Kennedy Surprised by All-American Honor

NORTHRIDGE — When a player leads the nation in hits for the second year in a row, it shouldn’t be an upset for him to be an All-American.

But Adam Kennedy of Cal State Northridge was flabbergasted at being selected as Collegiate Baseball’s All-American shortstop ahead of UCLA’s Troy Glaus when the team was announced Wednesday.

“That’s pretty amazing,” Kennedy said. “It’s very surprising but I definitely deserved it.

“Guys were teasing me because we all pretty much knew Glaus would get it because he’s from UCLA and is going to go so high in the draft.”

Kennedy, a junior expected to be a second-round draft choice in June, batted .482 with 134 hits, 26 home runs, 32 doubles, 99 runs batted in and 22 stolen bases. Kennedy had 28 more hits than any other college player a year after leading the nation with 121 hits as a sophomore.

Glaus, a 6-foot-5 junior expected to be among the first five players chosen in the draft, made the second team. He batted .413 with 31 home runs and 83 RBIs, but his defense didn’t measure up to Kennedy’s.

Northridge senior right fielder Jose Miranda was a third-team pick after batting .407 with 25 home runs and 90 RBIs.

“Kennedy and Miranda were probably the best one-two punch in college baseball,” Matador Coach Mike Batesole said. “Maybe one of the best ever.”

Kennedy’s 254 total bases this season ranks fourth in NCAA history and his hit total ranks fifth. He and Miranda were the offensive stalwarts on a team that exceeded expectations by posting a 42-20-1 record.

“What me and Jose did this year wasn’t easy,” Kennedy said. “We tried to get the makeup of the team together as well as keep ourselves on top of the nation in those categories.”

It marks the second year in a row a Matador made first-team All-American in an upset over a more vaunted player. Catcher Robert Fick was a consensus All-American last season ahead of Stanford’s A.J. Hinch.

Several other area players also made the Collegiate Baseball second and third teams.

Pepperdine left-hander Randy Wolf was a second-team selection after posting a 9-4 record with a 1.79 earned-run average. Wolf, a junior from El Camino Real High, is expected to be a high draft choice.

Andy Dominique, a third baseman from Nevada who attended Alemany High, also made the second team after batting .357 with 27 homers and 89 RBIs.

Besides Miranda, UCLA left-hander Jim Parque of Crescenta Valley High (12-2, 3.20 ERA) and Stanford catcher John Schaeffer of Harvard-Westlake High (.369, 19 homers) were third-team picks.

Florida State outfielder J.D. Drew was chosen player of the year.