Sixteen years after being named the CIF-San Diego Section Division II Player of the Year at Monte Vista High, Brooks Conrad slugged his first home run as a member of the Padres. (San Diego Padres courtesy photo)
Remember When... Brooks Conrad belted a pinch-hit, walk-off grand slam off a defenders' glove for Atlanta in 2010. VIDEO
Conrad homered in the 7th inning off Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, who fired a no-hitter against the Padres just 11 days ago. Conrad took the ball out to right-center field to make it 3-1 and end Lincecum's shutout streak against San Diego.
Conrad was signed after an injury to shortstop Everth Cabrera, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring suffered in Monday's game with Cincinnati.
With only three infielders on the big league roster, the Padres elected to purchase the contract of the journeyman third baseman from Triple-A El Paso, where Conrad has a slash line of .275/.347/.526 with 18 homers, tied for second most in the Pacific Coast League.
Conrad played the 2013 season in Japan . He debuted in the Majors with Oakland in 2008, then spent three years in the Braves organization.
At Monte Vista, Conrad was the CIF-San Diego Section Division II Player of the Year in 1998. He was also a two-time member of the All-East County team (1997-98).
SDSU bullpen ace Michael Cederoth (Baseball America courtesy photo)
Cederoth becomes the 13thmember of the Aztecs in program history to receive All-America honors and the fifth to be selected to a first-team squad.
Cederoth, a right-hander from Steele Canyon High, served as the Aztecs' closer as a junior this year after performing in a starting role his first two years at SDSU. In 2014 he has compiled a record of 6-2 with 20 saves and a 2.28 earned run average. He has struck out 55 batters over his 51.1 innings of work and foes are batting just .205 against him.
After starting the season opener (a loss) at San Jose State , Cederoth was moved to the bullpen where he became the Aztecs' closer. Since that loss on opening day, he has a record of 6-1 with a 1.89 earned run average along with his 20 saves. That save total equals the SDSU record set by Addison Reed, currently the closer for the Arizona Diamondbacks, in 2009.
He was named to the all-Mountain West first team after recording eight saves with a 2-1 record and a 2.08 earned run average in league contests. He led the conference in saves both overall and in league play and opponents his just .198 against him in league games. He is a two-time Mountain West Pitcher of the Week this season.
Cederoth named semifinalist for Dick Howser Trophy
In 28 appearances out of the bullpen since starting the season opener at San Jose State, Cederoth, a graduate of Steele Canyon, has compiled a record of 5-0 along with 19 saves and a 2.08 earned run average while recording 53 strikeouts over 46.2 innings pitched. His save total ranks third in the nation entering the week.
This is the 28th year of the Dick Howser Trophy presented by Easton Foundations. The finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 5. The 2014 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha , the home of the College World Series for the fourth year. The winner will be unveiled on Saturday, June 14 at 10 a.m. CT, the opening day of the 2014 CWS.
Cederoth is also on the watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award, presented annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
He follows in the footsteps of a pair of former Aztec hurlers. STEPHEN STRASBURG (West Hills) won the Dick Howser Trophy in 2009 while Addison Reed was named the NCBWA Stopper of the Year that same season.
Cederoth Earns Second MWC Pitcher of the Week Award
At Long Beach State on Tuesday (May 6), Cederoth gave up an unearned run on an error that tied the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, but remained in the contest and picked up the win after his teammates rallied for three runs in the 9th. He ended the contest by striking out the final two batters.
Cederoth then recorded saves in each of the final two contests vs. UNLV this past weekend. On Saturday (May 10), he went the final 2.2 innings allowing just a walk. He had three strikeouts including on two of the final three hitters.
On Sunday (May 11), Cederoth tossed went the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit (the only one he allowed on the week), then got a double play grounder to end the contest.
Over his 6.2 innings for the week, Cederoth had a 0.00 earned run average with six strikeouts and opponents hit just .053 against him. The saves were his 18th and 19th of the season, moving within one of the Aztecs single-season record of 20 set by Addison Reed during the 2009 campaign.
San Diego State will close out its regular season with a three-game series at Fresno State this weekend. The Aztecs will then move on to the Mountain West Tournament hosted by UNLV May 21-25.
Foothills Christian alum Lewis earns Gold Glove award
On the hill Lewis finished with a 4-6 record and a
3.79 ERA in 61 2/3 innings. After moving to the mound
from behind the plate, he also earned all-conference
honorable mention honors for Avila.
Jenner, a catcher for the University of San Diego,
was also named West Coast Conference player of the week.
The Steele Canyon High product turned in a remarkable
week, hitting .769 (10-for-13) with one double, one
home run and five RBI. His offense helped lead USD to
a 4-0 record this past week, lifting the Toreros into
second place in the WCC standings.
Jenner capped the week with a perfect 3-for-3 performance
– including his first homer with the Toreros –
to help USD complete the sweep against Gonzaga.
Potter doubles his pleasure Sets SDSU record with four 2-base hits
Potter, a member of the All-East County team in 2010 while with the Foothillers, also drove in two runs and scored a pair in the shortstop's four plate appearances.
A four-year starter behind the plate as
a catcher at Denison , Jezierski was named
All-NCAC three times, including two first-team
honors. He earned second-team Academic All-American
laurels in 2006.
A first-team All-Mideast Region selection
in 2006, Jezierski capped off his career
with a .364 average after hitting a career-best
.402 in 2006. He drove in 31 runs, hit 11
doubles, had two triples and a career best
five home runs while leading Denison to
a 25-15 record. In four years, Jezierski
logged 161 hits, including 40 extra-base
knocks. He also drove in 84 runs and scored
138 times. Jezierski still holds four school
records.
As a result of this All-Region First Team
selection in 2006, he competed as one of
the six best small college catchers for
All-American honors, and earned a free agent
tryout with the San Diego Padres –
to cap to a college career.
Conyers stays on roll, clouts walkoff homer in Top
25 battle
Conyers, a sophomore, clouted a walk-off 2-run homer
in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the No. 24
USD Toreros past No. 8 Cal State Fullerton, 5-3, in
a non-conference game at Fowler Park.
With two outs, Josh Goossen-Brown got things started
with a single through the left side. Conyers then stepped
to the plate, and sent a fastball over the right field
fence to lift the Toreros (11-4) to victory, their third
straight against a ranked opponent. Fullerton fell to
8-6.
Conyers, a sophomore left-hander, posted a strong start
against Baylor, helping the Toreros gain a berth in
the Baseball America national rankings. Conyers carried
a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Bears.
After surrendering a single, Conyers did not allow
another hit for the remainder of this outing, as he
racked up eight strikeouts, in picking up the first
win of the season. Conyers managed to retired 10 of
his final 11 batters he faced.
For the season, USD started 8-1 -- the second-best
start in school history -- gaining a No. 24 rankings.
As a freshman, Conyers was tabbed MVP of the WCC Tournament,
tossing a complete-game shutout over San Francisco in
the championship game, recording nine strikeouts.
IN
MEMORIAM
CHRISTIAN "CHRIS" FRANCO
It's celebration time
when Chico State captured the school's second
national crown,
claming the 1999 NCAA Division II baseball
championship in Montgomery, Ala. (Chico State courtesy photo)
CHRISTIAN "Chris" FRANCO, who
just turned 37 on Tuesday, was killed when
his vehicle was struck by another car in
a pileup just before 2 a.m., closing the
northbound lanes for more than five hours.
CHP reported that the left side's of Franco's
Jaguar was completely tore off. A woman
driving another vehicle involved in the
crash was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
Franco was a member of the Chico State University
baseball team which captured the 1999 NCAA
Division II national championship. He also
was a starting left fielder for the San Diego
Stars semipro baseball team, which finished
in third place at the National Baseball Congress
World Series that summer.
"Chris was a reak good ballplayer who
was a happy, go-lucky guy," said Stars
owner/manager MICKEY DUETSCHMAN. "He
was friends with lots of the players, then
remains friends and stayed on contact with
them after he left the ballclun."
A product of Sweetwater High School, where
he served as a team captain as a senior
in 1996, Franco became an all-Pacific Coast
Conference performer at Southwestern College
in 1998, where he gained notice by Chico
State coaches.
With the Wildcats, he became known as a
clutch performer during their title run,
batting .447 with runners in scoring position,
including 9-for-10 with a runner at third
base and less than two outs. After sharing
the starting left field duties with two
others in 1999, he became a full-time starter
in 2000 at left and center field, plus designated
hitter, finishing with a 343 career average
(.497 slugging percentage), with three home
runs.
Aztecs pitcher Cederoth
named preseaon All-America
Cederoth is being projected as a top 10 draft pick in
MLB's June draft.
A 6-foot-6 hard throwing right-hander, Cederoth has
been a member of the Aztecs' starting rotation during
his first two seasons at SDSU, was a second-team all-Mountain
West Conference selection in 2013. He led the league
in strikeouts both overall and in conference contests.
His 109 strikeouts last season rank ninth on the SDSU
single-season list.
Cederoth was also named the Mountain West Pitcher of
the Week after tossing eight shutout innings in a 2-0
win over Nevada.
Conyers was a dominant, two-way high school player for El Capitan for four years, and earned acclaim as the California prep player of the year as a senior by going 9-2, 1.07 with 131 strikeouts in 82 innings, while also stinging the ball at a .394-5-26 clip.
