Three Oregon Ducks earn first-team All-Pac-12 honors
A trio of Oregon players was named to the All-Pac-12 first team, and seven total Ducks received all-Pac-12 honors on Monday when the conference announced its year-end awards on Monday.
Infielders Sabin Ceballos and Drew Cowley, and starting pitcher Jace Stoffal were reached tabbed as first-team selections by the league’s coaches.
Ceballos, who is in his first year with the Ducks after transferring in from San Jacinto Community College last offseason, led Oregon in batting average, on-base percentage, and walks during the regular season. He slashed .349/.450./640 and hit 13 home runs and drove in 54 runs while playing strong defense at third base all season.
Cowley led the Ducks in with 70 hits and 15 home runs and set a new school record with 60 RBI. The senior shortstop slashed .340/.427/.660 and was named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, which honors the nation’s top shortstop.
Stoffal, who served as Oregon’s Friday night starter for the majority of the season, emerged as one of the top pitchers in the Pac-12 in 2023. The right-hander went 6-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 10 starts with 56 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings while holding opposing batters to a .184 average. He was named the Pac-12 pitcher of the week three times.
Additionally, Josh Mollerus, Rikku Nishida, Colby Shade, and Tanner Smith received all-conference honorable mention honors.
Mollerus, the Ducks’ closer, finished the regular season with a team-high eight saves and a 3.18 ERA while striking out 43 batters in 28 1/3 innings.
Nishida, who split time in right field and at designated hitter, set a school record with 20 stolen bases. The Mt. Hood Community College transfer hit .316 with a team-high tying 54 runs scored, five home runs, 13 doubles, a triple, and 31 RBI out of the leadoff spot.
Smith, a fifth-year outfielder received honorable mention honors for the second time in his career. The Ducks’ left fielder set 10 new school records during his time with the Ducks. This spring, he hit .311 with nine home runs, 18 doubles, one triple, 41 runs scored, and 36 RBI.
Shade, the Ducks’ center fielder, was also named to the Pac-12 all-defensive team. He hit .326 with six home runs, 14 doubles, two triples, 49 runs scored, 27 RBI, and stole 12 bases.
The Ducks (33-20, 16-14 Pac-12) will kick off postseason play this afternoon when they face Cal in the conference tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. PT.
