FULL BASEBALL NOTEBOOK IN PDF FORMAT

SEASIDE, Calif. - The Otters open the 2012 season against Westmont on Fri.-Sat., before taking to the road for a doubleheader at Fresno Pacific on Tuesday, Feb. 7.  CSUMB start the season with six of its first eight games at home, beginning with the Warriors and concluding with a four-game series against regional opponent Central Washington on Feb. 10-12.   

SCOUTING WESTMONT: Guided by third-year coach Robert Ruiz, the Westmont Warriors began the 2012 season with a 7-7 suspended game at Pomona Pitzer on Friday, Jan. 27, pausing the game due to darkness with plans to finish later in the season.  The Warriors finished 2011 with a 19-30 record, 11-25 in the Golden State Athletic Conference (NAIA).  Top returning hitters for the Warriors are senior first baseman/pitcher Timothy Leary (.340, 9 HR, 11 2B, 40 RBIs) and senior outfielder Coby Cress (.335, 58 H, 21 RBI).  Returning on the mound for the Warriors are right-hander Leary (3-6, 7.32 ERA) and senior left-hander Daniel Cabuling (3-7, 5.55).  

SCOUTING FRESNO PACIFIC: The Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific begin their final NAIA season ranked No. 17 in the preseason Top 25. FPU is making the transition to NCAA Division II and will join the Pac-West in 2012-13 season. Prior to playing CSUMB, the Sunbirds will play four games in the Arizona Desert Classic on Feb. 2-4. With the loss of their No. 1 starter Jesse Darrah (2.44 ERA, 7-1) to the MLB draft (8th rd by the Arizona Diamondbacks), FPU will rely on senior right-handed pitchers Matt Mazzoni (2.98 ERA, 7-1) and senior Ryan Castadio (4.26, 6-3) on the mound.  Returning in the field for the Sunbirds are shortstop Alex Mehrten (.320 BA, 58 H) and outfielder Karlan Andrews (.311 BA, 11 2B).  The Otters handed Mazzoni his only loss of 2011 as CSUMB defeated FPU 6-2 on Feb. 12.  

PRESEASON HONORS:  Senior Jared DeCastro (Torrance, Calif./LA Harbor) raised the bar by being CSUMB's first National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-American. DeCastro was also named to the NCBWA Preseason All-West Region first team along with senior Danny Nelson (Morgan Hill, Calif./San Jose CC). 

OTTERS HIT IN CLASSROOM:  While preparing for their spring season, the Otters have already proved they can balance the art of practice and performing in the classroom this past fall.  The CSUMB baseball team led all men's programs with a 3.08 grade point average during the fall semester.  Juniors David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif/Mission College) and Brian Hagget (Hollister, Calif/West Valley CC) were among the 11 student-athletes to record a perfect 4.0.  

REGIONAL HONORS:  Senior Danny Nelson (Morgan Hill, Calif./San Jose CC), who is making the move from second baseman to outfield this season, picked up three regional honors in 2011.  His accolades were Daktronics All-West Region, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-West Region and ABCA All-West Region.  Senior OF Jared DeCastro (Torrance, Calif./L.A. Harbor) was also named to the Daktronics All-West Region team. Gerry Rommel and Brian Trump are the only other Otters in program history to have been selected to any all-west region team (NCBWA in 2007). 

NELSON SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS:  This past summer, Danny Nelson (Morgan Hill, Calif./San Jose CC) had a standout season with the Coopertown Hawkeyes of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL), leading his team in runs (36), doubles (11) and slugging percentage (.503).  Nelson was named to the All-PGCBL team and appeared in the All-Star game in July. 

WELCOME BACK: While more than 70 percent of the 2012 roster is new, the Otters return a solid group, including All-CCAA selections Danny Nelson (Morgan Hill, Calif./San Jose CC) and Jared DeCastro (Torrance, Calif./LA Harbor) .  The other returners who saw significant playing time in 2011 are RHP Aaron Appino (Rancho Cordova, Calif./Sacramento CC), OF Nolan Murray (San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS), OF Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove HS), SS Ronnie Fhurong (Hollister, Calif./San Benito HS), OF/LHP Tony Hernandez (Danville, Calif./Chico State, 1B Chris Lopiccolo (Marina, Calif/Santa Barbara CC), RHP David Holland (Salinas, Calif/Hartnell College), RHP Austin Thiel (Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley HS) RHP Jake Paolinetti (Santa Clara, Calif./San Jose CC) and RHP Jacob Crose (Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley HS).  

2011 CCAA WEEKLY HONORS:  The Otters swept the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) weekly honors for the week of March 14-20.   RHP Aaron Appino (Rancho Cordova, Calif./Sacramento CC) garnered the Wilson/CCAA Pitcher of the Week honor and Danny Nelson (Morgan Hill, Calif./San Jose CC) was named Wilson/CCAA Player of the Week. 

NATIONAL STATISTIC RUNNER-UP:  The Otters concluded their 2011 campaign second in the nation in double-plays per game, averaging 1.18 per game.  CSUMB was leading the nation at the end of the regular season only to see Southwestern Oklahoma make it to post season and eventually pass the Otters with an average of 1.2 per game. The Otters also finished third in the nation in total double plays with 58 (Southwestern Oklahoma had 61). 

LOCALS REPRESENTING:  With the Otter relying heavily on local talent, seven student-athletes from the Monterey and San Benito counties will be donning Otter uniforms this year. First baseman Chris Lopiccolo (Marina, Calif/Monterey HS), shortstop Ronnie Fhurong (Hollister, Calif./San Benito HS) and relief pitcher David Holland (Salinas, Calif./Salinas HS) return for another season. Fresh out of high school, catcher Jesse White (Salinas, Calif./Salinas HS) and utility Ty Morris (Royal Oaks, Calif./North Monterey HS) join junior college transfers David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif./Valley Christian HS) and Brian Haggett (Hollister, Calif./San Benito HS) as the new faces from the area. 

RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN:  The 2011 squad under the direction of first-year coach Walt White made a huge impact the CSUMB record books. 

Lowest Opponent Batting Average - .269 (.332, 2007)
Most Saves - 9 (6, 2008)
Most Complete Games - 8 (6, 2009/06)
Lowest ERA - 4.68 (7.47, 2007)
Fewest Earned Runs Allowed - 216 (312, 2007)
Fewest Hits Allowed - 426 (522, 2007)
Most Wins - 21 (19, 2007)
Most Conference Wins - 18 (11, 2007)
Fewest Home Runs Allowed - 24 (38, 2007)
Highest Fielding Percentage - .962 (.959, 2007)
Most Assists - 607 (521, 2006)
Fewest Passed Balls - 13 (15, 2010)
Most Double Plays Turned - 58 (47, 2009) - 2nd in the nation

SUMMER BALL:  This summer, seven Otters will be playing ball all over the United States Ty Morris (Castroville/North Monterey County HS), Matt Urakumi (San Jose/Branham HS) and Chris Blanton (Burlingame/Burlingame HS) will be for the Cooperstown,  New York for the Hawkeyes of the Perfect Game Colleigate Baseball League (PGCBL). 2B David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif./Mission College) is heading to Minnesota to play for the Alexandria Beetles of the prestigious Northwoods League. OF Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif/Elk Grove HS), RHP Jake Paolinetti (Santa Clara, Calif/Wilcox HS) and OF Devin Finn (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley HS) will be playing for the newly formed Myrtle Beach Collegiate Summer Baseball League.