UCLA baseball junior closer David Berg, sophomore pitcher James Kaprielian and junior catcher Shane Zeile were all named to the All-Pac-12 Team, the conference announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Berg joins former Bruins Garrett Atkins, Trevor Bauer, Dennis Delany and Adam Plutko as the only UCLA players to receive the All-Conference honor three times. Despite missing 14 games with a biceps injury, Berg compiled a 3-2 record, with a 1.50 ERA, 11 saves, and 35 strikeouts over 48 innings. After playing a huge role in helping UCLA win the 2013 national championship, Berg earned the 2013 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and is the only player in UCLA history to lead the conference in ERA in back-to-back seasons.
Kaprielian was UCLA’s ace this season, posting a 7-6 record with a 2.29 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 106 innings. He led the Pac-12 in strikeouts, ranking 14th nationally, and had the seventh-lowest ERA in the conference. Kaprielian was UCLA’s most reliable starter this year, allowing two runs or less in 11 of his 15 starts and pitched seven innings or more in eight of those appearances.
Zeile was one of four Bruins to start in all 56 games this year, mainly serving as the catcher. He led the team with a .324 batting average, never hitting below .300 at any point in the season. The semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award – awarded to the top catcher in Division I – and candidate for the Gregg Olson “Breakout Player of the Year” award also led the Bruins with 28 RBI, a .401 on-base percentage, .421 slugging percentage, 21 multi-hit games and 70 hits, which are tied for third-best in the Pac-12. He also led the conference by throwing out 18 would-be base stealers.
Pac-12 Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year went to Oregon State’s Michael Conforto and Jace Fry, respectively. Washington’s Erik Forgione took home Pac-12 Defensive Player of the year, while Washington’s coach Lindsay Meggs was named the Coach of the Year. Stanford’s Cal Quantrill was selected as Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
Compiled by Jason Drantch, Bruin reporter.