Submitted by Fox First at Ten on January 21st
SPOKANE, Wash. (January 21, 2013 – www.GoZags.com) – Gonzaga University junior Marco Gonzales continued to receive preseason accolades as he was named to Perfect Game's 2013 preseason All-American first-team Monday.
The pitcher/first baseman was also recognized this preseason by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association who named him to its 2013 Preseason All-American first-team. Gonzales is coming off a stellar sophomore campaign in 2012 where he went 8-2 with a 1.55 ERA on the mound and hit .325 at the plate for the Bulldogs.
The southpaw, one of three finalists for The 2012 College Baseball Hall of Fame's John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, appeared in 12 games for the Zags with three shutouts to go with 92 strikeouts. He led the WCC in ERA and tied for second in wins helping the club to a 34-22 record.
Opposing hitters only hit .201 off him with only 12 extra-base hits. His 2012 season was highlighted by a career-high 15 strikeout performance in an 11 inning walk-off victory over Loyola Marymount University. Gonzales threw 139 pitches and held the Lions to five hits and no walks.
The Fort Collins, Colo., native is the reigning West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and NCBWA District IX Player of the Year.
This summer, Gonzales pitched for the USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team and was named Best Pitcher for the bronze medal U.S. team of Honkbal Week in Haarlem, The Netherlands. He finished 3-0 for the national team with a 2.82 ERA in four appearances.
Gonzaga baseball opens the season Feb. 15 against Utah Valley University in Palm Springs, Calif.
