Baseball’s Gonzalez Named SCC MVP, Rennie Earns Pitcher of the Year

It was recently announced that 11 Long Beach City College baseball players earned All-South Coast Conference (SCC) South Division Team accolades. Sophomore second baseman Raul Gonzalez was awarded SCC Most Valuable Player and sophomore pitcher Garrett Rennie received the SCC Pitcher of the Year honors. Freshman relief pitcher Trevor Sutt, sophomore designated hitter David Balboa, sophomore first baseman Robert Barham, sophomore infielder Travis Aversa and sophomore outfielder Chris Rubottom were all named First-Team All-SCC, while freshman starting pitcher Sebastian Irwin, sophomore utility Mark Stanford, sophomore catcher Brett Wells and freshman outfielder Zach Rivas all earned Second-Team All-SCC honors.

This is sophomore second baseman Gonzalez's second-consecutive All-SCC Team honors. Gonzalez took home Second-Team All-SCC last year and this season, Gonzalez was named the SCC Most Valuable Player as a second baseman and for holding a .400 batting average, with 22 RBIs and having an SCC-High of 38 hits. Gonzalez was near perfect as a second baseman with a .969 fielding percentage.

Sophomore pitcher Rennie is also no stranger to the All-SCC Team. Last season, Rennie received First-Team recognition and is now being awarded SCC South Division Pitcher of the Year. Rennie (5-1) was fierce on the mound with a 2.77 ERA and had 61 strikeouts in 52 innings.

Sutt (2-1) earned First-Team honors for his work on the hill with leading the conference with nine saves in 11 appearances. As the relief pitcher for the Vikings, Sutt held a 2.70 ERA and averaged 6.94 strikeouts per game. 

Two-time All-SCC Balboa earned First-Team honors this season for his phenomenal efforts at the dish. Balboa had a batting average of .354 including eight doubles, two home runs, and 16 RBIs for the Vikings.

Barham is recognized with First-Team honors as the first baseman. Barham finished with a batting average of .343 including five doubles, two home runs, and 18 RBI during conference. Barham was outstanding on the bag with a fielding percentage of .994.

As the shortstop, Aversa brought in First-Team honors for his .326 batting average. He totaled five doubles, four triples, and had 22 RBIs during conference play.

Rubottom wrapped up the First-Team selections as he sat on top of the conference leaderboard with a .427 batting average. 

Irwin brought home Second-Team honors for holding a 4-1 record on the mound with 2.66 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched.

Stanford made the Second-Team All-Conference as a utility player with alternating his talents on first and third base and in the outfield. At the dish, Stanford was consistent at the dish with smashing in 20 RBIs and holding a .322 average.

Wells reeled Second-Team accolades for his work as the catcher. He held a fielding percentage of .967 behind the place and totaled five runners caught stealing in conference action.

Rivas rounded out the Second-Team selections for the Vikings as an outfielder. Rivas also tallied two home runs and had 11 RBIs, and a batting average of .296.