Three Toros Selected to NCAA II All-West Region Baseball Team
Joe Gevas earns first team honor; Larry Robles and Ruben Salazar selected to second team
May 20, 2003

CARSON, Calif.--Three Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball players have been named to the 2003 Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-West Region baseball team as announced by the ABCA today. California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Most Valuable Player Joe Gevas (St. Patrick HS) leads the trio after being tabbed to the first team while pitcher Larry Robles (Mary Star of the Sea HS) and third baseman Ruben Salazar (St. John Bosco HS) garnered second team laurels.

Gevas, a senior outfielder from Vallejo, CA, led the Toros to a 29-26 record this year while leading the CCAA in home runs with 19, a new CSUDH school record. Gevas also finished second on the team in runs scored (51) and runs batted in (54) and fourth in batting average (.363).

Larry Robles, a junior right-handed pitcher from San Pedro, CA, led the CCAA in strikeouts (99) while finishing the campaign with a 6-2 record and 3.61 ERA. Robles led the Toro staff in innings pitched (89.2) and complete games (4) in 12 starts.

Sophomore third baseman Ruben Salazar enjoyed one of the finest first seasons in a CSUDH uniform in recent memory. The Lynwood, CA native led the Toros and ranked second in the CCAA with a .379 batting average. Salazar set a new school record for doubles in a season (25) and hits (83) while driving in 48 runs.

The three players selected to the all-region squad's marks the most since the 1991 season when the program landed three that year. It also is the most players selected by one team this year than any other of the 10 teams that compete in the CCAA. Chico State, Grand Canyon and UC Davis each had two players honored.

"I am just so proud of them," says head coach George Wing. "All three of them dominated at their positions. Ruben was solid at third base and punished opposing pitching. Larry got better each and every time he went to the mound. With his 94+-mph fastball and excellent make-up, expect him to be an early round draft pick this year. And Joe, what can I say about one of the best players ever to put on a uniform at CSUDH. He is "Mr. Consistency.'"

As a result of earning first team honors, Gevas is now eligible for All-America consideration, which is released in June.