University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
David Berg Named NCBWA District IX Player of the Year
LOS ANGELES – UCLA senior closer David Berg has been named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District IX Player of the Year, it was announced today by the NCBWA.
Berg is one of 10 recipients of the award, joining District I: 2B Mike Garzillo (Lehigh); District II: 1B Connor Panas (Canisius); District III: SS Dansby Swanson (Vanderbilt) & SP Carson Fulmer (Vanderbilt); District IV: SP Mike Shawaryn (Maryland); District V: RP Tyler Jay (Illinois); District VI: SP Michael Freeman (Oklahoma State); District VII: OF Andrew Benintendi (Arkansas); District VII: 2B Ryan Howell (Nevada).
Earning Louisville Slugger first team All-American honors, Berg became the fourth UCLA pitcher, and third in the last five seasons, to be named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year this season. A semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, Berg went 7-1 with a 0.68 ERA (3rd in the nation) and 13 saves over 43 appearances (1st in the nation). The Covina, Calif. native recorded 65 strikeouts and eight walks in 66.2 innings, posting the nation’s eighth best strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.13/1). In Pac-12 play, Berg allowed just one earned run, posting a 5-0 record with 0.22 ERA and eight saves in 22 appearances.
Leading the Bruins to the final of the Los Angeles Regional, Berg threw five scoreless innings over three appearances in postseason play. The right-hander struck out a team-high nine batters, earning one save.
A finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award and Dick Howser Trophy, Berg set the new NCAA record for career appearances at 175 and finished just four saves away from tying the NCAA record for career saves. Berg pitched a career-high six innings twice this season and threw one perfect inning on May 15 to pair with James Kaprielian for the program’s first ever no-hitter. The Bishop Amat High School alum was named to the All-Pac-12 first team in all four seasons in Westwood, joining Cal’s Lance Blankenship (1983-1986) and Oregon State’s Pete Rowe (1974-1977) as the only players to achieve that feat.