Three University of Hawaii baseball players — relief pitcher Dylan Thomas, shortstop Maaki Yamazaki and catcher Kekai Rios — were named to the All-Big West first team.

Third baseman Ethan Lopez was selected to the second team. Outfielder Adam Fogel received honorable mention.

“Any time you make All-Big West first team, second team or honorable mention, it’s a great honor because of the strength of the league,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “I’m happy for those guys. It’s well deserved.”

Thomas, a third-year sophomore, amassed 14 saves, fourth-most nationally and No. 1 among Big West pitchers. Thomas finished with a 1.85 earned-run average. He averaged 9.9 strikeouts and 0.92 walks per nine innings. Thomas did not issue a walk until his 20th appearance. He ended with four walks in 39 innings.

“Just looking at the numbers, the guy, for all intents and purposes, was the definition of ‘lock-down closer,’ ” Trapasso said of Thomas.

Two years ago, Yamazaki, a Japan citizen, approached UH coach Mike Trapasso about joining the Rainbow Warriors as a non-scholarship player. Yamazaki redshirted in 2017 while trying to accumulate enough credits to qualify for NCAA-playing eligibility. As a junior this season, Yamazaki stabilized the defense with plays that ranged from standout to routine. He was involved in 37 of the 51 double plays the ’Bows turned. Yamazaki led the ’Bows with a .325 average.

“Maaki was a great player for us,” Trapasso said. “It started on the defensive end. And what he gave us offensively was tremendous.”

Yamazaki and Fogel were the only ’Bows to play in all 51 games. Yamazaki moved into the leadoff spot in the 12th game. He finished with a team-high 62 hits. He struck out only once every 15 at-bats.

Rios, a junior, was selected to the Big West team as a utility player. Rios played 14 games at third base after Lopez suffered a wrist injury in mid-March. Rios hit .241 in the first 17 games when he was suffering from an injury, but then batted .318 in 24 Big West games. He finished with a .270 overall average. He also handled a pitching staff that used eight different starters.

“That was a cool thing,” Rios said about being selected as a utility player.

Trapasso said: “Those games he played third base were big for us. It goes to his versatility and the value he brought to our club all year.”

Lopez, a junior, hit .279 despite the wrist ailment. In the final series of the season, Lopez went 7-for-12 (.583) against UC Santa Barbara.

Fogel, a sophomore, led the ’Bows in home runs (eight), triples (two), doubles (17), RBI (37), and slugging percentage (.526).