Despite those credentials, Conyers was passed over in the 2012 draft and was also forced to wait his turn, for the most part, as a freshman at USD by working primarily in a set-up role. In 17 appearances, he went 3-2, 5.70. His first real opportunity to showcase his talent beyond the high school level came this summer in eight starts for Danville, where he passed with flying colors by posting a 5-1, 1.53 record with 18 walks and 60 strikeouts in 41 innings on his way to earning a nod as the league’s all-star lefthander and No. 1 prospect.
He also managed to get in 22 at-bats, and hit .273-0-5. For a young lefthander with a strong, physically-mature 6-foot-5, 230-pound build, Conyers was ahead of the game with his ability to throw three pitches for strikes in almost any count, including a fastball at 89-91 mph. By adding strength to his big, physical frame, Conyers should only throw harder in time.
For now, his most advanced pitch is probably his changeup because of his ability to throw it with the same arm speed and from the same arm slot as his fastball. His slider is his best breaking ball. Conyers gives the impression of airing out his stuff, but is also construed as being sneaky quick because of the deception he creates in his delivery. He hides the ball well and opens up late, making it difficult to pick up his pitches, especially for left-handed hitters.
But possibly the quality that stands out most about
Conyers is his mature mound presence. He has an advanced
feel for setting up hitters and adjusting to various
sequences late in games.
The Dans posted the best overall record in the Prospect
League this season, largely on the strength of an outstanding
pitching staff led by Conyers, the league’s No.
1 prospect, but weren’t able to withstand his early
departure and went quietly in the playoffs, losing two
straight semi-final games to Quincy.
Conyers, who played for the Danville (Ill.) Dans in
the 10-team league was named the Prospect of the Year.
Judish, who played for the Hannibal (Mo.) Cavemen,
was tabbed the league’s Fireman of the Year.
Conyers posted a 1.53 ERA with a 5-1 record and 60
strikeouts in 41 innings for Danville . Judish, meanwhile,
logged a 0.94 ERA with a 3-1 record and 6 saves.
The balloting was done electronically through each
of the League’s 11 managers. The annual Award Winners:
A week after the West Virginia Miners claimed their
second Prospect League Championship, 2 games to no games
for the Quincy Gems. From Opening Day through the All-Star
Game hosted by the Butler Blue Sox to an exciting finish
to the season’s end, 2013 has been an awesome fifth
season for the Prospect League.
A pair of Granite Hills High
alums now playing in the Pacific 12 Conference: Daniel
Starwalt (left) of Stanford, and
Brian Carroll of 2013 NCAA College
World Series Division I national champion
UCLA. (GHHS courtesy photo)
NCAA
Super Regional – Friday
UCLA 5, CS Fullerton 3
(10 inn.) CF
BRIAN CARROLL (Granite Hills) scores winning
run, and makes a great circus catch (at 2:20 mark
on this GAME
STORY)
DeRosier struck out 41 batters in 45 innings while
posting a 4-3 record with a 4.20 ERA for Southwestern
College this past spring. In two appearances with the
Stars, he had a 1-1 record with 9 K's in six innings.
At El Capitan in 2012, the senior led East County with
a 0.91 ERA while going undefeated in four decisions.
In addition, he posted six saves, the second-highest
total by a Grossmont Conference pitcher this century.
Despite his credentials, DeRosier only gained a second-team
berth on the coaches' All-Grossmont Valley League team,
ranked behind teammates TROY CONYERS (the two-time CIFSDS
player of the year), KEVIN GINKEL and SHANE COLEMAN.
Nesovic, the designated hitter for UC Santa Barbara,
registered a .343 batting average to rank eighth
in the Big West, while notching the conference's
ninth-best on-base percentage at .414.
Following the conclusion of the regular season,
the La Mesa resident ranked fourth on the Gauchos
with 61 hits and tied for third with 33 RBI. The
diaper dandy also contributed on the mound for
UCSB, tossing 51.0 innings with a 4-3 record and
4.76 ERA.
Nesovic was also an honorable mention to the
All-Big West team, as selected by conference coaches.
With the Stars last summer, Nesovic was noted
as the winning pitcher when the ballclub clinched
a National Baseball Congress World Series berth.
He combined with LUCAS WHITMORE on a 5-hit shutout
of defending regional titlist South Bay (Chula
Vista) System to claim the NBC Western Regional
championship.
A sophomore designated hitter for Judson University,
Balough led the CCAC in RBI (76), doubles (19),
total bases (118) and walks (40). Batting .376
with a slugging percentage of .554 with 83 hits,
Balough proved to be a tremendous offensive threat.
Nationally, Balough sits at No. 2 in the NAIA
in RBI, \No. 16 in doubles, No. 18 in hits and
No. 20 in total bases.
Balough was a two-time All-East County performer
in 2010-11 for the Sultans.
2013 MLB FREE AGENT DRAFT – Day 3 (Rounds
11-40)
By Mark Meadows
East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-9-13) — Grossmont College's BILLY FLAMION,
El Capitan High alum MATT DeROSIER and Valhalla High's
RAMSEY ROMANO, all had their names called on Day 3 of
the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft held
Saturday (June 8).
Flamion was selected in the 15th round by the Los Angeles
Dodgers, while De Rosier was picked in the 24th round
by the Washington Nationals. Romano later went to the
Chicago Cubs in the 35th round.
Flamion, a transfer from the University of Oregon,
logged only 7 innings of mound time for the Griffins
while striking out 9. It seemed unlikely that would
be enough to warrant a 15th round pick. But two weeks
ago, Flamion attended a Dodgers' tryout camp featuring
former L.A. manager Tommy Lasorda.
"Lasorda told Billy that he had a major league
curveball 'right now', said Grossmont head coach RANDY
ABSHIER. "He (Lasorda) even asked Billy how he
gripped it, and if he would like to sign with the Dodgers
(if drafted)."
De Rosier was a freshman for Southwestern in 2013.
The right-hander struck out 41 batters in 45 innings
for the Jaguars posting a 4-3 record with a 4.20 ERA.
Valhalla's Romano was the lone East County high school
player chosen in this year's draft. Tomano, bound fir
the University of Michigan if he doesn't sign, .356
with 2 home runs and 15 RBIs, leading the Norsemen to
the CIF San Diego Sectrion Division 1 semifinals.
Trevor Frank
Aaron Griffin
Frank, Griffin, selected
in MLB Draft Day 2
By Mark Meadows
East County Sports.com
SEACAUCUS, N.J. (6-8-13) — Former East County standouts
TREVOR FRANK and AARON GRIFFIN – both pitchers
– were the first two players with East County ties
taken in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft,
held Friday (June 7) from the MLB television studios.
Frank, a product of Valhalla High, was tabbed in the
8th round (No. 231 overall) by the Cleveland Indians.
Griffin, a Grossmont High alum, was selected by the
Tampa Bay Rays in the 10th round (No. 308).
For three seasonsmFrank was a starting pitcher at UC
Riverside before moving into the closing role this past
season as a senior. Frank posted a 4-2 record with 10
saves, striking out 44 hitters in 44 innings.
Griffin spent his first three years as a reliever/starter
for Loyola Marymount of the West Coast Conference. But
in 2013, starting exclusively, he went 4-5 with a 3.07
ERA for the Lions.
Across the County
USD record-breaking slugger Kris Bryant (No. 2 overall)
and Madison High's Ian Clarkin (33rd) were taken in
the first round.
Rancho Bernardo High saw Trevor Williams (currently
at Arizona State) and current Broncos senior Gosuke
vKatoh were taken in the second round, Meanwhile, another
RB product, Cal State San Marcos' James Dykstra, was
selected in the sixth round to become the highest-drafted
player in Cougars history,
Cathedral Catholic's Steven Gonsalves and USD's Dylan
Covey were selected in the fourth round.
The draft continues with Rounds 11-40 on Saturday at
10:00 a.m. with streaming video on MLB.com.
2013 MLB FREE AGENT DRAFT
Few top prospects expected to get the call
Those at the top of the East County list include Granite
Hills pitcher-center fielder TRENTON BROOKS and Grossmont
corner infielder DEREK RUSTICH. Grossmont College shortstop
KYLE HOLDER is also on several ballclubs’ draft
lists, as is catcher Grossmont High/Southwestern College
catcher CODY SOS.
Christian High/UC Riverside infielder EDDIE YOUNG,
who now starts for the San Diego Stars semipro baseball
team, is also on the draft board.
Other possibles include Steele Canyon/Grossmont College
catcher JESSE JENNER.
Elsewhere, Madison pitcher-center fielder Ian Clarkin
is tabbed to go early in the first round. University
of San Diego power hitter Kris Bryant should make big
money, while Rancho Bernardo’s middle infielder
Gosuke Katoh will go probably as early as the second
round.
Bonita Vista fireball Matt Ball should draw plenty
of attention as well.
Cathedral Catholic’s Stephen Gonsalves will sign
if he goes higher than his projected third round slot.
If the money isn’t there he says he will attend
Palomar College .
Of course there are always an abundance of surprise
picks, so stay tuned.
Live Draft coverage from MLB Network (Cox Cable 330)
begins at 4 p.m., with the top 73 picks being streamed
on MLB.com and broadcast on MLB Network, starting with
Houston at No. 1 overall.
Rounds 3-10 will be streamed live on MLB.com on Friday
(June 7), beginning with a preview show at 12:30 p.m.,
and Rounds 11-40 will be streamed live on MLB.com on
Saturday (June 8), starting at 1 p.m.
