Conforto: Consensus First-Team All-American
Michael Conforto has been named a First-Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), becoming the first player in Oregon State history to be a consensus First-Team All-American. Jace Fry was also named first-team on Wednesday, giving him five All-American honors – three first team – while Ben Wetzler was honored as a second teamer, with two of his five All-American honors coming as first team. Also honored on Wednesday is junior outfielder Dylan Davis, who was named a second-team all-region selection. Conforto had been named a first teamer by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) before Wednesday’s honor, which also distinguished the junior as a first-team all-region selection and a Region 8 Rawlings Gold Glover. He is now the first OSU player with four or more first-team honors in a single year since Dallas Buck garnered four in 2005, in addition to a second-team selection. Conforto batted .345 for the Beavers this season, and led the Pac-12 in slugging percentage (.547), on-base percentage (.504), walks (55) and runs scored (52) and was second in runs batted in (56), third in home runs (seven) and doubles (16), fourth in total bases (111) and seventh in hits (70). He set the OSU single-season record for walks and broke the school’s career record for RBI with 179. He was also named the Pac-12 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Mark Massari Named Deputy Athletic Director
Oregon State University Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis announced Wednesday that Mark Massari has been named Deputy Athletics Director. Massari returns to OSU for his second tenure after serving the past six years as Director of Athletics at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). In his new position he will oversee external affairs, strategic planning, business and fan development efforts, and will serve as the department’s chief marketing and revenue officer. In his senior leadership position he will supervise several sports. Massari served several roles at Oregon State prior to leaving for UCSB. From 2006-08 he was the Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, where he was involved in a $115 million capital campaign that included the “Raising Reser” football facility expansions, the construction of the Sports Performance Center and upgrades to Gill Coliseum and Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. From 2002-06 he served as the general manager for Beaver Sports Properties, a division of Learfield Sports. While at UCSB, Massari led 20 Division I teams, 500 student-athletes and 100 staff for the Big West Conference program. The Gauchos had many highlights during his tenure, including posting an 85 percent student-athlete graduation rate – second highest in the University of California system, and competing in 18 NCAA postseason championships.