Preseason All-PacWest Team
NCBWA Preseason All-West Region Team

San Francisco, CA -- The Urban Knights baseball season is about to begin, and with a new year the Academy of Art is already bringing in honors at the conference and the regional level. A trio of players were named to the All-PacWest Preseason Team, and senior third-baseman Kenny Rollins, Jr. was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) All-West Region Second Team.

Three seniors made the conference preseason team, as Rollins, second-baseman Zach Babitt, and left-handed pitcher Zach Mexicano made the grade. Babitt was named to the All-PacWest First Team in 2011 after hitting .303 in 49 starts, going 47 for 155 at the plate with 35 runs, four doubles, 27 RBI, 31 walks and 12 stolen bases. He had a .435 on-base percentage and tied for second in the league in steals.

Mexicano was the workhorse for the Urban Knights last season, throwing 79.1 innings to lead the team. The Scotts Valley native posted a 3-10 record, tossed five complete games, struck out 38, and posted a 6.35 ERA. Rollins becomes the first Urban Knight to be named to the All-Region team after he batted .318 in 37 starts for the Knights last season. He went 35 for 110 with 11 runs, six doubles and 14 RBI. He also converted 10 of 14 steal attempts and walked 13 times.

The first pitch for the Knights will be February 9th, as they host Dixie State College in two doubleheaders at Laney College in Oakland.