Troy Conyers
Conyers pitches USD to WCC crown USD wins WCC Tourney title with 2-0 win over USF
In his first collegiate start on the mound, Conyers,
a freshman left-hander, tossed a complete-game shutout,
lifting USD to the West Coast Conference tournament
title after stopping San Francisco, 2-0, on Saturday
(May 25) at Banner Island Ballpark.
USD (35-23) now advances to the NCAA regionals, probably
to the site hosted by UCLA. The NCAA selection show
is Monday at 9 a.m. on ESPNU to identify the tournament
field.
Conyers (2-2), in his first collegiate start, completely
dominated the Dons, as he allowed no runs, on just two
hits, while striking out a career-high nine batters.
Conyers is only the second USD pitcher this season to
toss a complete game shutout.
Offensively for the Toreros, Austin Green led the way,
as he went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Kris Bryant
also went 2-for-4 with a double.
Four Toreros earned All-Tournament honors, highlighted
by Conyers being named the MVP of the tournament.
A Grossmont HS alum, Secciani was selected to the Association
of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Championship
Most Outstanding Player after helping the Cougars to
their second A.I.I. title in the past three seasons
on Friday, joining 11 other standouts on the West Coast
in being named Academic All-District.
The 2013 Capital One Academic All-District Baseball
Teams, selected by the College Sports Information Directors
of America (CoSIDA), were released to recognize the
nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances
athletically and in the classroom.
Secciani, a Business major, holds a 3.37 cumulative
GPA over his four years at CSUSM while excelling on
the field of competition. He advances to the Capital
One Academic All-America Team ballot where first-, second-
and third-team All-America honorees will be selected
later this month.
The Cougars' everyday center-fielder the past four
seasons, Secciani is the school's all-time leader in
runs, triples, walks and stolen bases. In addition,
he sits in CSUSM's career top 10 in batting average
games played, hits, doubles, RBI, total bases and fielding
percentage. He's batted over .300 in three of his four
seasons.
This year, Secciani is hitting .306 with 32 RBI, 30
runs, six doubles, five triples and a home run. In addition,
he's stolen 17 of the 20 bases attempts.
The Cougars have won a school-record 35 games (35-10)
and have been ranked in the Top 25 every week of the
season, reaching as high as No. 3 on March 26.
The Cougars are awaiting their assignment for the NAIA
Baseball Opening Round. The field will be announced
on Monday (May 6).
The Highlanders (13-9) opened Big West Conference action
over the weekend with a 3-game sweep of 21st-ranked
UC Irvine. UCR has now won four straight and seven straight
at home in taking the early conference lead.
UCR shortstop EDDIE
YOUNG (Christian HS) is batting just .229 this season,
yet his on-base percentage tops the ballclub at .471
because he's the runaway leader with 21 walks, including
six over his last three starts.
Meanwhile, pitcher TREVOR
FRANK (Valhalla) is the ace of the bullpen, owning
a perfect 3-0 record with six saves in 12 appearances.
Young and Frank, both seniors, have one remaining collegiate
ballgame scheduled in San Diego on Tues., Apr. 23,
whtn UCR goes to Fowler Park to meet the USD Toreros.
Opening Night at Fowler Park,
the new baseball field at USD. (USD courtesy photo)
Aztecs' Cederoth
gains pitching win in debut of USD's Fowler Park
The sophomore right-hander struck out six batters
and yielded just one earned run over five innings,
leading visiting San
Diego State past the 12th-ranked Toreros, 8-1,
to kick off the 2013 season before a sellout crowd
of more than 1,700 fans Friday (Feb. 15) night.
"I'll always be able to tell my kids and
my grandkids that I won the first game here,"
said Cederoth, a member of the 2011 All-East County
first team. "It's always good to play spoiler."
Junior right-hander Justin Hepner came on in
relief and shut out USD over the game's final
four innings to garner the save.
"My defense was awesome," Cederoth
added. "There were some areas where I needed
some defense and it was there. Ty France 's unbelievable
glove, (catcher) Jake Romanski with his arm. That
was unbelievable. To have those guys back there,
I knew that I could just throw strikes. I didn't
have to do too much. That really helped knowing
those guys were there behind me."
The effort pleased Aztecs coach TONY GWYNN.
"You couldn't help but come into this game
looking at it as a big game, in the sense that,
new ballpark, national TV audience, big crowd,"
said Gwynn. "I thought (Cederoth) handled
it pretty good. And I thought our guys handled
this whole situation pretty good. We came out
and did the things we wanted to do."
UC Riverside answered back with two runs in the bottom
of the 8th, allowing Frank to claim the victory in an
8-7 decision over Utah Valley in Saturday's (Feb. 16)
game at the Palm Springs Baseball Tournament.
Frank needed to pitch an additional inning of relief,
but registered a strikeout to strand a Wolverines runner
at third base to garner the victory.
The Highlanders (1-3) then closed the weekend with
a pair of setbacks to 6th-ranked Oregon State, despite
a 3-for-7 (.429) batting performance by UCR shortstop
EDDIE
YOUNG (Christian High).
In the second game with the Beavers, Young walked in
the 9th – he led the entire Big West Conference
in base on balls in 2012 – then broke up a double
play at second base which allowed the tying run to score
and force extra innings. Oregon State eventually won,
5-4 in 11 innings.
CSU San Marcos takes opener
with East County assistance
The Cougars scored all four of their runs in the 3rd inning,
sinking the host Eagles' record to 2-2.
Secciani, a transfer from UC Riverside, opened the scoring
with a see-ing, ground single up the middle. Belzer aided
the rally with a clean single to left field to make it
3-0, then Secciani capped the outburst by scoring on a
sacrifice fly.
The ballclubs continue their series Saturday (Feb. 2)
at CSUSM Baseball Field with a doubleheader at 11:00 a.m.
Also on the CSU San Marcos roster is El Capitan alum BROOKS
NOBLE, a transfer from CSU Dominguez HIlls.
The team recently played five games in Cuba –
the first US sports team to go to the island nation
in 16 years. The Americans came away with a 2-3 record
in Cuba.
Having returned to the United States on Tuesday (July
10), the group is on its way to the Netherlands, where
they will be a part of an international tournament.
Courtesy, San Francisco Chronicle OAKLAND (6-25-12) — Derek Norris came to the
big leagues for the first time Thursday. A.J.
GRIFFIN (Grossmont High/ USD) made his major-league
debut Sunday (July 24). Together, the 23-year-old catcher
and the 24-year-old right-hander combined to prevent
the Giants from sweeping the A's in a three-game series
at the Coliseum. MOREPHOTOTV INTERVIEW
Hawksley, who spent his freshman season at USD before
transferring to Palomar College, where he batted .281
with a home run, nine doubles and 34 RBI in 31 games
this past spring.
Parsons, a three-year starter in baseball and basketball
at the prep level, will specialize for the Warriors
in baseball under head coach Jef Field at Midland.
“We are excited to have Alex join our baseball
program,” Field said. “We look forward to
watching him progress as a student athlete in the next
four years. We are optimistic he will develop into the
player we believe he can become in reaching his potential.”
Parsons, who batted .354 over his final two Wolf Pack
baseball seasons, was recognized as the West Hills 2012
Senior Male Athlete of the Year. He also participated
in the All-East County Senior All-Star basketball game,
while earning a handful more post-season honors following
his senior season.
On Sunday (May 13) – more than a century later
– the Rangers finally captured their first RMAC
baseball championship.
A pair of former Grossmont High standouts in STEVEN
BRAULT and MATT HEMPHILL contributed, as Regis defeated
tournament host Colorado State-Pueblo (formerly Southern
Colorado), 9-2, at Rawlings Field.
In the VIDEO, watch Brault, the Rangers' starting right-fielder,
throw out a Pueblo runner as the plate in the very first
inning. Meanwhile at the plate, Brault batted 6-for-19
(.315), including multiple hits in each of the final
three games.
The victory capped a 4-game sweep through the tournament.
The Rangers also topped Pueblo in the first round, 3-0,
then twice downed New Mexico Highlands, -42 and 3-0.
Regis (32-21) now advances to its first NCAA Division
II Central Regional since 1991. The Rangers will be
the sixth seed, meeting top-seeded Minnesota State in
the first round.
Homecoming at Montezuma Mesa Gwynn returns to Aztecs dugout;
Frank, Young start for UC Riverside
Meanwhile visiting UC Riverside saw two of its ballplayers
– starting pitcher TREVOR FRANK (Valhalla) and
shortstop EDDIE YOUNG (Christian) – get the start
before family and friends against the hometown Aztecs.
Gwynn, who underwent more than 12 hours of surgery
to remove cancerous growths from his jaw just days before
the college baseball commenced, made his first on-field
appearance of the season. Doctors are still limiting
his workload, but the Hall of Famer was obviously enjoying
a comfortable position on the diamond.
For Frank, it was his first outing at Tony Gwynn Stadium
since capturing the SDCIF Division III championship
in 2006.
In a memorable performance, Frank garnered his third
save of the week to stop Cathedral Catholic, 4-1, for
the San Diego Section crown. Entering the game in the
7th inning, the freshman struck out the side for the
first SDCIF baseball title in Valhalla history.
"That was the last time I ever pitched here –
I can't believe it's been almost six years," said
Frank, who tossed three solid innings in his start against
SDSU, leaving with a no-decision in a non-conference
game eventually won by the Aztecs, 7-3. "That was
a big day in my life."
Frank is now a junior at UC Riverside, majoring in
cultural media studies, a newer subject area indicative
with the changing world of media and the internet.
