Sims Gets Whacked by WAC : Baseball: Northridge catcher left off all-conference team despite posting better numbers than Fresno St.’s Johnson.

Cal State Northridge catcher Mike Sims posted a higher average, drove in more runs, and hit more home runs than Fresno State’s Todd Johnson, but Johnson on Wednesday was named catcher on the Western Athletic Conference’s All-Western Division team.

“That’s the biggest fiasco,” Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said. “Sims’ numbers are better and he is better. That is completely unrealistic and stupid.”

The team was selected by WAC West coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own players. Third baseman Andy Small and shortstop Andy Hodgins were the only Matador players honored.

Sims, a four-year starter from Alemany High who has called all the pitches since his freshman season, was seventh in the WAC West in batting average at .373. Johnson, a four-year starter for the champion Bulldogs, batted .348.

In 24 WAC games, Sims drove in 21 runs to Johnson’s 18 in 22 games. Sims hit five home runs and was second in the WAC West with 38 hits. Johnson homered twice and had 31 hits.

Sims threw out 11 of the 32 base runners who attempted to steal on him. Johnson threw out 10 of 23. Sims made no errors in WAC play, Johnson made three.

“He’s a way better catcher,” Kernen said. “There wouldn’t be any question that he’s better defensively, and he also has better offensive numbers.”

Small led the WAC West with eight home runs, 29 runs batted in, and an on-base percentage of .500. The senior from Riverside tied for the lead in runs with 22 and was second in walks (23) and in slugging percentage (.724).

Hodgins, a senior from Simi Valley High, led the WAC West in hits with 39 and was second in batting average at .394.

Cal State Sacramento’s Roland De La Maza, formerly of St. Genevieve High and College of the Canyons, was one of three pitchers named to the WAC West team. De La Maza led the division in strikeouts with 59 and posted the fourth-lowest earned-run average, 3.88.