Ogawa Named CCAC Player Of Year, Four Lakers Named All-CCAC

CHICAGO – Roosevelt junior Kekoa Ogawa was named the 2024 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference's Player of the Year on Thursday after putting together arguably the greatest offensive season in school history.

The Hawaii native set the program record for hits (77), runs batted in (55), doubles (19) and home runs (9) all while hitting .416, the second-best mark among those with at least 100 at-bats in a season. Ogawa also led the team with 21 stolen bases all while striking out just 11 times in 185 at-bats. In addition to his performances at the plate, Ogawa served as Roosevelt's closer and finished with a 3-2 record and five saves in 14 total appearances on the mound.

Ogawa is the first player in Roosevelt history to be named the conference's player of the year and the eighth player in program history to be honored as a first-team all-conference performer.

"Koa had an unreal season in four phases of the game," Roosevelt head coach Jason Becker said. "He was outstanding on the mound closing out games, great on the bases with over 20 stolen bases, great defensively getting to baseballs and saving runs, and especially outstanding at the plate. We knew we could count on him delivering on a daily basis."

The Lakers also had three players named to the All-CCAC second team, giving the program four total honorees on the postseason conference honor roll. It is the first career postseason honor for freshman second baseman Sebastian Casillas, senior outfielder Bryce Hayman and senior pitcher Omar Abuelhija. Hayman was also named to the Gold Glove team for his defensive work in centerfield.

Casillas came in and established himself as the Lakers' everyday second baseman, appearing in 49 of Roosevelt's 50 games this season. He ranked second on the team with a .348 batting average, driving in 32 runs, scoring 32 runs with 10 doubles and a pair of home runs to his credit.

After a successful first year with the Lakers in 2023, Hayman was even better for Roosevelt as a senior. He batted .306 with a program-record 55 runs scored, four homers, five triples and 31 RBIs while also stealing 19 bases. Hayman was arguably even better in the field, catching all 127 putout opportunities he was given and adding an assist as well for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

"Bryce was outstanding in the outfield covering from gap to gap and making tremendous plays to keep us in ball games," Becker said. "He was just as well deserving of his all-conference selection as well. Bryce was a leader for us on and off the field."

Abuelhija went a perfect 7-0 on the mound in 12 starts and led the team with 39 punchouts across 58 1/3 innings of work. His seven wins for the second most in Roosevelt history and easily the most without a loss in the program's history.

"Going undefeated in a season was pretty impressive and I am sure he had a chance at a couple more wins," Becker said. "Omar is a fast and efficient worker, and the team loves playing behind him. We knew when Omar went to the mound, we had a chance to win every day."