ABCA West Region Pitcher of the Year award. Last week, Rauh was also named Division III Independents Pitcher of the Year.

Luzar completed the most unlikely All-Region campaign after spending his first three seasons at Chapman as a pitcher. The senior, who had not played in the field since high school, made a seamless transition to first base, leading the Panthers in seven offensive categories including batting (.390), home runs (12), RBI (56) and slugging (.683). Luzar also did not commit an error during the regular season and became the second Chapman first baseman to earn Gold Glove honors.

A member of the Panthers’ rotation for the past three years, Sigman posted the best numbers of his career on the mound in 2010. The veteran of the staff (although still only a junior) was 8-5 with a career-low 3.00 ERA and tossed three complete games. Sigman also ranked second on the team with 53 strikeouts and allowed just one home run in 84 innings.

Hall, who split time between right and centerfield this season, earned a well-deserved Gold Glove for his remarkable outfield play. Not only was the senior errorless in 75 chances, including five outfield assists, but Hall covered a vast amount of territory in the Hart Park outfield and made many dazzling plays in his four-year career.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director