Biola UniversityBiola University junior infielder Drake Fages (Temecula, CA/Temecula Valley HS/California Baptist University) has been named an NAIA Baseball First-Team All-American and also a member of the Rawlings-NAIA Gold Glove Team as announced by the national body and the National Baseball Coaches Association on Monday.
In addition to Fages, senior catcher Brian Loard (Long Beach, CA/Millikan HS/Long Beach City College) represented Biola on the All-American team, earning honorable mention recognition.
Fages, a junior from Temecula, had a record-breaking season for the Eagles. He led the team in nearly every offensive category including RBIs, driving in 77 runs to establish a school record, breaking the existing record set by Sam Orr during the 2003 season. He batted .364 with 18 home runs, a .698 slugging percentage and pounded out 82 hits. Fages ranked fourth in the NAIA in total bases (157), fifth in RBIs and sixth in home runs. He also led the team with 28 multi-hit games and added 20 multi-RBI games including two of five or more.
The junior seemed to save his best for last, batting .406 (13-for-32) in Biola's nine post-season games with one home run, eight runs scored and eight RBIs. By far his best game of the year came in the Eagles' home finale where he went 2-for-3 with two home runs and seven RBIs including his team-best second grand slam of the season.
Fages was one of five underclassmen on the 17-man first-team and the lone representative from the Golden State Athletic Conference on the first team.
Loard also earned All-American recognition as an honorable mention after posting a .299 batting average and ranking second on the team with a .579 slugging percentage. Loard had 11 home runs and 56 RBIs on the season, adding 11 doubles and a triple. He also caught 19 of 51 attempted base stealers and had a .971 fielding percentage behind the dish.
Biola wrapped up the 2011 season with a 38-22 overall record, reaching the championship game of the NAIA Opening Round Tournament in Joliet, Ill.
