Tuesday, May 26, 1998
Bruins bestowed with All-American honors
AWARDS: Valent makes first team; others named to elite freshmen
squad
By Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Staff
Eric Valent and a few of his teammates received more individual
postseason honors last Thursday.
Collegiate Baseball announced the 1998 All-Americans, naming
Valent to the first team and Garrett Atkins to the third team.
Valent is the 13th player in UCLA baseball history to earn first
team honors. He batted .336 with 30 homeruns and 73 RBI in his
third year with the Bruins.
Atkins became the first Bruin to earn All-American honors as a
freshman. He broke several UCLA freshman records during the 1998
season, including batting average (.383) and doubles (20).
Atkins was joined on the Freshman All-American squad by two
fellow Bruins, infielder Chase Utley and pitcher Bobby Roe.
Outfielder Bill Scott received honorable mention recognition.
Utley set a freshman homerun record for UCLA at 15 homers, while
Roe came away with a school-high seven saves. Scott batted .356 in
limited play.
* * *
In a shocking series, Long Beach State won the West Regionals to
advance to the College World Series.
The 49ers eliminated top-seeded Stanford on Sunday to advance to
the championship round against Alabama.
LBSU needed to best Alabama in two games, and that is what they
did, winning 10-6 and 5-3. This will be their fourth trip to Omaha
in ten years.
Another Southern California team advanced as well. USC triumphed
in the East Regional at Clemson, South Carolina to win a trip to
the Series. The Trojans will make their first visit to Rosenblatt
Stadium since 1995. USC overcame a loss to Virginia Commonwealth in
their second game in the regionals to win.
The College World Series begins on Friday for the eight regional
winners. Like the regionals, it will consist of double-elimination
play.