Baseball | 10.30.2020

LEWISTON, Idaho – In the final LC State All-Decade poll, voters helped put together a team of 27 former Warriors to make up the LC State Baseball All-Decade Team. J.J. Robinson (designated hitter) and Ray Pedrina (outfield) share the title of All-Decade MVP and led in their respective categories. Other category leaders include Connor Brogdon (starting pitcher), Anthony Balderas (relief pitcher), Cory Voss (catcher), Seth Brown (first base), Josh Ashenbrenner (infield), Micah Brown (utility) and Ty Jackson (two-way).
 
Anthony Armanino, Tyler Burch, Kevin Hamann and Colby Hawk round out the starting pitcher group. Gage Burland, Matt Fish, Beau Kerns and Henry McAree complete the team of relief pitchers. Darren Trainor was voted to the team as a catcher, and Brian Burke was voted in as a first baseman.  Other infielders include: Trent Bridges, Cade Reiten, Seaver Whalen and Max Whitt. The outfield team includes: Kyle Knigge, Cody Lavalli, Jake Shirley and Jake Zanon.
 
CO-MVPS
Robinson (2016-17) was a two-time All-American and was voted the NAIA West Player of the Year in both seasons as a Warrior. In 2016, he was voted a Second-Team All-American after a monster year in the DH role. He led LC State with 15 home runs, 26 doubles and 82 RBI. He hit .335 and slugged .679 with an on-base percentage of .439. Robinson ranked in the top 50 in the NAIA in nine categories, including third in RBI and fourth in doubles. The Colfax, Wash. native was named All-American Honorable Mention in 2017 after hitting the sixth-most home runs by a Warrior in a season (22). He slugged .752 and hit .345 on the season. His RBI triple in the seventh inning of the Avista NAIA World Series title game gave the Warriors the lead, helping the team to its third straight title. Robinson was voted all-tournament and the Series MVP. He finished his career ranked sixth in home runs (37), 10^th in RBI (151) and 10^th in slugging (.715).
 
Pedrina (2014-15, 2017-18) was voted the 2018 NAIA West Player of the Year after hitting .326 with 58 hits including 14 doubles, six home runs and five triples. He knocked in 34 runs and scored 60 while stealing eight bags. He was All-NAIA West in 2017 with a .303 batting average. He was second on the team in hits (63), doubles (11), triples (2), home runs (7) and RBI (43). He tied for the team-high with 12 stolen bases. Pedrina earned the 2017 Avista NAIA World Series Charles Berry Hustle Award. He walked twice and scored a pair of runs in the title game in 2015. He finished his career ranked first in hit-by-pitches (56), tied for first in sacrifice bunts (13), fifth in triples (10), sixth in runs scored (197) and 10^th in at bats (603).
 
STARTING PITCHER
Brogdon (2016-17), the leader in the starting pitcher category, made his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies this past season, becoming the 18^th Warrior to do so. He was voted All-NAIA West as a senior after striking out the eight-most batters in a single season (99), doing so in 80.1 innings. His 11.09 strikeouts per nine innings ranks sixth in a single season in the LC State record books. He finished 2017 with a 2.91 ERA and an 8-1 record with one save. In 2016, Brogdon posted a 6-0 record with a .281 ERA. He made 11 starts and tossed 51.1 innings, striking out 48. Opposing batters hit just .211 against him.
 
Armanino (2011-13) was voted All-NAIA West in 2012 after finishing the season with a 1.99 ERA and a 10-1 record. He threw two complete games and struck out 91 batters in 90.1 innings while holding opposing batter to a .211 batting average. He made 15 starts in 2013 and went the distance twice, going 11-3.
 
Burch (2016-19) was a four-year contributor for the Warriors. He was voted All-America Honorable Mention in 2018 after leading the Warriors with a 10-2 record, 2.87 ERA, 84.2 innings pitched and 79 strikeouts. He was touched for only one home run and threw back-to-back complete games during NAIA West play. Burch was voted the NAIA West Pitcher of the Year in back-to-back years, earning the honor in both 2018 and 2019. He finished 2019 with a record of 6-2 and led LC State in starts (13), wins, complete games and innings pitched (74.0). He struck out 63, and had the best start pitching performance of any Warrior on the year when he tossed a complete-game one-hitter against College of Idaho. He ended his Warrior career ranked fourth all-time in strikeouts (179), fifth in starts (33) and fifth in innings pitched (200.2).
 
Hamann (2016-17) was handed the ball to start the championship game of the 2016 Avista NAIA World Series, helping the Warriors clinch their 18^th national title. He led the team in appearances (16) and starts (15), going 9-1 with a 1.99 ERA. He led LC State in wins and innings pitched (95), while striking out 73 with only 11 walks. Opponents hits just .239 against him. He earned the start in the opening game of the Series and went the distance, allowing one unearned run with seven strikeouts in the 2-1 victory of Science & Arts (Okla.). In 2017, Hamann made 13 starts and finished the season with a record of 8-1. He fanned 65 in 74 innings, including eight against College of Idaho and five against Oklahoma City.
 