"I was majoring in business, but I've found cultural
media studies to be quite interesting, so I hope to
do something with film," he added. "You always
hope to get drafted, or else I'll come back."
"School is great and baseball is coming around.
I'm starting to get my pitches back, especially my slider."
Frank was not originally slated to pitch against the
Aztecs, but Sunday's rainout pushed his start back two
days.
He's been chewing up innings for the Highlanders over
the past two seasons, ranking second on the ballclub
in innings pitched, third in strikeouts (including a
career-high 10 against Loyola Marymount), and third
in earned run average.
Young, now a junior at UCR, nearly had his career cut
short by an injury which forced him to temporarily leave
school after being struck in the head by an errant baseball
during practice. Young, then a freshman, was left with
a fractured skull.
"It was scary -- I was hit in the temple,"
said Young. "But now I'm healthy – it's like
it never happened. I'm just playing ball and trying
to get back into the groove of things."
Young was forced to withdraw from UCR while rehabilitating.
Fortunately, the NCAA gave Young a fifth year of eligibility
because the injury was so devastating at the time.
"Everything is good right now," added Young,
who is now in his second season as the starting shortstop.
"I'm majoring in history, and you get a good education
in the UC system. And I get to play baseball, too, so
it's a win-win."
Young was drafted out of high school, so he's hoping
to get another look by a major league organization.
Young, a member of the All-East County first team and
All-CIF San Diego Section first team in 2008, was a
33rd-round pick of the Chicago White Sox that June.
San Diego State will join UCR in the Big West Conference
in the 2013-14 school year. Hawai'i joins the circuit
next season.
After the visiting Broncos assumed a 2-1 lead, USD
(21-6 overall, 3-0 WCC) bounced back with consecutive
basehits by A.J. Robinson and Haar, followed by an Andrew
Daniel double to even the score at 2-2. Kris Bryant
then moved the Toreros in front with a prodigious 3-run
home run to left-center field for a 5-2 lead.
For the contest, Haar went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI.
This season, Haar ranks among the team leaders in batting
with a .337 average. He leads the Toreros in doubles
(12) and is second in stolen bases.
Jenner, called up as a pinch hitter, blooped a basehit
to left field in the bottom of the 8th inning.
The Titans (2-3) then held on after the Horned Frogs
loaded the bases with no one out in the 9th, but Michael
Lorenzen came out of the bullpen to register a strikeout
and induce a 6-3 double play to escape unscathed.
Fullerton will host San Diego State on Tuesday (Feb.
28) in another non-conference game.
In a six-inning outing, Reed scattered 5 hits and allowed
only one earned run. He walked 3 and struck out 4.
He is rated the 23rd-best freshman in college baseball
by Baseball America.
The rookie was selected in the 40th round (1,221 overall)
of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. He helped
Helix to a 25-9 record and its first CIF San Diego Section
Division II Championship since 1988. He was named to
the Max Preps All-State second team, Cal-Hi Sports third
team, the San Diego Section first team, the All-East
County.com first team, and the Grossmont Hills League
first team.
As a senior, Reed logged a 9-1 record, 0.63 ERA and
90 strikeouts in 67 innings.
Nothing fishy about Pond
Six-foot-6 Cal State- San Bernardino senior right-hander
JOSH POND, a product of Santana High, is preparing for
a big season after being named a National College Baseball
Writers Association (NCBWA) third-team All-American
as a junior.
Pond set a Cal State-San Bernardino record and led
all NCAA Division II pitchers in saves with 16 in 17
opportunities. Although did not win a game he posted
a 1.54 ERA in 23 appearances.
Brault enjoys Rocky Mtn.High
A sophomore standout for the Regis University (Colo.)
Rangers, Grossmont High graduate STEVEN BRAULT began
the season with some added pressure. Brault was named
the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Baseball
Player of the Year as voted on by the eight conference
coaches.
The RMAC Freshman of the Year posted a .369 batting
average while starting 28 games at 1st base and 10 in
the outfield. He also chalked up a 3-7 record with one
shutout, 54 strikeouts and a 6.05 ERA.
Strasburg won't be AWOL from Nats camp San Diego State to retire his No. 37 this Friday
Don't worry, Strasburg will be okay – there's
something else on his agenda.
This Friday (Feb. 17), when San Diego State opens its
baseball season against Washington (The University of,
not the Nats), the former Aztecs All-America pitcher
will have his number retired (37) in pregame ceremonies
at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The ceremony will get underway at 5:45 p.m., with the
Aztecs-Huskies game starting at 6 p.m. All tickets for
this special night are priced at just $6.00.
In 2009, Strasburg was a consensus All-America selection
after posting a 13-1 record, including a no-hitter over
Air Force, with a 1.32 earned run average. That season
he struck out 195 batters in just 109 innings while
walking only 19.
Strasburg, a product of West Hills High, was the recipient
of the 2009 Golden Spikes Award as the nation's top
collegiate player. He was also named the National Pitcher
of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation and was
presented the Dick Howser Trophy as the nation's top
player. In addition, he was selected the National Player
of the Year by both Baseball America and Collegiate
Baseball.
Griffin emerged as a dominant Sunday starter over the
course of the year, finishing the season with a 7-3
record and a 2.99 ERA over nine starts and 19 appearances.
The 2.99 ERA ranks 10th in LMU's single season record
book. He dealt a pair of complete games, including one
complete-game shutout en route to 72.1 innings of work
on the hill. He struck out 47 hitters while holding
opponents to a .264 batting average against. In his
nine starts alone, Griffin sported a 2.89 ERA and a
4-2 record.
After batting just 1-for-14 in his first three games
as a midseason signee, Thomas erupted with a 3-for-5,
three RBI performance to fuel the Cats' offense against
the South Division rival El Paso Diablos in Wednesday's
(Aug. 24) American Association ballgame.
On three occasions with a runner in scoring position,
Thomas, a centerfielder, delivered a run-scoring basehit
in a 12-3 triumph. The contest opened a season-ending,
8-game homestand for the Cats at LaGrave Field.
Thomas signed on Sunday (Aug. 21) following an MVP
performance for the Roswell (N.M.) Invaders of the collegiate
Pecos League.
Thomas' career includes stops at Grossmont College
and Texas A&M Kingsville , along with semipro/summer
collegiate league stops with the San Diego Stars, the
Brazos Valley (Texas) Bombers, and the Invaders.
At ECVHS, Thomas established school and Grossmont Conference
records by stealing 50 bases as a senior in 2006, one
short of the CIF San Diego Section mark set by current
MLB standout Eric Chavez (Mt. Carmel, 1995).
Brault led the Lunkers in batting average nearly wire-to-wire,
hitting .330 with 2 home runs and 31 RBI. The freshman
out of Regis College in Denver also posted a 1.65 ERA
in five appearances on the mound this summer.
In Thursday’s (July 21) Brooklyn Cyclones 13-0
New York-Penn League rout of the Aberdeen (Md.)
Ironbirds, the Granite Hills High graduate fell
a triple short of hitting for the cycle, finishing
4-for-4 with five RBI. His major stroke was a three-run
home run in the latest victory.
East County hurlers Karstens, Correia pitch Pittsburgh
into NL Central Division lead
Funny, now, how they are now teammates at baseball’s
highest level. Fact is, the duo has combined for 19
wins thus far this season which has helped the Pittsburgh
Pirates move into a tie for the National League Central
Division lead with the St. Louis Cardinals heading into
Saturday’s (July 16) action.
Karstens, a 28-year-old right-hander, needed only 83
pitches to propel the Pirates into first place for the
first time this late in the season since July 17, 1997.
The veteran of parts of six major league seasons, Karstens
masterfully and efficiently wove through the Houston
Astros lineup on the way to his second career shutout
in a 4-0 Pirates win at Minute Maid Park.
“It's one of the best pitched games I've seen,”
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told MLB.com. “You
take into account the pitches thrown, 21 out of 30 first-pitch
strikes, and then you get the leadoff hitter six out
of nine innings, just a couple three-ball counts, 10
ground balls for 12 outs. Defense helped him a couple
times, but that was a masterful outing.”
That effort hoisted Karstens’ career-high win
total to 8 against 4 losses while lowering his ERA to
2.34 in 107.2 innings.
Karstens, who won his fifth straight decision, became
the first Pirate to accomplish the feat since Matt Capps,
who won eight straight from June-Oct. 2006. His 83 pitches
are the fewest among all Major League pitchers in a
nine-inning complete game this season.
A one-time New York Yankee, Karstens pitched a complete
game and dominated the Astros as he allowed only five
hits and really wasn’t ever in danger of losing
control of the game.
It was the 12th time in his last 13 starts that Karstens
was charged with two earned runs or less and over that
stretch he has allowed only 16 earned runs in 81 innings
pitched.
“My whole goal when I'm on the mound is to get
my team off the field as quick as possible, get them
back in to hit," Karstens told MLB.com. “A
lot of times when you do that, you look up and it's
the sixth inning. When you try and worry about what's
going to happen the rest of the game, a lot of times
you get yourself in trouble.”
Three of Karstens' last six starts have come against
the Astros, all resulting in victories. He has surrendered
just one run in 22 2/3 innings against Houston this
season.
The Astros managed just one hit through the first five
innings off Karstens.
Karstens' only other complete-game came on Aug. 6,
2008, when he blanked Arizona on just two hits.
"I think that game in Arizona is pretty hard to
compare to, but tonight it felt good, just to come out
and get us back on the right track where we were before
the All-Star break," Karstens said.
