Junior David Popkins becomes third Aggie to be recognized as a Division I all-region selection

June 28, 2011

Complete List of West Region Selections

Designated hitter David Popkins hit .321 with a .459 slugging percentage in 2011.

DAVIS, Calif. – Designated hitter David Popkins was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings West Region Second Team, it was announced Tuesday.

The junior, who earned All-Big West Conference first team honors for the second straight year, led UC Davis in nearly every offensive category and started 53-of-54 games during the 2011 season. He finished the year with a .321 batting average and a .459 slugging percentage, ninth-best in the Big West. Popkins also posted a team-best 63 hits and 23 RBI to go with 22 runs, nine doubles and four home runs. A standout performance from Popkins against Long Beach State on Apr. 9 helped UC Davis win its first series of the season. He went 2-for-4 with five RBI and two triples in the 11-1 victory.

Popkins, a native of San Diego, also made 13 appearances on the mound for the Aggies, allowing only seven runs, three of which were earned, on 13 hits in 19.2 innings of work.

The West Region encompasses 36 Division I schools with each coach nominating their players for recognition, then voting to select a first and second All-West Region Team.

Popkins becomes only the third Aggie to earn NCAA Division I all-region honors after Daniel Descalso and Jake Jefferies were each selected in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Descalso was a first team honoree while Jefferies earned a spot on the second team.

link to story on the web: http://www.ucdavisaggies.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/062811aaa.html