“This past weekends' games were challenging and we can take a lot from them to make us a better ball club going forward. We were able to use our entire roster. This allowed us to identify our strengths and, more importantly, we were able to address some things that need to be improved upon. Overall, we are better prepared team coming into our conference schedule.”
 
      “We had some standout performances from (Brian) Haggett, (Tommy) George, (Jeff) Owen, and (Will) Anderson to name a few. As a team we see that everyday in practice and we have grown to expect big performances from a number of our players.”
 
       “East Bay should give us all we can handle. Coach (Bob) Ralston will have them well prepared and excited to play. They are off to a great start and playing solid baseball. We will need to play our best and we are expecting a tough, hard-fought series.”

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LEADING OFF: The Otters begin CCAA play with a split series against Cal State East Bay this weekend. CSUMB hosts the Pioneers on Friday, Feb. 15 (2 PM) and Sunday, Feb. 17 (11 AM) with a doubleheader in Hayward on Saturday, Feb. 16 (11 AM).
 
SCOUTING CAL STATE EAST BAY: The Pioneers are off to a hot start in 2013, sweeping Central Washington in a four-game series then following that with a three-game sweep against Oregon Tech. CSUEB has surrendered only 13 runs in 61 innings.  Players to Watch: Kyle Zozaya (.417 BA, 7 RBIs), Eren Miravalles (.400 BA, 10 H, 8 R), Brandon Alexander (.364 BA, 8 H, 2 3B); Michael Pope (2-0, 1.64 ERA, 11.0 IP, 14 K), Matt Fontaine (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 IP, 7 K).
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Otters opened their season home schedule with a 10-9 victory over Central Washington thanks to a two-out, walk-off single by senior Tommy George (Elk Grove HS) on Thursday, Feb. 7.  CSUMB dropped the next two games of the series by scores of 8-7 and 5-2.  In the series finale, the Otters turned up the heat to shut out the Wildcats 4-0 to split the series.
 
GARCIA EARNS WEEKLY HONORS: Game-winning, ninth-inning grand slam – check. A 4-for-4 performance on Saturday with a double and a solo home run – check.  ESPN Central Coast 630 Student-Athlete of the Week – check. Rawlings/CCAA Baseball Player of the Week – check.  This checklist can be found on Cal State Monterey Bay senior third baseman's David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif./Mission College) locker for the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 3. In the season opener, Garcia found himself in a similar situation as he did on April 2, 2012 when he hit is first grand slam in his career in Hayward, Calif. with one small difference. Friday's game was tied 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning and Garcia came up big with game-winning grand slam. Garcia led the Otters in Saturday's nightcap, going 4-for-4 with a solo home run and a double to clinch the program's first season opening series sweep.
 
HISTORICAL SERIES SWEEP:  The Otters achieved their first ever series sweep at Point Loma Nazarene to open the 2013 season (Feb. 1-2).  Senior third baseman David Garica (Gilroy, Calif./Mission College) broke open a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning on a grand slam leading to a 7-3 CSUMB victory.  Never trailing in the entire series, CSUMB added two more victories on Saturday with final scores of 6-1 and 8-5.
NCAA STATISTICS: In 2012, outfielder Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove HS) finished the season with eight triples, ranking him seventh in the nation.  Three other Otters broke into the top 20 in the NCAA Division II national statistics.  Second baseman David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif./Valley Christian HS)  is seventh with eight sacrifice flies while pitcher Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East)  ended his rookie campaign No. 15 in hits allowed per nine innings (6.1).  Former outfielder Danny Nelson (Morgan Hill, Calif./San Jose CC) concluded the season No. 12 in Toughest to Strike Out (21.6).  First statistic release in 2013 will be on March 11.
 
2012 ACADEMIC HONORS:  First baseman Brian Haggett (Hollister, Calif./West Valley College) and former outfielder/third baseman Danny Nelson (Morgan Hill, Calif./San Jose CC) were named to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District VIII team, a first in the program history. Haggett had a 3.67 GPA in the fall of 2011 as a kinesiology major. On the field, he tallied a .333 batting average with a team-best 63 hits that included 10 doubles, three home runs and a triple.  Haggett was CCAA Player of the Week (Apr. 2-8) after going 10-for-17 with eight runs scored, two doubles, a home run, seven RBIs and five walks in a five-game week.
 
2012 ALL-CCAA HONORS:  A program record-high four Otters were selected to the All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) teams in 2012. Second baseman David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif./Mission College) and right-hander Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East) were named to the second team while shortstop Jason Merjano (San Ramon, Calif./Sierra College) and right-fielder Tommy George (Elk Grove HS) earned honorable mention nods.
 
POST SEASON HONORS:  Three Otters earned All-West Region teams in 2012, another first in program history.  Senior second baseman David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif./Mission College) and sophomore right-handed pitcher Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East HS) were selected to the Daktronics All-West Region second team.  Owen joined senior shortstop Jason Merjano (San Ramon, Calif./Sierra College) on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) honorable mention team. Garcia also got selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) first team.  

WEST REGION ROOKIE HONORS:  Starting right-handed pitcher Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East HS) was named the 2012 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) West Region Freshman Pitcher of the Year after finishing his rookie campaign with a 2.18 ERA. He allowed just 15 earned runs in his 62 innings.  On March 10, Owen tossed the program's second shutout complete game as he held the Tritons of UC San Diego to only one hit while striking out seven and walking none.

GOLDEN GLOVE:  First baseman Brian Haggett (Hollister, Calif./West Valley College) earned the program's first-ever American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-West Region Gold Glove award for his near spotless play in the field. Haggett started 48 games at first base for the Otters, recording 471 putouts and 18 assists. He committed just one error for a fielding percentage of .998.

BY THE NUMBERS:  The 2012 squad under the direction of then second-year coach Walt White achieved new heights in its second consecutive record-breaking season:

• Most Wins - 26 (21, 2011)


• Most Conference Wins - 19 (18, 2011)


• Most Triples - 17 (11, 2010/2007/2006)


• Lowest Opponent Batting Average - .267 (.269, 2011)


• Lowest ERA - 4.01 (4.68, 2011)


• Fewest Earned Runs Allowed - 189 (216, 2011)


• Fewest Runs Allowed - 244 (273, 2011)


• Fewest Doubles Allowed - 69 (92, 2011)


• Highest Fielding Percentage - .964 (.962, 2011)


• Most Caught Stealing - 36 (29, 2009)


• Fewest Stolen Bases Allowed - 52 (71, 2008)


• Most Strikeouts/9 inning games - 6.18 (5.76, 2007)

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