An All-America Honorable Mention in his lone season at LC State, Hawk (2010) was also named All-NAIA West. He finished the 2010 season with a 2.15 ERA and a 7-0 record on the mound. In 12 appearances, he made 10 starts and struck out 23 in 46 innings.
 
RELIEF PITCHER
Current Warrior pitching coach Balderas (2016-17) closed out the championship game and earned the save to help LC State clinch the 2017 national title. He appeared in 18 games that season, all in relief, with a 2.23 ERA and a 3-2 record with five saves. He struck out 47 in 40.1 innings and held opposing hitters to a .200 batting average. Balderas did not allow a home run in 2017. He made 14 relief appearances in 2016 and posted a 4-0 record with a 2.33 ERA. He finished the season with four saves. He walked only two batters in his 27 innings and struck out 28. He led all relievers in All-Decade voting.
 
Burland (2017-18) was voted All-NAIA West in 2018 after finishing the season ranked third in the LC State single season ranks in saves (8). He made 19 appearances and struck out 43 batters in 28.2 innings. He held opposing batters to a .182 batting averages with an ERA of 1.88. Burland appeared in six games in 2017, tossing 19.2 innings.
 
Fish (2016-17) appeared in 12 games in 2017 and finished the season with an ERA of 2.35 and a 7-1 record. He threw two complete games and struck out 69 batters in 69 innings, while holding opposing batters to a .209 batting average. He gave up just one home run. In 2016, Fish made 12 appearances and went 3-1 with one save. He struck out 33 in 34.2 innings.
 
Kerns (2014-15) had just one loss in his career at LC State. He finished his time as a Warrior with a record of 17-1 and a 2.77 ERA. In 2017 he appeared in 17 games with a 12-1 record and two saves. He struck out 84 in 96.2 innings and held opposing hitters to a .221 batting average. In 2-14, Kerns went 5-0 in 30 innings with 13 appearances. He tallied 22 strikeouts during the season and tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless relief in the Series win over Cumberland.
 
McAree (2016-17) finished his career with a 11-1 record, with his only loss coming in postseason play. He appeared in 19 games in 2017, earning a 3-1 record with four saves and 2.22 ERA. He struck out eight in 5.2 innings against Oklahoma City in the Avista NAIA World Series, and fanned 63 in 44.2 innings over the course of the season. He held opposing hitters to a .161 batting average. In 2016, McAree went 8-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 14 appearances. He struck out 42 in 39 innings, and held opponents to a .200 batting average.
 
CATCHER
Voss (2018) led the All-Decade catchers and was voted All-NAIA West in his season at LC State. He hit .350 in 52 games and collected 78 hits. Voss scattered 14 doubles, 11 home runs and a triple, while knocking in 58 runs and scoring 25. He slugged .570 with a .420 on-base percentage and threw out eight runners on the bases.
 
Trainor (2018-19) was voted a Second-Team All-American in 2019 and was the only Warrior to appear in and start all 51 games. He was named the NAIA West Player of the Year and also earned a Gold Glove as a catcher. He led the team in batting average (.354), hits (63), RBI (52), total bases (112) and runners caught stealing (9). Of his 73 hits, he had 16 doubles, seven home runs and a triple. In 2018, Trainor appeared in 26 games and had eight doubles, two home runs and 25 RBI.
 
FIRST BASE
Seth Brown (2015) made his major league debut in 2019 with the Oakland Athletics, but before he was patrolling the outfield in the bay area, he was a Second-Team All-American at first base for the Warriors. He was voted All-NAIA West and earned an NAIA West Gold Glove at first base, and was also voted to the 2015 Avista NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team in his lone season in Lewiston. He hit .386 with 90 hits including 20 doubles. He hit the fifth-most home runs in a single season (23), and is seventh in putouts (415) and total bases (183), ninth in slugging (.785) and is tied for 10^th in RBI (82). In the career ranks, Brown sits second in slugging.
 
Burke (2010) was voted All-America Honorable Mention and All-NAIA West after hitting .378 over 52 games. He tallied 76 hits including 19 doubles and 16 home runs. The native of Lancaster, Calif. knocked in 64 runs and scored 51. He slugged .711 with a .427 on-base percentage.
 
INFIELD
The top vote-getter in the infield, Ashenbrenner (2008-10) finished his career with a .377 batting average and 212 hits. He scaterred 39 doubles, 15 home runs and two triples in his three years, and knocked in 136 runs while scoring 154. He slugged .534 with a .457 on-base percentage and had six stolen bases. He hit .435 in 2009 for a career high, and slugged a career-best .596 in 2010.
 
