FULL NOTEBOOK WITH STATS AND CCAA STANDINGS

Live Coverage of Baseball This Week: Live Stats

SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team (8-5, 2-2 CCAA) begins a five-game homestand Tuesday, Feb 21, hosting Fresno Pacific in its final non-conference game of the season.  The Otters return to CCAA action on Friday, Feb. 24, welcoming the Coyotes of Cal State San Bernardino for a four-game series before taking a 11-day break from games.
 
SCOUTING FRESNO PACIFIC: Since the Otters last saw them, the Sunbirds went on a six-game winning streak before the Menlo Oaks snapped it with a 4-1 decision on Wednesday, Feb. 15 in Atherton.  FPU swept San Francisco State in a three-game series on Feb. 10-11.  Top Hitters: LF Karlan Andrews (.360 BA, 18 H) and 3B Scott Laird (.344 BA, 11 H)
 
SCOUTING CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO: The Coyotes (5-4, 2-2 CCAA) opened their conference season with a series split against Sonoma State at Fiscalini Field in San Bernardino. CSUSB traded wins with the Seawolves winning the second game and the series closer (8-11, 4-2, 3-5, 6-4). The Coyotes finished 2011 in fifth place, missing the CCAA tournament by two games.  Top Hitters: 2B Curtis Cassise (.400 BA, 10 H, 10 R) and LF Matt Winn (.364 BA, 12 H, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 3 SB)
 
LAST WEEKEND RECAP:  CSUMB earned a split with No. 24 Cal Poly Pomona to begin its conference schedule this past weekend in Pomona.  The Otters dropped Friday's series opener 3-2 before sweeping the Broncos in Saturday's doubleheader with identical scores of 5-1.  The finale went to CPP with a score of 6-2. Top Performers: 2B David Garcia (5 H, 3 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 R); RHP Aaron Appino (1-0, 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R)
 
CCAA WEEKLY HONORS: Senior right-hander Aaron Appino was named CCAA Pitcher of the Week for the week of Feb. 13-19.  He had a solid outing in his lone start against Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday. In eight innings, he allowed two hits, walked two and struck out three while not allowing a run during a 5-1 win over the Broncos. Last week, junior shortstop Jason Merjano was selected CCAA Baseball Player of the Week for Feb. 6-12 after helping the Otters to a 4-2 record in six games against Fresno Pacific and Central Washington.
 
OTTERS FIFTH IN REGIONAL RANKING: The Otters remain fifth in the the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) West Region after making the program's debut on Feb. 13.  The Broncos (9-2) are on top, followed by Western Oregon (9-4), Dixie State (7-1) and Chico State (6-2). Rounding out the top 10 is CSULA (7-3), Cal Baptist (9-3), Northwest Nazarene (7-1), Hawaii Pacific (7-0), UC San Diego (4-8) and San Francisco State (4-4).
 
RUN TOMMY RUN:  Junior outfielder Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove) is two stolen bases shy of passing leader Matt DeJesus' 26 he acquired in 2008 and 2009.  George picked up his 25th on Feb. 10th's 7-6 victory over Central Washington.  Last season, he led the Otters with 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts.
 
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 Haggett (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 Cooperstown 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.
 
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, Calif./North Monterey County HS), Matt Urakami (San Jose, Calif./Branham HS) and Chris Blanton (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame HS) will be for the Cooperstown, New York for the Hawkeyes of the Perfect Game Collegiate 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.