California State University Northridge Athletics
Three Matadors Collect All-Big West Honors
5/30/2024 1:40:00 PM | Baseball
Complete All-Big West Team
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Three members of the CSUN Baseball team were recognized with All-Big West honors on Thursday, the league office announced. Graduate Jakob Simons collected All-Big West Second Team accolades while junior Kevin Fitzer and senior Joshua Romero received an Honorable Mention.
A native of Pleasanton, Simons wrapped up his CSUN career by starting in all 54 games including 52 times in center field. Simons finished the regular season leading the Big West with 16 homers and a .632 slugging percentage. He would also rank second in the conference in OPS (1.109), runs scored (61), RBI (56) and stolen bases (17) along with fifth in on-base percentage (.477). His career-high 61 runs scored were the most by a Matador since JT Stotts in 2001 while he became the first CSUN player since Ryan Pineda in 2010 to record at least 50 runs scored and 50 RBI. Simons' totals in homers, runs scored, RBI, on-base percentage and walks (31) were new career highs as he also tied for the team lead in batting average at .321.
Simons, who took home Big West Co-Field Player of the Year honors in 2023, is a two-time All-Big West selection in his three-year Matador career. He would earn All-Big West First Team honors last season along with ABCA/Rawling All-West Region Second Team accolades. A career .316 hitter at CSUN, Simons closed his time with the Matadors with 127 runs, 151 hits, 118 RBI, 30 homers and 34 stolen bases over his career.
Originally from Oxnard, Romero closed his Matador career leading the team in wins with eight. A season after breaking the single-season save record, Romero notched seven saves as he served as the team's closer for a second consecutive season. He led the team in appearances with 24 while he was third on the team with 35 strikeouts to go with a 3.38 ERA in 37.1 innings on the mound. During the season, Romero was named to the NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year Award watch list while he also received Preseason All-America Third Team honors.Â
Romero's all-conference award is the second of his career after he collected All-Big West Second Team honors last year. He was also previously an ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region First Team honoree in 2023. After saving 13 games a year ago to break the school record, Romero wrapped up his CSUN career with 20 saves to place third all-time on the school's career saves list. He also completed a two-year stint at CSUN with a career 3.34 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 64.2 total innings.
Fitzer made 46 appearances with 45 starts, primarily at designated hitter, in his fourth season with CSUN. The Aliso Viejo native finished the season tied for the team lead in batting average at .321 and was first in doubles with 13 while he ranked third in the Big West in slugging percentage (.631), tied for fourth in home runs (11) and fifth in OPS (1.060). In 2024, Fitzer also registered new career highs in runs scored (36), stolen bases (11), doubles and homers. In March, Fitzer became the first Matador in 22 seasons to earn back-to-back Big West Field Player of the Week awards.
Fitzer's award this season was his second All-Big West honor of his career after collecting second-team accolades in 2023. In four seasons, Fitzer produced 19 homers, 21 doubles, 78 runs scored, 102 RBI and 127 hits to go with a career .328 batting average in 116 games.
CSUN finished the season with a 30-24 overall record and 16-14 Big West mark. The Matadors' 30-win season was the program third consecutive, two of which under head coach Eddie Cornejo. The program last registered three straight 30-win seasons from 1996-98.
#GoMatadors
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Three members of the CSUN Baseball team were recognized with All-Big West honors on Thursday, the league office announced. Graduate Jakob Simons collected All-Big West Second Team accolades while junior Kevin Fitzer and senior Joshua Romero received an Honorable Mention.
A native of Pleasanton, Simons wrapped up his CSUN career by starting in all 54 games including 52 times in center field. Simons finished the regular season leading the Big West with 16 homers and a .632 slugging percentage. He would also rank second in the conference in OPS (1.109), runs scored (61), RBI (56) and stolen bases (17) along with fifth in on-base percentage (.477). His career-high 61 runs scored were the most by a Matador since JT Stotts in 2001 while he became the first CSUN player since Ryan Pineda in 2010 to record at least 50 runs scored and 50 RBI. Simons' totals in homers, runs scored, RBI, on-base percentage and walks (31) were new career highs as he also tied for the team lead in batting average at .321.
Simons, who took home Big West Co-Field Player of the Year honors in 2023, is a two-time All-Big West selection in his three-year Matador career. He would earn All-Big West First Team honors last season along with ABCA/Rawling All-West Region Second Team accolades. A career .316 hitter at CSUN, Simons closed his time with the Matadors with 127 runs, 151 hits, 118 RBI, 30 homers and 34 stolen bases over his career.
Originally from Oxnard, Romero closed his Matador career leading the team in wins with eight. A season after breaking the single-season save record, Romero notched seven saves as he served as the team's closer for a second consecutive season. He led the team in appearances with 24 while he was third on the team with 35 strikeouts to go with a 3.38 ERA in 37.1 innings on the mound. During the season, Romero was named to the NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year Award watch list while he also received Preseason All-America Third Team honors.Â
Romero's all-conference award is the second of his career after he collected All-Big West Second Team honors last year. He was also previously an ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region First Team honoree in 2023. After saving 13 games a year ago to break the school record, Romero wrapped up his CSUN career with 20 saves to place third all-time on the school's career saves list. He also completed a two-year stint at CSUN with a career 3.34 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 64.2 total innings.
Fitzer made 46 appearances with 45 starts, primarily at designated hitter, in his fourth season with CSUN. The Aliso Viejo native finished the season tied for the team lead in batting average at .321 and was first in doubles with 13 while he ranked third in the Big West in slugging percentage (.631), tied for fourth in home runs (11) and fifth in OPS (1.060). In 2024, Fitzer also registered new career highs in runs scored (36), stolen bases (11), doubles and homers. In March, Fitzer became the first Matador in 22 seasons to earn back-to-back Big West Field Player of the Week awards.
Fitzer's award this season was his second All-Big West honor of his career after collecting second-team accolades in 2023. In four seasons, Fitzer produced 19 homers, 21 doubles, 78 runs scored, 102 RBI and 127 hits to go with a career .328 batting average in 116 games.
CSUN finished the season with a 30-24 overall record and 16-14 Big West mark. The Matadors' 30-win season was the program third consecutive, two of which under head coach Eddie Cornejo. The program last registered three straight 30-win seasons from 1996-98.
#GoMatadors
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Players Mentioned
Friday, February 13
Saturday, January 24
Thursday, December 11
Thursday, December 11