Steve Gonzales and B.J. Collom receive honors for Rams
Despite a disappointing baseball season this year, Gavilan College was represented on the All-Conference Team by two athletes – sophomore Steve Gonzales and freshman B.J. Collom.
Gonzales was Gavilan’s First Team selection, while Collom was selected on the second team.
Gonzales, who played in every game for the Rams, led his team with 27 RBIs and 47 hits and was second in runs scored with 23.
Gonzales was a utility player, playing left field, third base and shortstop. He batted in the No. 3 spot.
“He was probably one of our more consistent hitters,” said Gavilan coach Neal Andrade. “It is tough to find some highlights when you had a rough season like we did, but anytime you get a guy on the All-Conference team that means something.”
Gonzales, who is from the Fresno area, has played with several different schools and may have to take some summer school classes to get caught up in his studies.
Collom, a Gilroy High grad, could have easily been selected to the First Team, Andrade said.
As a leadoff hitter, Collom did have some pop in his bat. He was tied for second on the team with four long balls and played in all the games.
Although Collom was suspended from high school his senior year, Andrade said he has matured and has started to take on more responsibility.
“He was one of the highlights of the year for me,” Andrade said. “We didn’t have any troubles with him. He was always there on time.”
“It took a little while for him to figure out the speed of center field in college,” Andrade added. “But he learned a lot this year and we are looking for good things from him next year.”
He had a .493 on-base percentage and was hit by pitches 11 times. Collom finished with a .321 batting average even though he went through a freshman slump late in the league.
“He should steal a lot of bases next year,” Andrade said. “He is one of the quickest guys on the team. B.J. was one the guys on the team who always worked hard and never gave up.”
First baseman Rocco Castanza was another player Andrade nominated for the All-Conference team.
The Rams finished with a 4-21 record this year.
“The guys fought hard and never gave up,” Andrade said. “We had probably 16 or 17 games where we were in the game up by a run or down by a run late in the game.”
