Ex-Knight Danny Bibona of UC Irvine Named Pre-Season Big West Pitcher of the Year.

Bibona Named Third-Team Pre-Season All-America by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper

Ex-Knight southpaw Daniel Bibona is Collegiate Baseball 's projected Big West Pitcher of the Year (January 2, 2009 issue). He was also named to CBN's All-America Third Team.

Bibona, who pitched for the 2007 Corvallis Knights, went 9-3 with a 3.08 ERA last spring for the Anteaters as a sophomore.

Daniel developed his plus change during his summer season with Corvallis where he went 2-2 with a 2.29 ERA over 11 appearances. The lefty struck out 39 over 35 1/3 innings pitched and was named All-WCCBL honorable mention.

Bibona was one of ten Knights' alums recognized by CBN in its 2009 College Baseball preview issue.

2008 All-WCCBL closer Taylor Starr (pictured) of Oregon State was listed as a Pac-10 Top Player to Watch. Other ex-Knights listed as Pac-10 Top Players to Watch were senior southpaw Matt Way, who pitched for the 2007 Knights with Bibona, and senior outfielder Jared Prince, who played for the 2006 Knights, of Washington State.

Senior Ian Bridges of Sonoma State was named West Region pre-season DII All-American. Bridges hit .240 for last summer's WCCBL champs.

Sophomore Richie Jimenez of Riverside CC was named Southern California pre-season JC All-America. Jimenez started at shortstop for the Knights last season and was named second-team All-WCCBL.

2008 reliever Ben Rue of Concordia, a senior, was listed as a top right-handed pitcher to watch in the NAIA.

Junior Nick Akins of Vanguard, who played for the 2007 Knights, was listed as a top outfielder to watch in the NAIA.

Seniors Jordan Post of Pacific Lutheran University and Kyle Stalker of Willamette University were listed as top first basemen to watch in DIII. Post played for Corvallis in 2007 and Stalker played first base and outfield for last season's team.