Amaral named BA Freshman All-American
From UCLA:
DURHAM, N.C. - UCLA center fielder Beau Amaral has been named a second-team Freshman All-America selection by Baseball America, the national publication announced on Wednesday. Amaral led the Bruins with a .354 batting average in 64 games, starting 57 contests in center field.
Amaral, a 5-foot-10 center fielder from Huntington Beach, Calif., was one of six outfielders to earn freshmen All-America acclaim from Baseball America (three first-team honorees and three second-team selections). He finished his rookie campaign with four home runs, 12 doubles, 31 RBI, 45 runs and a team-leading 79 hits. He compiled a .442 on-base percentage, drawing 20 walks and 16 hit-by-pitches.
Among UCLA's most pivotal contributors in the playoffs, Amaral led the Bruins with a .396 batting average, a .491 on-base percentage, six doubles, 13 runs, 19 hits and 48 at-bats in 12 postseason contests.
In the Bruins' first College World Series appearance since 1997 (and third overall CWS berth), Amaral batted .375 (9-for-24) with three doubles, four runs and two RBI while recording a .464 on-base percentage. He was one of three Bruins, along with freshman Cody Regis and sophomore Trevor Bauer, to earn All-Tournament Team honors at the 2010 College World Series.
Baseball America selected outfielders Jeremy Baltz (St. John's), Logan Vick (Baylor) and Max White (Oklahoma) as first-team selections, while Jabari Henry (Florida International) and Cohl Walla (Texas) joined Amaral as second-team Freshman All-America honorees.
This marks the fourth season in the last five years that UCLA has had at least one freshman All-America selection by Baseball America. Joining Amaral in that category include shortstop Brandon Crawford (2006), outfielder Gabe Cohen (2007) and right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer (2009).
Amaral, along with Trevor Bauer are my favorite players on this team. Amaral shows great poise for a frosh, and had some clutch hits for us in the postseason. Hope he has a breakout soph year. Glad he's a Bruin. Still bummed we lost in the championship series...to come so close and then lose. If we just got game 2, I had a feeling we would've brought home the trophy in Game 3 - damnit!