San Francisco senior pitcher Patrick McGuigan hopes his latest honor will translate into more team success as it plays in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

The 2002 Mid-Pacific graduate was named West Coast Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year after leading the Dons in victories, going 11-2 on the season with a 3.09 ERA. He had a conference-best three complete games and two shutouts.

"It's a good honor," McGuigan said. "It was a team effort, I didn't do it alone. It helps confidence-wise. At least you know what you're doing, especially when you don't know your competition."

USF opens against Miami in the Lincoln (Neb.) regional Friday. McGuigan will play against Kamehameha alum Nick Freitas, a freshman outfielder for the Hurricanes.

"I saw the roster, I remember him being on Kamehameha my senior year and hearing he wanted to go (to Miami)," McGuigan said of Freitas. "It's going to be crazy that we're meeting up in Lincoln.

"I think it's great for the state," McGuigan said of the Hawai'i players in the NCAA Tournament. "There's always been great baseball for the state. There's a lot of talent, and the more opportunities we have, the more chances we can show what we can do."

McGuigan is awaiting the upcoming draft and has spoken to the Toronto Blue Jays a few times.

"Hopefully, being in the starter role showed I can be a little more versatile," said McGuigan, the USF record-holder in career saves. "Hopefully, the numbers will speak for themselves."

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