May 19, 2008

SAN DIEGO - Aztec sophomore Stephen Strasburg led a group of five San Diego State players named to the 2008 all-Mountain West Conference baseball team announced Monday night at the pre-tournament dinner for the league's championship tournament in Fort Worth, Texas. Shortstop Troy Hanzawa and third baseman Nick Romero along with Strasburg received first-team all-league honors while outfielder Pat Colwell and pitcher Shane Kaufman earned second-team accolades.

In addition, Strasburg picked up MWC Pitcher of the Year honors after a standout 2008 campaign. The right-hander from San Diego (West Hills HS) went 6-0 in league lay and set new conference season records for strikeouts (92), earned run average (0.63) and opponent batting average (.136) in league contests. He was named the MWC Pitcher of the Week seven times this season including an unprecedented five straight.

Hanzawa finished conference play with a .375 batting average with nine doubles, a triple, two home runs, 26 runs scored and 27 RBI in 24 games. He was also honored for his defensive play as much as his offensive production with his stellar play in the field setting him apart form the rest of the conference.

Romero, meanwhile, hit .373 in MWC contests with five double, a triple, seven home runs 21 runs and 32 runs batted in. He finished first in the conference in RBI, second in walks and third in homer.

Hanzawa and Romero were repeat first-team all-league selections while Strasburg was a second team selection in 2007 as well as the co-Freshman of the Year.

Colwell was honored for a season in which he batted 386 in 24 conference contests with four double, three homes, a pair of home runs, 28 runs scored and 19 RBI. He finished among the top seven in the MWC in five offensive categories including runs, hits (39) and on-base percentage (.456).

Kaufman went 1-1 with a 5.77 earned run average in nine league appearances including four starts. In two mid-season starts, he went 10 innings against New Mexico allowing two runs on four hits and followed that with 7.2 innings vs. Utah giving up two runs with a career-high 11 strikeouts.

San Diego State, the third seed, opens play at the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Tuesday, May 20, when it meets sixth-seeded UNLV at 3:00 p.m. (CDT) at TCU's Lupton Stadium.