UCSD baseball’s senior co-captain catcher/first baseman Jeff Riddle, junior co-captain shortstop Keith Hernandez, junior second baseman Ricky Pinocchio and junior utility player Joel Clark were each named to the All-California Collegiate Athletic Association Second Team. Senior outfielder Brett Burton and sophomore pitcher Jose Navarro were named to the All-CCAA Third Team. Navarro was also named to the CCAA All-Tournament Team. The conference honors are the first for Pinocchio, Clark, Burton and Navarro. This is the second time that Riddle and Hernandez have earned CCAA honors.
Riddle led the 2004 team with 56 RBI, 19 doubles and five home runs. He batted .348, accounted for 38 runs, put up 71 hits and drew 38 walks. Defensively, he led the team with 257 put-outs.
“Jeff is a good player, but an even better person, and that is saying a lot considering how good he is between the lines,” UCSD head coach Dan O’Brien said. “He is always solid, and I’m very proud of how hard he has worked to develop into a solid all-around player. He is a very strong but agile defensive catcher who drives the ball to all fields. I’m very proud of Jeff and all that he represents in our program.”
Hernandez was a CCAA Honorable Mention in 2003. In 2004, Hernandez broke the single-season Triton hits record with 85. Hernandez started all 59 games this season, the only Triton to do so. He had a .351 average, hit 12 doubles, and had two triples. Hernandez scored 43 times and had 32 RBI.
“Keith has been a big part of our team’s success because he brings consistency to the most important defensive position on the field,” O’Brien said. “He is the model player for our program — he works hard, stays consistent, makes plays, swings the bat well, and plays well under pressure.”
Pinocchio had the fourth-highest batting average on the 2004 team behind only Riddle, Hernandez and Burton. He hit .323 on the year, and had 64 hits, 16 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 29 RBI. Pinocchio led the team in runs scored with 51.
“Ricky has been a great addition to the program,” O’Brien said. “He is a true ballplayer and loves the game.”
Defensively, Pinocchio turned 39 double plays and led the team with 288 catches.
“I was a little shaky on defense in the first half of the season,” Pinocchio said. “I think that I was able to step it up in the second half and make an impact on the team.”
Clark showed his versatility this year for head coach O’Brien. Clark, designated as an infielder, spent time at second base, in left field and as designated hitter. He batted .292 and knocked 56 hits, including nine doubles and a home run. Clark scored 33 times and drove in 52 RBI.
Burton came on strong toward the end of the regular season. He led the team with a .394 batting average and accounted for 23 runs on the year. Burton notched 37 hits, including nine doubles, three triples and a home run.
“Brett has come a long way, both on and off the field, in the last three years,” O’Brien said. “He continues to improve in both areas and is an exciting player who was able to spark this team at any time during a game or a series.”
Navarro, the only Triton pitcher to garner conference honors, led the staff with a 3.89 earned run average and a 6-2 record. He threw 88 innings and struck out a team-high 62 batters.
“Learning to trust my defense was a big accomplishment for me,” Navarro said. “That is something I struggled with last year. This year, I tried to get hitters to get themselves out and let the defense back me up.”
Navarro was also one of 12 players named to the All-CCAA Tournament Team. He went eight innings in the Triton’s first-ever conference tournament game, earning the win in UCSD’s 6-2 upset of top-seeded defending CCAA champion Sonoma State.
Even with the numbers he put up this season, Navarro was surprised to have been named to the CCAA Third Team.
“I was really surprised [that I was honored],” Navarro said. “I definitely wasn’t expecting it. I just went out there and basically did my job this year. I counted on the other guys to back me up, and as a result of their help, the conference recognized my pitching.”
With four of these honorees returning to UCSD next year, they are looking to improve.
“We need to continue to never be satisfied and to get better everyday,” Pinocchio said.
Navarro agreed.
“Looking toward next season, we just need to remain confident,” Navarro said. “We need to continue to trust ourselves and our abilities, and if we do, we can do anything we set our minds to.”
