Fick Beats Out Hinch as All-American Catcher

The respect Robert Fick sought all season finally came Thursday--hours before Cal State Northridge faced Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Division I West Regional.

Fick, the Matadors’ junior catcher, was named All-American by Collegiate Baseball magazine. The second-team catcher is Stanford’s A.J. Hinch, a first-team selection last season.

“I think I am the best catcher in the nation, but I say that knowing how great Hinch and a few other guys are,” Fick said. “I think I am the best, not because I’m trying to be cocky, but because if I didn’t think that way I wouldn’t be close.”

No other catcher has come close to matching Fick’s numbers this season. He entered Thursday’s game batting .420 with 24 home runs, 23 doubles, 88 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases. He leads the nation with 110 hits.

Northridge landed shortstop Adam Kennedy and left-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramirez on the third team.

“These guys are getting what they deserve,” Coach Mike Batesole said. “They finally are getting paid for all the work they put in.”

Kennedy, the Matador leadoff hitter, is second in the nation with 108 hits, and is batting .379 with 84 runs, 69 RBIs and 37 extra-base hits.

Ramirez is 13-1 with a 3.13 earned-run average. He has walked only 25 and struck out 89 in 115 innings.