FULL NOTEBOOK WITH STATS AND CCAA STANDINGS

Live Coverage of Baseball This Week: Live Stats 

SEASIDE, Calif. - Expect a pitching showdown this weekend, featuring the top two teams in the CCAA in ERA facing off. The Otters are leading the conference with a 3.35 earned run average with No. 5 Chico State following with a 3.53.
 
SCOUTING CHICO STATE: The No. 5 Chico State Wildcats (17-5) hosted Academy of Art last weekend in non-conference action, sweeping the Urban Knights in an easily manner by outscoring them 52-13. So far this conference season, the Wildcats have earned 3-1 series victories over UC San Diego (Feb. 17-19)and San Francisco State (Feb. 24-26) while picking up split with Cal Poly Pomona (Mar. 2-4). Top Performers: senior center fielder Cody Foster (.363 BA, 29 H, 23 RBI); junior designated hitter Myles Dempsey (.373 BA, 25 H,); junior left fielder Blake Gibbs (.324 BA, 23 H, 8 2B, 4 HR)
 
LAST SERIES RECAP:  CSUMB dropped their first series of 2012, falling to the Tritons of UCSD in three of the four-game series.  The weekend was highlighted by freshman RHP Jeff Owen's one-hit seven-inning complete game outing in Saturday's 9-0 nitecap victory.  Junior Brian Haggett led the Otters, batting .385 with a double and a home run in the four games. Junior Jason Merjano also had a strong weekend with a .313 batting average, a double, a triple and a home run.
 
REGIONAL ACCOLADES: Freshman right-hander Jeff Owen was been named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association West Region Pitcher of the Week for his stellar one-hit complete game effort at UC San Diego on Mar. 10. This is the second time an Otter pitcher has garnered this award as senior right-hander Aaron Appino earned CSUMB's first regional honor this season on Feb. 22.
 
CCAA WEEKLY HONORS: Jeff Owen earned CSUMB third CCAA weekly honor after being selected CCAA Pitcher of the Week Mar 5-11. Owen tossed a seven-inning complete en route to a shutout victory (9-0) over the Tritons on Saturday, Mar. 10.  The freshman right-hander gave up just one hit while striking out seven and walking none.  Senior right-hander Aaron Appino was named Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 13-19) and junior shortstop Jason Merjano was selected Player of the Week honors (Feb. 6-12). 
 
NCAA STATISTICS: Junior Tommy George remains as the NCAA leader in triples with five as the Otters moved down to No.3 despite raising their total to 12 thanks to senior Chris Lopiccolo and junior Jason Merjano each recording a triple at UCSD. CSUMB is also ranked 20th in doubles with 44 with Merjano leading the Otters with ten, putting him fifth in the nation. On the mound, starter Jeff Owen ranks 21st in hits allowed per nine inning (4.61) while closer Harold Zosel is 14th in saves with four on the year.
 
OTTERS EIGHTH IN REGIONAL RANKING: The Otters slid down two spots to No. 8 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) West Region rankings after making the program's debut on Feb. 13.  Chico State (17-5) took over the No. 1 spot, passing Cal Poly Pomona (16-7).  Western Oregon (15-6) is third, followed by No. 4 Cal Baptist (17-4), No. 5 Hawaii Pacific (14-3), No. 6 Sonoma State (12-8), No. 7 Dixie State (11-5), No. 8 Cal State Monterey Bay (13-9), No. 9 San Franciso State (10-8) and No. 10 Cal State San Bernardino (12-9).
 
RUN TOMMY RUN:  Junior outfielder Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove) is the new stolen base record holder, passing former leader Matt DeJesus' 26 (2008-09).  George picked up his 27th and 28th stolen bases on Feb. 24th's 5-3 series opener victory over Cal State San Bernardino.  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).
 
REGIONAL POST SEASON 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).
 
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. 
 
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), C Garrett Gemgnani (Los Angeles, Calif./Culver City HS) and OF Devin Finn (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley HS) will be playing for the newly formed Myrtle Beach Collegiate Summer Baseball League in South Carolina.