FULL NOTEBOOK WITH STATS AND CCAA STANDINGS

Live Coverage of Baseball at Hayward: Live Stats 
Live Coverage of Baseball at Seaside: Live Stats & Play-by-Play (Saturday only)

LEADING OFF: The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball squad travels to Hayward to play Cal State East Bay Friday, Mar 30 (3 p.m.) to begin its second split series of the season.  The Otters return home for doubleheader action Saturday, Mar. 31 against the Pioneers at 11 a.m. before venturing back to Hayward for the series finale Sunday, Apr. 1 (11 a.m.).
 
UP NEXT: The CSUMB-CSULA four-game series in Seaside is slated for Thursday-Saturday with Sunday being a holiday. 
 
SCOUTING CAL STATE EAST BAY: The Pioneers (9-17, 3-13 CCAA) will have played just four games in the 14 days prior to Friday's game due to rain in the Bay area.  CSUEB was swept last weekend by No. 4 Chico State with the first three games decided by three runs or less while the series finale was a 7-1 decision. The Pioneers' three conference wins came against UC San Diego (2) and Cal State Stanislaus at home.  Top Performers: first baseman Andrew Woolfe (.319 BA, 29 H, 3 HR, 8 2B), shortstop Eddie Rettagliata (.302 BA, 26 H, 10 R, 5 2B), designated hitter Jordan Wilder (.277 BA, 26 H, 17 RBIs).
 
LAST SERIES RECAP:  The Otters suffered their first series sweep of the season against Cal State Stanislaus this past weekend.  Until then, CSUMB hadn't been swept since the final series of 2010.  The Otters fell 8-4 on Friday after only having two days off after the Chico State revised schedule series that ended Tuesday.  With rain in the forecast, the Otters went back to Turlock for Saturday's game and dropped an 8-2 decision to the Warriors.  On Sunday, CSUMB saw its twinbill slip away with scores of 5-3 and 6-3. 
 
RECORD WATCH:  The Otters have a few players on the brink of becoming single-season record holders. The most likely to make the leap first is junior Harold Zosel. He just needs one more save for a total of seven to have sole possession of the top spot, passing Paul Brock who recorded six last season.  Others to watch: Donny Medlinger's strike out looking count (15, record: 18 Andrew Shive 2007); Danny Nelson's walks (18, record: 24 Shae Davis 2009); Jason Merjano's doubles (13, record: 20 Danny Nelson 2011); Donny Medlinger's total strike outs (40, record: 60 Grayson Adams 2007).
 
RUNNERS THINKING TWICE:  Junior Jesse Olson is the CSUMB single season leader at catching base runners attempting to steal.  On Friday, March 23, Olson threw out his 14th runner when Cal State Stanislaus's Eli Davis attempted to steal second in the first inning. Olson achieved this record after only appearing in 18 games for the Otters.
 
MEDLINGER STRIKES HARD:  Following his worst start of the season at UCSD, Medlinger set a season-high record with 10 strikeouts against Chico State in Monday, March 19's doubleheader opener.  This ranks him second in CSUMB single game record books. Medlinger is the team leader in strikeouts, with 38 while walking 14 in 34.0 innings.
 
REGIONAL ACCOLADES: Freshman right-hander Jeff Owen was 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's third CCAA weekly honor after being selected CCAA Pitcher of the Week Mar 5-11.   The freshman 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 drops to No. 2 in triples in the nation with six and the Otters move to No. 5 with a total of 13.  Junior Jason Merjano leads the Otters with 13 doubles, putting him 8th in the nation. Senior Danny Nelson is ranked fifth in the Toughest To Strikeout category after finishing 22nd last season. On the mound, closer Harold Zosel is 9th in saves with six on the year.
 
RUN TOMMY RUN:  Junior outfielder Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove) became CSUMB's stolen base record holder on Feb. 24 against Cal State San Bernardino, passing former leader Matt DeJesus' 26 (2008-09).  He picked up his 33rd stolen base against Cal State Stanislaus on Mar. 25. Last season, he led the Otters with 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts.
 
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).
 
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. 
 
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.