Connected in the batting lineup and on the field in their positions, lead-off hitter and third baseman Brennan Wilson, second baseman and two-hole hitter Brandon Pickens and shortstop and third-place hitter Bryant Cid are now tied together as a trio of Monterey Bay League first team selections for the Christopher High varsity baseball team.
“All three were very deserving of making first team,” said CHS manager Ryan Dequin, who was voted as Manager of the Year. “Each kid was very important to the success of our team this year. It isn’t surprising to me that they all made first team together because they were our 1-2-3 hitters.”
The statistics each member posted in league play this season makes his first-team honors even less surprising, too.
In 49 official at-bats in 16 MBL contests, Wilson, a sophomore, recorded a .531 batting average and had 26 hits – including 12 doubles.
“From the time Brennan took over the lead-off spot, he was a hitting machine. He would hit double after double and was constantly on base for the guys behind him. Defensively, he is a stud and picked up the hot corner for us,” Dequin said. “He is an exceptional athlete and I am happy I get to have him in my program for two more years.”
Pickens, a senior, posted a .367 average in 17 MBL outings, striking out just three times to seven walks. He had 19 hits.
“Pickens is one of those guys everybody would like to have on their team. He does everything that is asked of him. He is a smart athlete and works his butt off,” Dequin said. “I am excited that he will be going on to play at Gavilan next year because they are going to have a good team and he is going to be able to contribute a lot to the Rams.”
Cid returned to full-time action at shortstop this season after missing much of 2011 with a knee injury. Cid’s numbers are that of a true power hitter in the three spot. The senior dialed up a .540 batting average, and in 50 official at-bats in league he had 27 hits – including nine doubles and three home runs. He also drove in 22 runs and stole 12 bases.
“Getting Cid back this year was huge for us. He was gifted with athletic talent and it showed all year long,” Dequin said. “He played most of his games this year at shortstop, but he also helped us out playing left and center field when we needed him to.”
The three first teamers only scratch the surface of year-end awards for a Cougars team that went 19-9 overall, 14-4 in the MBL and played in the program’s first postseason game.
Junior pitcher Brian Ransom (6-1, 26 Ks, 1.39 earned run average) was voted the MBL Pitcher of the Year.
“He was our workhorse on the mound,” Dequin added. “He worked extremely hard last offseason and did what he needed to do to be an outstanding pitcher this year.”
Seniors Nathan Davis, Mario Talamante and Brandon Irby, along with junior Ryan Fredricks, were awarded second team recognition. Freshman Travis Hill, junior Patrick Valdez and senior Kevin Willard earned Honorable Mention. Ransom and Pickens round out the awards with spots in the Sportsmanship Team.
“Each individual who earned a spot on one of these teams was very deserving,” Dequin said. “Even those kids who were not recognized this year for all-conference need to be recognized as guys who helped our team be successful this year.”
