June 27, 2008

FRESNO, Calif.- - Fresno State baseball coach Mike Batesole continues to garner recognition after guiding his team to the programs first national title. It was announced on Friday that Batesole was named National Coach of the Year by "Collegiate Baseball" newspaper. This is the second National Coach of the Year award for Batesole this season as the College Baseball Writers also tabbed him with the same honor. Batesole also earned National Coach of the Year accolades by "Collegiate Baseball" in 1998 when he led Cal-State Northridge to a 37-19 record.

It was also announced on Friday that Batesole was selected as the ABCA West Region Division I Coach of the Year.

Batesole led the Bulldogs to their first national championship with a 6-1 win over Georgia in capturing the College World Series. What made the accomplishment even greater was that all 10 of Fresno State's post-season wins came against teams ranked in the top 20, including its final seven wins over national seeds, defeating No. 2 North Carolina twice, No. 3 Arizona State, twice, No. 6 Rice and No. 8 Georgia twice.

Fresno State was forced to play elimination games six times during regional, super regional and College World Series contests. And each time, the Bulldogs came through with victories.

Batesole is the first coach to win a College World Series title in his first appearance at the CWS since Pepperdine's Andy Lopez did it in 1992. He is just the 11th head coach to win a College World Series in his first appearance and only the fourth since 1962.

Batesole finished his sixth season as head coach at Fresno State and has won Western Athletic Conference titles the last three seasons and has orchestrated six consecutive nationally ranked recruiting classes, according to "Collegiate Baseball" newspaper.

Previous "Collegiate Baseball" National Coaches of The Year include:
. 2007: Pat Casey, Oregon St.
. 2006: Pat Casey, Oregon St.
. 2005: Augie Garrido, Texas
. 2004: George Horton, Cal. St. Fullerton
. 2003: Wayne Graham, Rice
. 2002: Augie Garrido, Texas
. 2001: Jim Morris, Miami (Fla.)
. 2000: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
. 1999: Jim Morris, Miami (Fla.)
. 1998: Mike Batesole, Cal. St. Northridge
Mike Gillespie, Southern Calif.
. 1997: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
. 1996: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.,
Andy Lopez, Florida
. 1995: Augie Garrido, Cal. St. Fullerton
. 1994: Larry Cochell, Oklahoma
. 1993: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
. 1992: Andy Lopez, Pepperdine
. 1991: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
. 1990: Steve Webber, Georgia
. 1989: Dave Snow, Long Beach St.
. 1988: Larry Cochell, Cal. St. Fullerton
. 1987: Mark Marquess, Stanford
. 1986: Jerry Kindall, Arizona
. 1985: Ron Fraser, Miami (Fla.)
. 1984: Augie Garrido, Cal. St. Fullerton
. 1983: Cliff Gustafson, Texas
. 1982: Ron Fraser, Miami (Fla.)
. 1981: Jim Brock, Arizona St.
. 1980: Jerry Kindall, Arizona