Bridges (2009-12) was voted All-America Honorable Mention in 2011 after batting .392 with 82 hits, including 18 doubles, four home runs and a triple. He knocked in 44 runs and scored 56 with as .545 slugging percentage and .457 on-base percentage. He was voted All-NAIA Wet in 2011 and 2012. Bridges hit .386 in 2012 with 68 hits including 20 doubles, four home runs and three triples. He scored 49 runs with a slugging percentage of .602 and an on-base percentage of .467. He finished his career ranked sixth in doubles (51) and tied for ninth in hit-by-pitches (30).
 
Reiten (2015-16) was voted All-America Honorable Mention in 2015 after leading the team with a .411 batting average with 43 RBI in 58 starts. He led LC State in hits (99), doubles (21), home runs (7) and triples (5). He also had a team-high 32 multiple-hit games. Reiten was All-NAIA West in 2016 after hitting .273 with 53 hits including 13 doubles and four home runs.
 
Whalen (2017) was voted All-NAIA West in his lone season with LC State. Hit batted .320 in 48 games and tallied 57 hits including 13 home runs and nine doubles. He knocked in 53 runs and scored 46. Whalen slugged .590 with a .445 on-base percentage.
 
Whitt (2015) spent one season with the Warriors and was voted All-NAIA West. His 175 assist ranks fifth in a single season. He hit .298 and tallied 64 hits including 17 home runs, seven doubles and two triples. Whitt knocked in 72 runs and scored 59, while also stealing five bases.
 
OUTFIELD
Kyle Knigge (2011-14) had a memorable 2013 Avista NAIA World Series. The Lewiston native went 10-for-19 (.526) with six runs scored in five games in the Series, including a 4-for-4 performance with a run scored in the final game. He was voted to the all-tournament team. He hit .351 on the season. In 2012, Knigge hit .355, third-best on the team, and drove in 32 runs with just one error in the outfield. He made a big impact as a freshman, batting .317 in 37 games with six doubles and 10 home runs. He did not make an error in the field.
 
Lavalli (2013-14) was a two-time All-American for the Warriors. Voted All-America Honorable Mention in 2013 and second team in 2014, he was also voted All-NAIA West in both seasons. In 2013 he hit .373 in 54 games, second-best on the team, and led LC State with 10 home runs, 50 RBI and six triples. He added 13 doubles and 46 runs to his stat sheet and had five outfield assists. He hit .361 in 2014 with 70 hits including 13 home runs, nine doubles and three triples. Lavalli knocked in 44 runs and scored 48 while stealing six bases.
 
Shirley (2013-14) had a standout 2014 season and was voted a First-Team All-American and the NAIA West Player of the Year. He was also named to the Avista NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team. He hit .391 on the season and tallied 90 hits. He scattered 18 doubles, four home runs and two triples with 48 RBI and 53 runs scored. He slugged. 539 with a .472 on-base percentage. In 2013, Shirley hit .340 with four home runs and 31 RBI. He collected 73 hits including 17 doubles and two triples.
 
Voted All-America Honorable Mention and All-NAIA West in his lone season at LC State, Zanon (2016) was vote the Avista NAIA World Series MVP after going 2-for-4 with three RBI in the championship game. He ranks 10^th for stolen bases in a season (27), doing so safely in all attempts. He hit .393 with 86 hits including 20 doubles and 14 home runs. Zanon knocked in 56 runs and scored 80, while slugging .676 and a .464 on-base percentage.
 
UTILITY
The younger of the Brown brothers, Micah Brown (2015-17) was voted All-NAIA West in 2016 and made his presence known in the 2016 national title game with two solo home runs. He hit .339 on the season with 56 hits. His 21 doubles were second-most on the team, and he added a triple and five home runs. Brown drove in 33 runs and was six-for-seven in stolen bases. He hit .313 in 2017 with 62 hits including 14 doubles, six home runs and three triples. He knocked in 34 runs and scored 53, and swiped 12 bags.
 
TWO-WAY
Jackson (2014-15) was voted All-NAIA West in 2015. He ranks 10^th in the Warrior record books in single-season ERA (1.76). As a senior, he struck out 68 batters in 76.2 innings to produce an 8-1 record. In the batter's box, Jackson hit .322 with 67 hits including 14 doubles, nine home runs and two triples. In 2014, he finished the season with a record of 4-1 and an ERA of 2.73, while batting .254 with seven home runs.
 
LC Athletics would like to thank everyone that participated in All-Decade Team voting across all sports. Over 1,110 votes were counted across eight polls for 12 teams, including over 300 in the baseball poll alone.
 
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