Correia finished the first half of the season 11-7
with a 4.01 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 116
2/3 innings. His 11 victories rank second in the NL,
but he owns a pedestrian 4.6 K/9 ratio which limits
his value. The 31-year-old right-hander's ERA has hovered
below 4.00 all season, but after yielding five runs
in his final start before the All-Star break, Correia's
ERA ballooned a quarter.
Griffin pitched the first seven innings for the win
and Brault, who is batting at a .353 clip (42-for-119),
toiled the final two innings to log the save. It was
Griffin ’s second win in as many decisions. He
owns a 2.79 ERA and has posted 22 strikeouts in 29 innings.
On Thursday (July 8), the Lunkers (21-11) split a doubleheader
against the River Bats at St. Cloud , taking the first
game 2-1 before falling 4-3 in the nightcap.
Grossmont alum BRYAN HAAR slugged a solo home run –
his team leading 4th of the summer for St. Cloud –
in the first game loss. The University of San Diego
third baseman is batting at a .348 clip (16-46) for
the River Bats.
He carried that prowess over to the NCAA Division I
level as a freshman outfielder at San Diego State University
this season.
Smith was named to the 2011 Louisville Slugger Freshman
All-America squad by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
of Tucson, Ariz. He earned second-team all-MWC accolades
this past season, batting .320 with 11 doubles, four
triples, two home runs, 30 RBI and 27 runs scored. He
was successful on 15 of 16 stolen base attempts while
leading the Aztecs in that category.
SDSU pitcher Cole Swanson of Torrey Pines, a second-team
all-Mountain West conference selection, was also named
to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper team. He posted
a 4-2 record with a 3.23 ERA over 15 appearances including
nine starts.
Smith and Swanson are the first Aztecs to earn the
honor from Collegiate Baseball since Brock Ungricht
in 2007.
A 5-foot-10, 185-pounder, Smith batted .302 with six
doubles, a pair of triples, 14 RBI and 14 runs scored
in MWC play. He did not commit an error in 24 MWC contests
and currently sports a .299 overall average with 11
doubles, four triples and 28 RBI. He has also been successful
on 14 of 15 stolen base attempts.
Wilson (Cathedral Catholic), who earned his award as
an outfielder, hit .315 in conference play with 10 doubles,
four home runs, 19 RBI and 15 runs scored in 24 contests.
Three of his homers came in a contest against Air Force
and tied the school single-game record. Overall, Wilson
is batting .255 while leading the team in doubles (16)
and home runs (5). His 32 RBI ranks second on the squad
as well.
San Diego State (21-34) opens play in the 2011 Mountain
West Conference tournament on Tuesday (May 24), with
a contest against UNLV scheduled for a 7 p.m. start
at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Loyola Marymount University
right-handed pitcher Aaron Griffin. (LMU courtesy photo)
Gay turned in easily the best pitching campaign
of any William Penn hurler, going 4-3 with team
bests in ERA (1.63), shutouts (3--1 complete,
2 shared), saves (3), innings pitched (66 1/3),
strikeouts (43), and opponent batting average
(.170). Nearly untouchable during the league slate,
opposition hit just .150 against the junior. In
13 total appearances this spring, Gay allowed
no runs or one run nine times.
Griffin made two starts last week, tossing 6 1/3 innings
and leaving with a 2-1 lead on Monday versus Cal State
Bakersfield. A Grossmont High graduate, Griffin allowed
an unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking
out a career-high eight batters.
On Sunday (May 15) at Saint Mary's, Griffin tossed
his second career complete game, and his first career
complete-game shutout, to improve to 6-3. The right-hander
threw 116 pitches, allowing six hits and one walk while
striking out six hitters. He retired 12 straight hitters
from the third out in the second through the second
out in the sixth.
Overall on the week, Griffin posted a 0.00 ERA and
a 1-0 record with a shutout and a complete game over
15.1 innings of work. He allowed just nine hits and
one unearned run over the two starts, allowing three
walks and striking out 14.
The selection from the WCC is the second in Griffin's
career, and it marks the seventh time that a Lions player
has been selected either Pitcher or Player of the Week
this year.
Whitmore dodged a couple of jams early, and then
got into a groove, retiring 16 straight Coyotes
batters. He retired KWU in order in the fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The southpaw
went the distance allowing a pair of earned runs
in nine innings, striking out seven and not walking
any batters. He improved to 9-2 on the season.
LCU (46-12) qualifies for the NAIA World Series
for a tenth time in program history.
Whitmore, a junior at LCU, played center field
as well as pitched for El Capitan in his senior
season.
In addition, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Brault was
selected the 2011 RMAC Baseball Freshman of the
Year.
Brault ranked 9th in the RMAC in batting average
(.372) and fifth in batters struck out (54).
Brault was 3-7 with an earned run average of
6.05. He also produced 55 hits, which tied for
16th.
Promotional material, courtesy,
Cal Poly Pomona
Taijeron voted CCAA Player of the Year First Cal Poly Pomona recipient in 20 seasons
A candidate for the 2011 NCAA Division II Player of
the Year, Taijeron is the fifth CPP player to be named
the MVP of the conference and the first since 1991.
A 6-foot-2 center fielder, Taijeron is at the top of
the league for most major offensive statistics, including
slugging percentage (.731 - 1st), on-base percentage
(.516 - 1st), homeruns (14 - 1st) and total bases (122
- 1st). His 14 home runs also ranks 18th nationally.
A former catcher and first baseman, Taijeron helped
the Broncos (30-19) secure a spot in the CCAA Tournament
by batting .459 in the final month of the regular season
Two other East County products earned All-CCAA honors.
First team recognition went to Santana High graduate
JOSH
POND, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound right-handed junior
closer at Cal State-San Bernardino. He finished with
16 saves that not only earned a school record, but tied
the single-season CCAA mark. He was successful in 16
of 17 save situations. Pond also posted a 1.54 ERA and
struck out 37 in 23 1/3 innings.
Receiving honorable mention was another former Santana
standout – pitcher BRANDYN
BELL, who racked up a 6-2 record with a 3.33 ERA
at Cal State-East Bay. The 6-foot-3 junior right-hander
topped the Pioneers with 44 strikeouts.
As a junior in 2010, Taijeron earned American Baseball
Coaches Association (ABCA) All-West Region Second Team
honors as an outfielder. He was also selected to the
All-CCAA Second Team after establishing the Broncos
season record for home runs with 16. He also logged
48 RBI and topped CPP with a .345 average.
At Grossmont College as a freshman, Taijeron paced
the Griffins in hitting .378 and registering an on-base
percentage of .483.
In three varsity seasons at Granite Hills, Taijeron
clubbed 33 home runs, notched 116 RBI and batted .345
(106-for-307).
MAY 23 UPDATE: Former Granite Hills slugger TRAVIS
TAIJERON finished his record-setting two-year Cal Poly
Pomona career with a .369 average, 34 doubles, 32 homeruns,
99 runs batted in, 78 walks and a .989 fielding percentage.
After matching his single-season program record with
16 home runs in 2011, he stands at second all-time with
his career mark of 32.
As great as his numbers read, Taijeron – a senior
outfielder who earned a berth on the All-NCAA West Region
team – could not carry the Broncos to a victory
in the NCAA Division II West Region title game that
would have led Cal Poly into the DII Championship Tournament.
Cal Poly Pomona suffered an 8-5 loss to Sonoma State
Sunday (May 22) in the West Region title game to end
a remarkable and record-setting season for the Broncos.
CPP finish the 2011 campaign with an overall record
of 36-23, the largest win total for the program since
1985 and the highest winning percentage (.610) since
1983.
Brault, a graduate of Grossmont High, threw the second
complete game of his career and improved to 3-4 on the
season. He allowed just four hits but didn't allow more
than one hit in any given inning. He walked just one
Oredigger and struck out a career-high seven batters.
On the season, Brault, a dual-threat for the Rangers,
has a 5.87 ERA and is third on the team throwing 38
1/3 innings. He leads the Rangers with 31 strikeouts
and has nearly a 3-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. Brault,
who also plays first base and outfield, is third on
the team with a .360 batting average and is second with
six doubles and third with 36 hits.
After the Statesmen dropped the first game to snap
a 5-game winning streak, Gay, a junior right-hander,
responded with the team's best pitching effort of the
season. Following just six appearances in relief, Gay
tossed a complete-game 2-hitter, walking just one in
allowing just three baserunners all contest.
Over the weekend, Young was instrumental in leading
the Highlanders to a 3-game sweep of Sacramento State
. Included in Young’s efforts was a leadoff single
in the 6th, eventually scoring the tie-breaking run
in Sunday's (Feb. 27) series-ending, 4-2 triumph.
In his last six starts, Young has lifted his batting
average to .346 during the stretch for UCR (4-4 overall).
The sophomore also collected a hit and a run scored
against USC during his hitting streak.
Young was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox
in the 33rd round of the 2008 MLB draft after leading
Christian High to the 2007 Central League crown, when
he was named the league's player of the year, then was
tabbed San Diego CIF Division IV player of the year
as a senior in 2008.
The games will be Thursday (Nov. 4), at 3 p.m., Friday
(Nov. 5), 3 p.m. and Saturday Nov. 6, at 1:30 p.m. Admission
is free.
These freshmen are part of the recruiting class, ranked
17th in the nation, for the San Diego State Aztecs.
The losing World Series team will host a free car wash
on Sunday (Nov. 7) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tony Gwynn
Stadium, with the public is invited to have their autos
cleaned free of charge.
