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Santa Ana Lands Four On CCCBCA All-America Team
FRESNO, CA - Post-season honors and accolades continue to roll in for five Santa Ana College baseball players. Over the Memorial Day weekend, four Dons were named to the 2005 California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) Southern California all-America team lead by sophomore catcher Jacob Vasquez (Diamond Bar HS) who was also the recipient of the Southern California Big Stick Award.
Joining Vasquez on the first team CCCBCA all-America list were Daniel Arizmendi (So., LHP, Nogales HS), Jose Chavez (So., SS, Anaheim HS) and Matt Morris (So., OF, El Modena HS). Sophomore Anthony Slama (RHP, Mater Dei HS) rounded out the list of honorees by being named to the CCCBCA's all-Southern California Team.
Vasquez, who was named the Orange Empire Conference Co-Most Valuable Player earlier this month, led the Dons in eight offensive categories including games played (45), batting average (.402), hits (70), doubles (14), runs scored (42), slugging percentage (.701) on-base percentage (.509) and base on balls (31). He was second on  the team in home runs (12), RBI (49) and total bases (122). Vasquez, who signed a letter of intent to play for Texas A&M University next year, led all position players with a .992 fielding percentage from his catching position, committing just two errors in 238 fielding opportunities.
Arizmendi, meanwhile, joins Vasquez on the first team after capturing OEC Pitcher of the Year honors where he posted a perfect 7-0 record and a 2.65 ERA in league play. The lefthander led Santa Ana with a 9-2 overall record and a 3.25 ERA in 102.1 innings pitched. He tossed one complete game while striking out 80 and walking 53 in 16 appearances.
Chavez, who was a first team all-Orange Empire Conference selection, ended the 2005 season with a team-best, 14-game hitting streak and a .374 batting average which was second only to Vasquez. Chavez, who was 58 for 155 at the plate, was second on the team in stolen bases (17 of 20), fourth in slugging percentage (.484), fifth in RBI (28) and sixth in runs scored (36). Of his 58 hits 10 went for extra bases including six doubles and three home runs. On Tuesday (May 24), Chavez signed a professional baseball contract with the Cleveland Indians. He was a 49th round draft pick (1,448th overall) of the Indians in 2005.
 Morris rounds out the list of first team honorees after finishing third on the team with a .358 batting average. The sophomore center fielder starting in all 45 games and led the team in hit by pitches (12) and stolen bases (18 of 20) while finishing second in hits (64), doubles (12), runs scored (41), and on-base percentage (.437). Morris nearly carried Santa Ana College into this year's state baseball tournament as he finished 8 for 10 at the plate with 4 doubles, a home run, 5 runs scored and 5 RBI in the final two Southern California Regional championship games.
Slama was the lone Santa Ana baseball player named to the 2005 CCCBCA all-Southern California team. The former Mater Dei High School-product appeared in 25 of the Dons' 45 games and finished with a team-best 2.51 ERA and a 4-4 overall record. He led the Dons with seven saves while striking out 48 and walking just 15 in 46.2 innings of work.
2005 CCCBCA All-America Team (PDF)
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