Pilots Allan, Kutz, Gruener Earn All-WCC Honors

University of San Diego senior Shane Buschini was named WCC Player of the Year.

Photo: UP Athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Pilots senior designated hitter James Allan was named to the All-West Coast Conference Baseball Team on Wednesday, as voted by the league’s coaches.

Junior pitchers Given Kutz and David Gruener were both named honorable mention.

It’s the first postseason, WCC recognition for all three players.

Allan, a native of Gresham, Ore. who played two years on The Bluff after transferring from Mount Hood Community College, hit a team-high .339 during conference play. He belted a home run and knocked in 11 runs.

Overall, Allan finished second on the team with a .299 batting average, 20 RBI’s and a .423 slugging percentage. He also hit two home runs and tallied four doubles on the season.

A native of Mount Vernon, Wash., Kutz led the Pilots this season with six wins overall, 105.0 innings pitched and 93 strikeouts.

His 93 strikeouts were the third most in the WCC and rank third on Portland’s all-time single-season list.

Kutz, a right-hander, pitched three complete games and was named the WCC Pitcher of the Week on March 19th after a 14 strikeout, complete-game shutout of Utah. He also posted a 3.77 earned run average.

During league contests, Kutz went 2-3 in seven starts, struck out 47 in 51.1 innings, held opposing hitters to a .266 average, tossed a complete game and posted a 3.51 ERA.

Gruener, a lefty from Gig Harbor, Wash., went the distance in four of his seven starts during conference play.

He pitched a staff high 57.2 innings against conference foes, went 3-3 with a 3.12 ERA, struck out 36 and walked only eight.

During a 9-1 win against Gonzaga on April 5, Gruener allowed one run on seven hits, while striking out seven in the complete-game effort.

Overall, the transfer from Notre Dame pitched five complete games on the season, struck out 58 and posted a 3.51 ERA.

The University of San Diego was rewarded for capturing the WCC regular season title as senior Shane Buschini was named WCC Player of the Year and Head Coach Rich Hill was tabbed for WCC Coach of the Year recognition.

Gonzaga right-hander Clayton Mortensen was tabbed for WCC Pitcher of the Year honors and LMU’s Angelo Songco was named WCC Freshman of the Year.

The WCC All-Conference team includes eight Toreros and five Pepperdine players, while Gonzaga and San Francisco each placed four players on the All-WCC Team.

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