Less than 48 hours following his first MLB victory
in a year, O'Sullivan, 22, was one of two pitchers
traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for
third baseman Alberto Callaspo, who was sent packing
to the Los Angeles Angels.
O'Sullivan currently owns a career record of
5-2, the same mark as former West Hills High and
San Diego State product STEPHEN STRASBURG.
Of course, the majority of the audience, including
the 47,775 fans at Yankee Stadium, was focused on seeking
a New York knockout.
After surrendering two runs and two hits in the first
inning, O’Sullivan – a product of Valhalla
High and Grossmont College – settled in to hold
the Yankees hitless over five innings to gain his first
pitching decision of the season as the Angels prevailed
10-2.
“He doesn't get rattled," Angels manager
Mike Scioscia said of O'Sullivan. "That's a tough
lineup. I thought Sean made some good adjustments as
the game went on."
O'Sullivan, who spoke with his parents – Paul
and Dina – before the game, said his 11th Major
League start had a different feel at the outset.
"As a kid, the Yankees are the biggest team,"
O'Sullivan said. "To get to pitch here, on their
mound -- the loneliest place on earth, they say -- it's
big.”
Filling in for injured starter Scott Kazmir, O’Sullivan
walked three and struck out four, while throwing 85
pitches.
“I didn't know I was starting until I got here
today," O'Sullivan said. "Butch [pitching
coach Mike Butcher] said he gave me a call yesterday,
but I didn't get it.”
O'Sullivan arrived in the Bronx from Triple-A Salt
Lake with reliever Trevor Bell, who ended up pitching
the ninth inning after O'Sullivan went six.
O'Sullivan, who had made four relief appearances for
the Angels while spending most of the season at Salt
Lake, held the Yankees to two runs on two hits and three
walks (one intentional) across six innings, striking
out four. He is 1-0, his ERA a sparkling 2.08.
The 22-year-old right-hander, who won his Major League
debut with a superb effort in San Francisco on June
16 of last year, pitched a no-hitter for Triple-A Salt
Lake earlier this season.
Nick Longmire
trots the bases
following his first
professional HR. (Howard Owens The
Batavian)
Longmire's fast pro start
Special to East County Sports.com
BATAVIA, N.Y. (6-28-10) — Although the Batavia
Muckdogs (4-6) are off to a so-so start in the Class
A New York Penn League, former Grossmont High slugger
NICK LONGMIRE is on a hitting rampage.
The Muckdogs’ center fielder and No. 5 pick of
the St. Louis Cardinals, Longmire leads the league in
six offensive batting categories through 10 games. That
includes hits (15), triples (3), home runs (3) and RBI
(16). His .405 batting average is No. 2 in the circuit.
MORE
Longmire takes first step in pros
Special to East County Sports.com
BATAVIA, N.Y. (6-21-10) — Fresh off signing a professional
baseball contract as a 5th round draft choice of the
St. Louis Cardinals, former Grossmont High standout
NICK LONGMIRE has made an immediate impact for the Class
A Batavia Muckdogs of the New York Penn League.
Batavia’s fans fell in love with the East County
center fielder instantly.
In the Muckdogs’ home opener on Saturday (June
19), Longmire clubbed a home run, two doubles, and had
a sacrifice fly to drive in six runs as Batavia edged
the Auburn Doubledays, 7-5. Phillips picks-up Padres
paycheck
A 10th round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2002,
Phillips will now pick up his paychecks from the San
Diego Padres organization. The left-hand-hitting third
baseman was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays from their
Pacific Coast League Triple-A farmclub in Las Vegas
to the Padres PCL Triple-A ballclub in Portland on Friday
(June 25).
Although Phillips is expected to finish the season
playing for the Beavers, the continual transactions
made by the major league ballclub leaves the door open
for a possible call-up.
Phillips, who batted .300 with 8 home runs and 29 RBI
a year ago at Las Vegas , was hitting only .258 for
the same team this season. He is the brother of former
major league JASON PHILLIPS, also a product of El Capitan
High as well as San Diego State.
Brian Longpre in action
for CSU Northridge. (CSUN photo)
Longpre, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander, toiled
for the Griffins as a redshirt sophomore during the
2008 season after bouncing back from San Diego State
as a freshman. He struck out 37 batters in 31 1/3 innings
while compiling a 4.31 ERA.
Longpre concluded his CSUN career by appearing in 25
games in the 2010 season, finishing the year with a
2-1 record and a 4.54 ERA. The La Crescenta native struck
out 27 batters, walked just 12, and finished with three
pick-offs, good for the third-highest total in the Big
West Conference.
In addition to excelling on the baseball diamond, Longpre
graduated in May with a degree in finance.
At the top of the list is University of Pacific junior
outfielder and Grossmont High alum NICK
LONGMIRE (VIDEO)
who was selected in the 5th round by the St. Louis Cardinals
with the 169th overall pick. He is the highest player
drafted out of the Stockton-based university since 2007.
Longmire is no stranger to the stage of the MLB Draft.
As a high school senior, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound then-first-baseman
was drafted by Oakland in the 37th round of the 2007 MLB
Amateur Draft. His choice to attend college first will
definitely pay off should he decide to turn pro this summer.
This season at Pacific, Longmire finished as the top hitter
in the Big West Conference games with a .354 average.
He hit .327 overall.
In his senior year at Grossmont, Longmire led the Foothillers
with a .514 batting average, 15 home runs, 19 stolen bases,
36 RBI and a 1.010 slugging percentage. He was also named
the San Diego CIF Division II Player of the Year.
Other Inlanders selected were: Valhalla (University
of Hawai'i) product and middle infielder GREG GARCIA
(7th round, St. Louis); Grossmont alum and USD senior
right-handed pitcher AJ GRIFFIN (13th round, Oakland
A’s); Grossmont College’s CAMERON SELIK (22nd
round, Washington Nationals), who is now a junior at
Kansas; and 6-foot-8 Grossmont College freshman KEVIN
KLEIS (27th round, Pittsburgh Pirates).
Twenty-nine rounds were completed on Tuesday. The final
20 rounds will be conducted on Wednesday (June 9).
The Cardinals used the 229th pick to select Garcia,
who led the Rainbow Warriors with a .358 batting average.
Garcia earned first team all-WAC honors in 2010 after
being named to the second team in each of his first
two seasons at Hawaii .
A 6-foot-2, 234-pound senior right-handed pitcher and
the 656th pick in the draft, Selik posted a 6-4 record
in 15 starts for the Jayhawks this season with a 5.06
ERA and 72 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings. Selik earned
wins in his first four starts of the season, becoming
the first Jayhawks pitcher to accomplish that since
Pete Smart opened the 2000 with six-straight wins. He
tossed one of two complete games by a Kansas pitcher
this year, and held his opponents to a .277 batting
average.
Griffin, a first-team All-West Coast Conference performer,
was the 395th player selected in the draft. The 6-5,
215-pound right-hander registered a 5-0 record in league
games with a 57-13 strikeout to walk ratio and had an
ERA of 3.26.
Overall, Griffin was 8-3 with a 4.47 ERA and was second
on the team in strikeouts with 113. Griffin picked up
a win in the Tempe Regional after a dominating performance
against Wisconsin-Milwaukee in which he allowed no runs
on two hits in 5.0 innings.
A virtual unknown at Grossmont High, the 6-8 Kleis
earned the closer’s role as a Grossmont College
freshman this season. He compiled a 1-2 record with
three saves, 5.51 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings.
After 30 rounds in this year’s draft, Grossmont
College is the only San Diego community college to have
a player chosen. The Griffins, in fact, had two. That’s
right. Pacific Coast Athletic Conference champion San
Diego City College and runner-up Palomar had none between
them.
Watch the Clifton Thomas interview
on Javelina Television.
Thomas' career end with record numbers
Courtesy, Texas A&M-Kingsville media relations
ABILENE, TEXAS – The 11th-ranked Abilene
Christian baseball team ended the season of Texas
A&M-Kingsville on Sunday (May 2) afternoon
at the Lone Star Conference Tournament with a
16-7 win at Abilene Christian University's Crutcher
Scott Fied.
The Javelinas (28-25) took an early lead when
CLIFTON THOMAS (Grossmont College//El Cajon Valley
HS) led off the bottom of the first inning with
a single and stole second and would later score.
The loss ended the Javelinas’ season, finishing
with a school record with 24 conference victories.
Thomas concluded his career in grand fashion with
one of the most prolific seasons in school history
hitting .388 with 63 runs, 21 doubles, nine triples,
10 homers, 46 RBI, 154 total bases and 27 stolen
bases. He is the only player in school history
to have at least 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases
in back-to-back seasons. He also set a school
record with 139 outfield putouts this season,
including nine against the Wildcats, earning an
all-tournament team berth.
Thomas is expected to join the San Diego Stars
semipro baseball club for the Western Baseball
Association summer season.
Thomas was tabbed to the Daktronics All-South Central
Region, the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association
(ABCA) All-South Central Region team, then was named
to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
All-South Central Region team. On all three, he gained
second-team berths.
Thomas led the Javelinas to a 28-25 record and a trip
to the Lone Star Conference Tournament this year. Each
player also earned First Team all-LSC honors this year,
while Thomas also gained an LSC All-Tournament berth.
Thomas posted one of the best seasons in Kingsville
history. He batted .388 with 63 runs, 21 doubles, nine
triples, 10 home runs, 46 runs batted in and 27 stolen
bases.
