Fresno State Athletics
8/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
August 3, 2006
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| - Fresno State shortstop Christian Vitters was one of five athletes and coaches with Bulldog ties to receive an award in the first annual Central Valley ESPY awards, earning the nod as the top College Male Athlete of the Year. Vitters led the Bulldogs to their first postseason appearance in five years, and their first outright WAC championship in 15 years. Vitters, a shortstop from Anaheim, Calif., was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs, earning Freshman All-American honors at third base in 2004 before switching to his natural position of shortstop in 2005. Taking a larger leadership role in 2006, Vitters was third on the team with a .340 batting average, and tied for the team lead with 58 RBI, also hitting 11 home runs prior to the end of his season after an injury during a successful WAC tournament run, where the Bulldogs won the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. A semi-finalist for the Dick Howser award for the top baseball player in the nation, Vitters was named First-Team All-WAC for the second time in his career in 2006 as well as being named the Conference Player of the Year. In addition, Vitters was also named the Fresno State Male Athlete of the Year prior to receiving the ESPY. Joining the professional ranks following the season, Vitters signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics after being drafted in the 10th round of the 2006 MLB draft.
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