UCLA’s John Savage wins his first Pac-12 Coach of the Year honor

UCLA coach John Savage is surrounded by players as he hoists the College World Series championship trophy on June 25, 2013. (Eric Francis/AP)

UCLA coach John Savage is surrounded by players as he hoists the College World Series championship trophy on June 25, 2013. (Eric Francis/AP)

Even UCLA’s most accomplished baseball coach can break new ground. On Wednesday, John Savage was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the first time.

Savage had been named national coach of the year by multiple publications in 2013, following the Bruins’ first and only College World Series title. However, the conference’s top honor had eluded him until his 11th season in Westwood, one during which UCLA set a school record with 22 wins in league play.

The Bruins, who lead all Division I teams with a 2.16 ERA, earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament on Monday and will host a regional this weekend. Their first game is against Cal State Bakersfield at 8 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Closer David Berg (7-1, 0.73 ERA) was also named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, becoming the only Bruin to earn the honor twice in his career. The senior previously won the award in 2013, and is making his fourth appearance on the All-Pac-12 first team. The only other UCLA pitchers to earn the top spot before him were Trevor Bauer (2011) and Pete Janicki (1992).

The other Bruins on this year’s All-Pac-12 first team are sophomore pitcher Grant Dyer, junior outfielder Ty Moore, junior shortstop Kevin Kramer, junior pitcher James Kaprielian, and senior pitcher Grant Watson.

Freshman pitcher Griffin Canning, sophomore Griffin Canning and junior Darrell Miller are all-conference honorable mentions.