He is the first player in school history with at least
20 doubles, 10 homers and 20 stolen bases in one season.
He tallied 154 total bases and a .703 slugging percentage
en route to becoming the first player in school history
with two seasons of at least 100 total bases.
Thomas is expected to join the Barona-San Diego Stars
semipro baseball team this summer if he doesn’t
get drafted.
Thomas has been the mainstay to the offensive production
after putting together one of the most exceptional seasons
in school history. Thomas batted .381 with 59 runs,
20 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, a .690 slugging
percentage and 26 stolen bases, all while playing outstanding
defense. In fact, all but one Kingsville starter batted
more than .300 this season (the lone exception batted
.296).
Thomas, who was a second-team honoree in 2009, helped
the Javelinas (28-23) gain the fourth seed to the conference
event, with the winner gaining an automatic berth to the
NCAA Division II South Central regional. The Hoggies will
meet Cameron University in Saturday's first-round contest.
The Javelinas have won eight of their last 10 games and
enter the tournament on a scoring binge having scored
at least 10 runs in seven of their last nine contests.
Since March 5, the Javelinas are hitting .363 as a team
and seem to be getting better and better as the year goes
along.
“Right now, it does not even bother us if we are
down by five runs,” said head coach Jason Gonzales.
“We think that we can get that back and still win.”
It was a remarkable turnaround for Kingsville, who
placed four players on the first team after being completely
shutout last season.
Following a Final Four appearance at the California
state community college championships for Southwestern
College, Krause continued his excellence with the Statesmen,
earning Pitcher of the Year award in the Midwest Collegiate
Conference.
A three-time MCC Pitcher of the Week, the junior finished
2010 with an 8-1 record and a 2.76 earned run average
in 75 innings of work. Krause tallied 87 strikeouts
with only nine walks and opponents hit just .229 against
him.
He was especially dominant in the league, owning a
5-1 mark with a 1.95 ERA, striking out 60 with only
three base on balls.
In addition, the 2010 MCC Gold Glove Team featured
Krause and his battery mate, catcher Eddie Sobczak.
Krause three-peats
Courtesy, William Penn Media Relations
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (5-12-10) — ERIC KRAUSE, a graduate
of Granite Hills High and Southwestern College, concluded
his junior campaign with another solid performance,
netting him Midwest Collegiate Conference Pitcher of
the Week laurels, the league office announced Monday
(May 11).
Krause picked up his third league award of the spring
as the Statesmen won the game he started on Friday,
but lost later that day to end their 2010 season at
25-19.
The junior finished the week 1-0, helping Penn to an
11-2 win over Clarke. In seven innings of work, he gave
up two runs (both earned) on four hits, striking out
seven with two walks.
For the year, the staff ace was 8-1 with a 2.76 ERA
in 75 innings pitched. He struck out 87 with only nine
walks (9.7-to-1 K-to-BB ratio) and opponents hit just
.229 against him.
After gaining berths to the All-Lone Star Conference
team and the LSC All-Tournament teams, Thomas,
a product of El Cajon Valley HS and Grossmont
College, was named recipient of the Gil E. Steinke
Award as the college's Male Athlete of the Year
for all Javalinas sports teams.
Thomas shared the honor with football player
Billy Garza, and senior softball player Cassie
Anderson, the program's Female Athlete of the
Year.
McCoy finally standing tall with Blue Jays
By John Lott, National
Post
TORONTO (5-4-10) — Looking at MIKE McCOY, you would
not imagine a kid who once had hoop dreams.
Mike McCoy
But during his final year at Grossmont High School
(1999), he honestly thought he had a future on the hardwood.
"I had a really good senior year in basketball
- 23 points a game, six or eight assists a game, 86
three-pointers," he said. "But no recruiters."
To everybody but McCoy, the reason was obvious. Even
his father had to call him on it.
"I was short," he said with a chuckle.
He still is. But that was less a barrier in the sport
that gave him a long-term job and finally, at age 29,
a spot on the opening-day roster of the Toronto Blue
Jays.
McCoy stands 5-foot-9, weighs 175 pounds and plays
six positions, which is why the Jays rewarded him for
a sizzling performance in spring training. He is the
proverbial 25th man on the roster, which means he will
not play much and may not even stick around for long,
once the inevitable Las Vegas shuttle begins.
For now, however, he fits the stereotypical description
of the scrappy big-league utility guy whose performance
belies his size. And after a breakout season at Triple-A
last year - .307 average, 40 stolen bases, .405 on-base
percentage - he figured he might have turned some heads
in the front office of his employers, the Colorado Rockies.
Instead, the Rockies placed him on waivers and the
Jays claimed him. Primarily a shortstop, McCoy also
can play second, third and all three outfield spots.
His versatility and 2009 numbers made him attractive,
even more so after he batted .400 with a .486 on-base
mark in spring training.
So for the first time in his career, McCoy stood along
the third-base line alongside major-league teammates
during pre-game ceremonies on Opening Day on Monday
(Apr. 5).
After seven years in the minors and a brief September
call-up with the Rockies last year (where he played
in 12 games), he had to pinch himself.
"Big crowd, big ceremony," he said with a
smile. "Just to be here in the big leagues on Opening
Day, it was awesome. For me to make an Opening Day roster
as a 34th-rounder, I was pretty happy."
Yes, the St. Louis Cardinals waited that long before
drafting McCoy in 2002. He spent six years in the Cardinals'
system before he was traded to Baltimore, then to the
Rockies.
His minor-league career was patchy and there were times
when he worried it might end before he ever sniffed
the big leagues. "I've had some struggles in my
career," he said. "There have been times when
I was like, ‘Whoa, am I going to be able to get
a job next year?' I remember in '08, I was hitting,
like .200, and I'm wondering, ‘What's going on?
What's going to happen to my career?' "
Then, suddenly, he snapped out of his slump, hit .343
in his last 39 games and kept up the beat for the full
2009 season.
He says his turnaround actually started in 2007 when
he was still in the Cardinals' system. One of his coaches
was Rick Eckstein, the brother of former Jay David Eckstein
and currently the hitting coach for the Washington Nationals.
Eckstein gave McCoy a curt message.
"He basically told me I'd never make it to the
big leagues with my swing, trying to guide the ball
and stuff," McCoy recalled. "He got me to
focus on getting on top of the ball and getting more
of a straight line to the ball with my swing."
The lesson stuck. "Something just clicked for
me in my approach. I kind of matured as a hitter, understanding
that I'm not going to drive the ball that much. I just
need to get on base and steal bases."
Now his challenge is to stay sharp. Tony LaCava, Toronto
's assistant general manager, says McCoy's approach
is ideal for his reserve role. "Everything he does
is very compact," LaCava said. "He should
play off the bench very well."
McCoy has maintained his major league status for at
least a month as he has remained a Blue Jay through
Monday (May 3).
Mats Mattson (UNO photo)
Mattson produces landmark triumph New Orleans stuns national champion LSU
Backed by a strong relief pitching stint by Grossmont
High product MATS
MATTSON, the Privateers rallied with four
runs over the final two innings to stun 15th-ranked
and defending national champion LSU, 7-4, before
a Tigers crowd of 10,584 at Alex Box Stadium.
While Mattson shut down the Bayou Bengals, UNO
senior Nick Schwaner belted his club-leading 15th
home run in the 8th inning for the go-ahead runs
to snap the ballclub's 9-game losing streak in
one of biggest Division I upsets in the nation
this season.
Mattson struck out two Tigers in 1 1/3 innings
of relief to garner the victory. Mattson, a junior
left-hander, has been one of the few bright spots
for the Privateers (11-29).
Despite being a middle-reliever, Mattson now
leads the pitching staff in victories (3), now
owning a 7-2 overall record in his past two seasons
with New Orleans. He is averaging nearly one strikeout
per inning (30 Ks in 32.0 IP), while issuing just
five walks.
The ballgame featured 11 homers, including 7
by the Red Storm (30-13).
Spears, who was named the conference top shortstop
as a junior in 2009, continues stroking a hot
bat. The senior is now averaging .425 for the
season.
Meanwhile, Spears' pair of homers gives him 13
for the year, matching West Hills High alumni
SHAIN
STONER for the club lead. Stoner leads all
Southern Nazarene batters with a .479 batting
average, while is just one behind Spears for the
RBI lead with 56.
Also playing for SNU is RYAN
BROSNAN (Santana), who is batting .285 after
missing half of his freshman season at Grossmont
College with a broken hand after hitting .321
for the Griffins.
The Granite Hills High alum hurled eight scoreless
frames for William Penn (Iowa) University last week,
including a complete game six-hit, 7-inning shutout
with nine strikeouts in beating Iowa Wesleyan.
Krause raised his season record to 7-1 while lowering
his ERA to 2.45. The junior right-hander has 66 strikeouts
in 56 innings for the Statesmen (22-13).
Krause picked up his first career league award as the
NAIA Statesmen (20-12, 10-4 MCC) went 5-1 last week.
The junior right-hander went 2-0 during his week of
honor. He gave up just one run (earned) on nine hits
in 13 2/3 innings while striking out 16 with only one
walk. Opponents hit only .188 against him.
For the season, the Statesmen’s ace is 6-1 with
a 2.81 ERA. His six wins and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings
lead all MCC pitchers.
Clifton Thomas (TA&MK photo)
Thomas was named LSC Player
of the Week for this effort.
Thomas singled in the 1st inning, led off the 5th with
his seventh homer, began the 6th with his sixth triple
and doubled in the 7th.
