Matt Means
Sonoma State Seawolves |
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The Sonoma State Seawolves had their best
season in program history come to an exhilarating but disappointing
end last week with a pair of 2-1 losses to the Ouachita Baptist
Tigers at the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship in Sauget,
Illinois.  The
setbacks sent OBU to the title game while the ‘Wolves
went home to Rohnert Park, California just a game away from
a shot at showdown with Mount Olive. It was still a tremendous
season for SSU nonetheless as they established a new record
for wins in a season at 52 and won their won their ninth conference
title as well as the West Regional championship which sent
them to the St. Louis suburb to play for the title.
A big part of Sonoma’s success this
past season was the stellar pitching performance of graduating
senior pitcher Matt Means. Means made the move from SSU’s
bullpen at the start of the season and the result was more
than anyone could have hoped for. His first three seasons,
Means’ ERA was an unimposing 5.63 and he had a 5-7 career
record. However this past year the hurler from Mountain View,
California doubled his career win total after joining the
rotation, finishing the year at 10-2. In 17 starts his ERA
was a teeny 1.85 in 102 innings pitched. He had 10 more strikeouts
(93) than hits allowed (83), holding opposition to a dainty
.223 batting average for the season. Means also pitched masterfully
under pressure in Sauget. He suffered the loss in the final
game of the season, but pitched skillfully, allowing just
five hits while striking out nine in seven innings. However
the Seawolves were baffled at the plate all day, tallying
just four hits and were unable to demonstrate the power that
set a school record with 81 home runs and hit .324 as a team.
For his work Means earned the California
Collegiate Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week designation
three times - the first time a SSU pitcher been a three time
single season honoree. Notice of his on the mound performance
wasn’t just limited to California however. Means was
named to the ABCA/Rawlings and NCBWA All-American teams. It
was only the second time a Sonoma State pitcher was a named
First Team All-American.
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