For the first two-thirds of the season, Cody Foster was the catalyst of the Chico State baseball team’s offense. Thursday he finally received some love from someone other than his teammates, earning Second Team 2012 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-West Region honors. Foster joins First-Team selections Mike Botelho and Blake Gibbs and Second-Team pick Myles Dempsey in giving the California Collegiate Athletic Association co-Champion Wildcats four representatives on the team.

Foster, a senior from Fremont, leads the Wildcats in hits (70), batting average (.345) and total bases (101). He’s also one of the nation’s top defensive center fielders. He’ll try to use both skills tonight when the Wildcats open the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional against Western Oregon University at Volcano Stadium in Keizer, Ore., at 5.

Botelho, a junior transfer from Chabot Community College, allowed just 14 hits in 22 and two-thirds innings, holding opponents to a .184 batting average. He converted 12 of hits 13 save opportunities, including his last six during which he allowed just three hits. Botelho’s 12 saves are tied for the seventh most in Chico State single-season history.

Gibbs, a .330 hitter on the season, boasts a rare blend of speed and power. He leads the CCAA co-Champion Wildcats with seven home runs and 14 stolen bases. The junior transfer from Oregon State has started all 53 games and also leads the team in runs scored (48), doubles (17), slugging percentage (.553), and on-base percentage (.466).

Dempsey, hampered by an ankle injury that cost him the final 11 games of the regular season, ranked second on the team in hitting with a .341 batting average. His bat kept him in the everyday lineup as Head Coach Dave Taylor put him at second base, left field and designated hitter.

The Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-West Region team was selected by the region’s sports information directors.

2012 DAKTRONICS, INC. DIVISION II ALL-WEST REGION TEAM