In the 7th, it looked like Thomas would not have a
chance to hit for the cycle when the first two Hoggie
batters made outs. Trent Wagner was then hit by a pitch
to give Thomas a chance and the senior center fielder
came through with a double to complete the cycle.
The Javelinas finished the game with 15 hits. Thomas
went 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBI.
Facing powerful Cal State Fullerton, Griffin, a freshman
right-hander, tossed his first career complete game,
leading the Lions past the Titans, 4-2. Griffin carried
a shutout into the 9th, then hung on to defeat a team
which owns three College World Series titles.
He used 119 pitches (73 strikes) to record the triumph.
He faced 34 hitters and retired 15 of 16 batters from
the second through the seventh, including 10 straight
from the fourth into the seventh.
Griffin (2-1) allowed seven hits, a walk and two runs
while striking out five. The complete game was the first
for LMU since Lee Roberts tossed nine against Gonzaga
on May 15, 2009.
Included was a doubleheader sweep on Sunday (Mar. 21),
when Thomas ignited a late comeback after trailing 6-2
in the 6th inning of the opener. The senior registered
the first of several consecutive run-scoring basehits
with two outs to tie the ballgame for the Javelinas
Earlier, Thomas smacked a home run in a 2-for-4 outing.
He then capped the twinbill with a 4-for-4 outing to
stun the visiting Riverhawks. He added three runs, two
stolen bases and a pair of RBI to cap the series with
totals of eight runs and four stolen bases to go along
with his dozen basehits.
When the history of Urban Knights baseball is penned,
it will be former Helix High standout ALEX
ROSENTHAL who will be denoted as gaining the first
win after AAU
downed host Grand Canyon University, 5-4, in the
second game of a Pacific West Conference (NCAA Division
II) doubleheader held March 12 at Brazell Stadium.
Rosenthal (1-4) pitched five strong innings with four
strikeouts, with only two of the runs allowed earned.
Then the bullpen maintained the advantage with 1-hit
relief to defeat the Antelopes, a former NCAA Division
I program.
“I’m happy for the kids,” said head
coach Brian Guinn. “They’ve been battling
really hard throughout the year and last year. To get
that first victory takes that weight off their shoulders.
Now they can go out and play baseball and do what they’re
capable of doing. They’re pretty excited.”
Rosenthal, a sophomore transfer from Grossmont College,
also got it done with the bat as well. He went 2-for-4
(.500) in two of the 4-game series split against Grand
Canyon, with a run and a double. He also posted a .750
slugging percentage.
For his efforts, Rosenthal, an Illustration major,
gained mention on the honor roll as one of the Pac
West's players of the week.
AAU, which went 0-30 during its 2009 debut campaign,
saw its losing streak hit 43 straight before the breakthrough
triumph over the weekend.
The University of Kansas right-hander collected three quick victories to open the season, posting a 1.40 earned-run average in 19 1/3 innings. Included were a pair of victories in the Week 1 to share the Big 12 citation with Texas right-hander Cole Green.
Selik allowed an unearned run and two hits over six innings in the second game of a doubleheader against Eastern Michigan at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. He struck out five without issuing a walk, as the Patrick Henry High alum just missed a career high for strikeouts, set last season against both San Diego State and Northern Colorado.
Then on Feb. 27, Selik scattered six hits and one run over 7 1/3 innings to top Sacramento State in a contest held at the Peoria (Ariz.) Sports Complex, the spring training home of the San Diego Padres.
Selik was tendered his Jayhawks scholarship after making a comeback playing summer ball in the semipro Western Baseball Association with East County's Barona-San Diego Stars, who participated in the NBC World Series.
Clifton Thomas (TAMK courtesy photo)
LSC honor for Thomas
Special to East County Sports
RICHARDSON, Texas (3-10-10) — Texas A&M-Kingsville senior centerfielder CLIFTON THOMAS was named the Diamond Hitter of the Week by the Lone Star Conference on Wednesday.
Thomas, a Journalism major, flashed his power stroke last week as he had seven extra base hits in a four game series with Eastern New Mexico. After driving in one run and scoring another in the series opener he caught fire. He went 3-for-6 in Game 2 with three runs and two RBI’s. He missed hitting for the cycle by a single. In Saturday’s first game he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, two runs and two RBI’s. He finished the series with a 2-for-5 performance that included two runs, an RBI and a triple. He went 1-for-5 with a run scored on Tuesday against A&M-International. He finished the week with three doubles, three triples and a home run. He is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and has scored in a run in each of his last six games.
Over the weekend, Thomas batted .474 (9-for-19) with seven extra-base hits during a trio of top-notch performances, leading the Javalinas to a 3-game sweep of Eastern New Mexico.
On Friday (Mar. 5), Thomas, the starting center fielder for the Hoggies (12-9, 8-8 Lone Star Conference), missed hitting for the cycle by a mere single, registering a double and a triple after hitting his second home run of the season to lead-off the ballgame.
Thomas threw out an ENMU runner attempting to stretch a single into a double, nailing the Greyhounds batter by more than 10 feet according to a school press release.
A day later, Thomas batted 5-for-9 with two doubles and a pair of triples during a doubleheader sweep.
In all, the senior collected three doubles, three triples, a homer and six RBI in the series. For the season, Thomas is now hitting .358 with 20 runs and 13 stolen bases through 21 contests.
TAMK opens a 10-game homestand at Nolan Ryan Field on Tuesday (Mar. 9), hosting Texas A&M-International.
Making his debut at CSUF, Tanida scored the go-ahead run in the 5th inning after leading off with a double. Tanida scored two runs for the Titans (1-2). He spent the first two years of his college career at San Diego Mesa College.
Tanida will make an appearance in San Diego from Mar. 11-14 when the Titans participate in the San Diego State Tournament. CSF will meet Fresno State (Mar. 11), the host Aztecs (Mar. 12), USD (Mar. 13 at USD) and Alabama-Birmingham (Mar. 14).
After four games, Haar has two home runs and six RBI, including a grand slam in the Toreros' 16-10 victory in the opener.
An All-WCC pick as a freshman when he batted .298 and finished second with 38 RBI, the 6-foot-3 Haar normally plays first base but spends some time as USD’s shortstop.
In Monday’s (Feb. 22) makeup game at Saddleback, Stevens pitched the last four innings in relief as the visiting Comets clipped the Gauchos, 4-1. Stevens gave up one run (unearned) to record the save. He has an ERA of 0.00 for seven innings pitched on the season.
O'Sullivan, on just his 12th pitch of the evening, walked off the mound with severe elbow pain and was removed from a game eventually won by the Sooners, 9-5, to complete a doubleheader sweep.
According to SDSU media relations to an email statement, "It's something with (O'Sullivan's) right elbow but they're not sure of the extent of the injury. He was supposed to start at shortstop tomorrow, but that won't happen now."
On the potentially plus side, O'Sullivan was found sitting along the rail of the Aztecs dugout late in the contest, yet without ice or any other medical device to support his pitching arm.
The statement also noted that O'Sullivan, a sophomore, will be further examined by the medical staff on Monday.
Eddie Young (left) and Trevor Frank (Courtesy, UCR Highlanders)
Young, who missed most of the 2009 season following a head injury after getting struck in the head by a line drive during practice, has bounced back strongly. The sophomore has gained starts at second base and designated hitter for the undefeated Highlanders (3-0).
He elected to sign with the Highlanders after getting drafted out of Christian by the Chicago White Sox.
Also on the UCR roster is freshman pitcher TREVOR FRANK, who was on Valhalla High's 2006 SDCIF championship team under then head coach STEVE PERDUE, who now heads the program at Foothills Christian.
UC Riverside hosts Bethune-Cookman on Monday (Feb. 22), then visits Tony Gwynn Stadium on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. ballgame against SDSU.
Aztecs drop opener to No. 22 Sooners O'Sullivan makes '10 debut Saturday
Reed, a junior who was a consensus All-American, carried a 3-2 lead into the 5th inning, but allowed a pair of runs before getting lifted following a career-long stint of 4 1/3 innings.
The Sooners received home runs by Garrett Buechele and Cameron Seitzer to key the comeback.
For the Aztecs, freshman DH Blair Moore went 2-for-3 with a single and double in his collegiate debut. Matt Parker and Cory Vaughn had two hits apiece for the Aztecs.
The teams play a doubleheader here on Saturday (Feb. 20) at 1 p.m., with Valhalla High product RYAN O'SULLIVAN expected to start.
O'Sullivan (4-4, 1 save, 6.79), who is also SDSU's regular at shortstop, moves into the weekend rotation this season after serving as a mid-week starter during his freshman season of 2009.
Thomas, the starting centerfielder, equaled a school record by stealing four bases in the season opener, lifting the Javelinas to a doubleheader sweep of University of Houston-Victoria, 8-2 and 10-0, on Friday (Feb. 5) at Nolan Ryan Field.
Thomas batted 3-for-5 in the opener, including a pair of RBI, aiding a pair of scoring rallied with his thefts. He jump-started the offense in the 3rd inning when he reached via bunt single, stole second and third before registering the first run of the season.
In the 7-inning nightcap, Thomas added two more steals against the Jaguars, placing him on pace to top his personal best of 26 steals in a season set last spring; the Hoggies' school mark is 28.
Former Kingsville star and current San Diego Padres pitcher MIKE ADAMS tossed the ceremonial first pitch.
For baseball alumni coverage from 2008-09 please click on this link. Thank you.
