May 30, 2012
WALNUT CREEK, CALIF. -
In a vote by the conference coaches, California junior second baseman Tony Renda, last year's Pac-10 Player of the Year, has been selected first-team All-Pac-12 and has now been a first-team all-league selection for the third year in a row.
Joining Renda as an all-conference honoree is junior infielder Mitch Delfino and senior right-hander Matt Flemer, who both were selected honorable mention All-Pac-12.
This season, Renda batted .342 with 16 doubles, five home runs and 27 RBI. He also led the Bears with 16 stolen bases (second in the Pac-12), including stealing third base three times, and his 75 hits are currently sixth in the Pac-12. Renda had 23 multiple hit games this season and had gotten at least one hit in 44 of 54 games played. His 244 career hits are sixth on the school's all-time career hit list, and the five other players with more career hits utilized all four years of their college eligibility.
Renda is also tied with Lance Blankenship (1983-86) for fourth on the school's all-time career doubles list with 51 doubles, and he currently has a .348 career batting average with the Bears.
Flemer was the Bears' top starter this season, finishing 7-5 with a 2.58 ERA. He had a season-high eight strikeouts in a 9-0 win over Utah April 21 and the week before had a complete game versus Washington, April 14. Flemer, Cal's closer last season (drafted in the 19th round by Kansas City), is third in the Pac-12 with 111.2 innings pitched and threw 7.0 innings or more in 13 of his 15 starts this season and 6.0 innings or more in all 15 of his starts. Flemer is also fourth in the Pac-12 with 26 strikeouts looking. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2011 as well.
Delfino had a strong junior campaign, hitting a team-best .355 with 11 doubles, five home runs, 38 RBI, and an impressive .394 (26-for-66) average with runners in scoring position. Delfino's .355 average is sixth in the Pac-12 and he had had 22 multiple hit games this season, including two, four-hit games. He hit doubles in three straight games, Feb. 25-28, and reached base in 18 straight games from Feb. 17-March 23.
