COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – San Jose State baseball's trio of Jonathan Clark, Ruben Ibarra and Troy Viola were among 24 players honored on the 2020 All-Mountain West team, as selected by the league's head coaches and announced by the conference on Thursday.
It is the first all-conference honor of each player's career. The trio was putting up impressive numbers before the season was ended early after just 17 games.
Clark, a sophomore from San Diego, made four appearances on the bump and posted a 2.25 ERA with just three runs and four hits allowed. The right-hander started the season with a bang striking out eight batters in the season-opener against Santa Clara and finished with 17 total strikeouts against just six walks in 12.0 innings of work.
"Clark was establishing himself as an electric, high-level pitcher in the Mountain West Conference with his performances early this year," head coach Brad Sanfilippo said. "After missing the fall, he was building up up be a very productive starter and was our most dominant pitcher on the mound."
Fellow sophomore Ibarra made a thunderous return to the diamond after missing the previous season with a redshirt. The designated hitter/first baseman was a force at the plate batting .344 with three home runs, 21 hits and eight RBI while starting all 17 contests. His first career homer came in the opener vs. Santa Clara and he followed with blasts against USF and at Cal. Ibarra was also perfect at first base with zero errors committed.
"Ruben was a real threat in our lineup," Sanfilippo said. "He provided power and clutch hits and always gave his teammates energy on and off the field."
Viola, a senior from Bend, Oregon, started all 17 games at third base and was a magnet at the corner with 17 putouts and 39 assists while committing no errors. He was equally as impressive at the plate with an average of .271 with 19 hits, including five doubles, and nine RBI. Viola began the season with a seven-game hit streak and closed it on a six-game streak.
"Troy played an unbelievable third base and made plays that are as good as defensive plays as I have seen at this level. He was also a consistent, productive performer in the heart of our lineup," Sanfilippo said.
The full 2020 All-Mountain West team is listed below.
2020 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST BASEBALL TEAM
Cole Blatchford, Jr., 3B, Air Force
Ashton Easley, Sr., CF, Air Force
Josh Leaser, Sr., RHP, Air Force
Wesley Harper, Fr., RHP, Boise State
Michael Hicks, Sr., LF, Boise State
Torin Montgomery, Fr., 1B/3B, Boise State
Ryan Higgins, So., LF, Fresno State
Zach Presno, Jr., C, Fresno State
Andrew Kachel, Fr., 2B, Fresno State
Kyle Landers, Jr., 1B, New Mexico
Justin Armbruester, Jr., RHP, New Mexico
Aaron Makil, Jr., RHP, New Mexico
Owen Sharts, So., RHP, Nevada
Jake Jackson, Jr., RHP, Nevada
Dillan Shrum, Sr., 1B, Nevada
Casey Schmitt, Jr., 3B/RHP, San Diego State
Matt Rudick, Jr., OF, San Diego State
Troy Melton, So., RHP, San Diego State
Ruben Ibarra, So., DH/1B, San José State
Troy Viola, Sr., 3B, San José State
Jonathan Clark, So., RHP, San José State
Chase Maddux, Sr., RHP, UNLV
Grant Robbins, Sr., OF, UNLV
Eric Bigani, Jr., C, UNLV
