May 18, 2006

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton juniors Candice Baker and Ashley Van Boxmeer were each named to the NFCA All-West Region First Team as voted on by the region's coaches the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Wednesday.

Baker earns her second career all-region award as a utility player after earning the same first-team honor as a sophomore in 2005. Van Boxmeer, who was named to the second team as a freshman at New Mexico, earns her first all-region honor in a Titan uniform.

Baker, who was also named to the All-Big West Conference First Team as a pitcher and utility player earlier this week, was Fullerton's ace in the circle, posting a 21-9 overall mark with a 2.18 ERA and six shutouts. She led the Big West Conference with 249 strikeouts and a .194 average against while also ranking third in innings (202.1), second in wins, and fourth in ERA.

She also played second base and shortstop, hitting .208 with 35 runs scored (fourth in the conference), five home runs, and 16 RBI. She was also hit by a pitch 11 times - a total that ranked third in the league.

Van Boxmeer, the Big West Co-Field Player of the Year in 2006, finished the regular season with a .314 average, 13 home runs, and 41 RBI.

She ranked among the league's top 10 offensive players in 10 different categories, including leading the league with 45 runs scored and tying for the top spot with her 13 home runs.

Fullerton opens play at the 2006 NCAA Regionals in Fresno, Calif., on Friday evening at 5 p.m., as the second-seeded Titans take on third-seeded Fresno State at Bulldog Diamond.

Gametracker will be available for all games this weekend at www.gobulldogs.com while Mike Martinez will handle the play-by-play Internet broadcast live on www.FullertonTitans.com.