Complete All-Independent Teams in PDF Format
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May 29, 2007
DAVIS, Calif. - It was announced on Monday that a record six UC Davis baseball players have been named to the All-Independent Teams for their efforts in leading the Aggies to a 24-32 record in their final year of reclassification to NCAA Division I status. Junior third baseman Daniel Descalso was the lone Aggie to earn First Team honors, while senior outfielder Aaron Hanke and sophomore right-handed pitcher Bryan Evans each earned Second Team accolades. Junior infielder Matt Dempsey, junior righty Jeff Reekers and freshman outfielder Kyle Mihaylo each earned Honorable Mention.
The All-Independent Teams are selected by votes from sports information directors and head baseball coaches of each NCAA Division I Independent institution. There are a total of 13 Division I institutions who currently compete without a conference affiliation. UC Davis will leave its independent status next season when they officially join the Big West Conference.
Descalso, a team co-captain from San Carlos, finished with one of the best seasons in UC Davis history as he led the team in almost every offensive category, which included the second-best batting average (.397), hits (92) and doubles (22) in a single season. Overall, he also led the Aggies with 44 RBIs, 132 total bases, 35 walks, a .569 slugging percentage and a .474 on base percentage. He was one of only two Aggies this season to start in all 56 games. This marks the second All-Independent honors for Descalso as he was named to the Second Team as a freshman in 2005.
Making his inaugural appearance on an All-Independent Team, Hanke also served as a team co-captain this season while racking up career-highs as the team's starting right fielder and clean-up hitter. Hanke, a senior from Sacramento, had career-highs that included a .322 batting average, 242 at-bats, 78 hits, 14 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 41 RBIs. His 78 hits are the seventh-most in UC Davis history while his triples, home runs and at-bats led the team this year. He also boasts five assisted put outs from right field while slugging .488 as one of only two Aggies to start in all 56 games.
Also earning his first All-Independent nod with his Second Team accolades is Evans, who became the first player to ever earn three consecutive Independent Pitcher of the Week honors this season. Evans, a sophomore from Tesoro, finished the season with five victories and held the team lead with 57 strikeouts and two complete games in 76.2 innings. He held his opponents to a batting average of .280, which is also tops among Aggie starters. His season highlight includes pitching two consecutive complete games in the same week.
Dempsey provided the Aggies with a solid offensive presence in the lineup while also playing significant time at shortstop and second base. Dempsey, a junior from San Diego, was second on the team with a .362 batting average and four home runs. He also drove home 27 runs, scored 30 times and slugged .454, which are all third-best on the team.
Rounding out the Aggie honorees are newcomers Mihaylo and Reekers. Mihaylo, a freshman from Aliso Viejo, took over the starting left fielder duties after the first couple weeks of the season and continued to improve throughout the season. Overall, he knocked out three home runs to go along with 16 RBIs and a .260 batting average. Reekers, a transfer from Moraga, led all Aggie starters with six victories while striking out 22 batters in 78.1 innings of work. Reekers was one of five Aggie starters to throw a complete game this season.
The UC Davis baseball team finished its final year of reclassification to Division I status this past weekend with a series victory over Washington State.
