May 21, 2007

DiPietro Earns All-West Region First Team Honors

Joe DiPietro - first team all-region

Joe DiPietro, who pitched Pacific Lutheran to a Northwest Conference championship and to the NCAA Division III West Region final, has earned American Baseball Coaches Association All-West Region first team recognition.

Third baseman Jared Simon and pitcher Brett Brunner were named to the second team.

DiPietro (Yakima, Wash. / Eisenhower HS) finished the season with an 11-3 record and a 1.93 earned run average. A two-time Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Year, the senior right-hander struck out 79 and walked just 26 in 112 innings. He limited opponents to a .234 batting average.

DiPietro also earned NCAA Division III West Region All-Tournament honors, going 1-1 with a 1.59 earned run average.

Simon (Auburn, Wash. / Auburn HS), a first team all-conference honoree, finished his senior year batting .310 with six home runs and a team-high 42 runs batted in. He also earned West Region all-tournament honors after hitting .316 with a homer and five runs batted in and also excelling on defense.

Brunner (Dallas, Ore. / Chemeketa CC), also a first team all-conference performer, finished his junior year with a 7-2 record and a 1.94 earned run average. In 83 2/3 innings he struck out 43, walked 28 and limited opponents to a .253 batting average.

- PLU -