DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis Baseball proudly honored Ryan Conners-Copeland and Steve Jones as recipients of the prestigious Clay Sigg Award during a special evening celebrating the program's history, leadership, and community impact at the annual First Pitch Dinner.
The Clay Sigg Award recognizes individuals whose contributions embody the values, spirit, and tradition of UC Davis Baseball. Named in honor of Clay Sigg—an outstanding center fielder from 1970 to 1972, Hall of Fame inductee, and tireless advocate for Aggie Baseball—the award celebrates those who exemplify integrity, leadership, service, and a lasting commitment to the program and its community.
The evening opened with remarks from fifth-year head coach
Tommy Nicholson, who addressed the current state of the UC Davis Baseball program and reflected on the lasting impact of honorees Ryan Conners-Copeland and Steve Jones.
Steve Jones was recognized for his significant impact as an Aggie coach from 1990 to 1997. During his tenure, Jones coached alongside Aggie legends Phil Swimley and Ralph Rago, helping shape the program and mentor generations of student-athletes. He was introduced by former player Jason Shapiro, who reflected on Jones' influence as a coach, leader, and representative of UC Davis Baseball values.
Ryan Conners-Copeland, a standout pitcher for the Aggies from 1995 to 1998, was also honored for his exceptional playing career and continued connection to the program. Among his many achievements, Conners-Copeland recorded a memorable one-hitter against Chico State in 1996. He was introduced by former teammate Ryan Greene, who highlighted his competitive excellence and lasting impact on Aggie Baseball.
Following team introductions led by graduate student captain
Noel Valdez and senior
Ryan Lee, Nicholson returned to close the program with additional remarks on the future of UC Davis Baseball, including
Aggie Ascent.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
