Coach White on CSULA series split: “We would love to win every series, but a split on the road vs. a good team is not the end of the world. This was our first big road test and we handled ourselves well.  Cal State LA usually has great success at home, so it was encouraging going into Sunday with a chance to win the series.  Our team played great defense all weekend, which is encouraging.  Cal State LA's field can play difficult for opponents, so I was pleased to see how we handled the difficult conditions. Our play defensively will be key to our success as we continue with our conference schedule.”


Coach White on facing No. 4 Chico State this weekend: “Our message to our team is that the opponent is the game and not necessarily the other team.  We need to play the game to the best of our ability to be successful.  We know that Chico State is ranked No. 4, and they are well deserving of that ranking because they play good baseball.  Our focus is on how well we can play our game.  I think this series will be about two really good teams playing good baseball.  This series should be one of the better series in our conference this weekend, and we are looking forward to the challenge” 

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LEADING OFF: The Otters play host to No. 4 Chico State in another CCAA four-game series this weekend. The 2012 Chico State-CSUMB series was pushed back two days due to rain in Chico and the Otters had to settle for a split with the Wildcats. CSUMB came out strong and won the first two games by scores of 9-4 and 3-2. The second game of Monday's doubleheader went to the Wildcats with a two-out walk-off single to make it 5-4.  The Wildcats denied CSUMB the series win with a 7-3 series finale victory.
 
SCOUTING CHICO STATE: The Wildcats (11-1, 4-0 CCAA) made a statement the first weekend of conference action, sweeping the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills on their own field. Chico State has had a break from CCAA play for two consecutive weekends, hosting Northwest Nazarene Feb 20-22 and having last weekend off from games. The Wildcats won the series against the Crusaders 3-1 with senior Blake Gibbs racking up three home runs and a triple in the series. Other Players to Watch: Cody Slader (.432, 16 H, 13 R), Austin Prott (.417 BA, 15 H, 5 2B's) and Nick Baker (0.50 ERA)
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Otters split their first CCAA road trip of 2013 at Cal State L.A. last weekend. CSUMB dropped Friday's game 4-0 before sweeping the Golden Eagles on Saturday, 5-2 and 9-1. Sunday's game was a blowout for CSULA, 20-3. Senior Jason Merjano (San Ramon, Calif./Sierra College) had a great weekend, hitting .462 (6-for-13) with two runs.
 
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN:  Senior Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove HS) became CSUMB's all-time career hit leader (145) during the CSULA series, passing Jacob Flores (2007-10) in the record books. George already has three other career records; stolen bases (50), triples (15) and runs scored (82).  He is on the verge three additional career records; games played (3), games started (2) and RBIs (61). George and classmate Ronnie Fhurong (Hollister, Calif./San Benito HS) are making their way up the ladder on the career RBI list with George tied for fourth and Fhurong is one spot behind him with 59.
 
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN II:  Sophomore RHP Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East) is one victory away from tying Aaron Appino (Rancho Cordova, Calif./Sacramento City College) and Jake Paolinetti (Santa Clara, Calif./San Jose City College) in career wins.  The duo each notched nine victories in 2011-12 season. 
 
2013 NCBWA NATIONAL RANKING:  The Otters entered the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25 for the first time in program history, debuting at No. 24 in this week's poll. No. 4 Chico State is the only other CCAA school making the list. In 2012, CSUMB made its first national poll by earning a spot in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 at No. 27 on Feb. 27.
 
2013 NCBWA REGIONAL RANKING:  Cal State Monterey Bay (11-4) sneaked up to the No. 3 spot in the latest NCBWA West Regional poll this week. Chico State (11-1) remains in the top spot of the CCAA-loaded group, followed by No. 2 Dixie State (9-1) and then No. 3 CSUMB (13-6).  Rounding out the top 10 are No. 4 Sonoma State (10-4), No. 5 Cal State L.A. (11-8), T-No. 6 Cal Poly Pomona (12-7),  T-No. 6 UC San Diego (9-6), No. 8 Hawaii Pacific (11-3), No.  Cal State East Bay (13-6), No. 10 Grand Canyon (9-4).
 
HISTORIC 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 Garcia 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. 
 
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  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 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 and sophomore right-handed pitcher Jeff Owen were selected to the Daktronics All-West Region second team.  Owen joined senior shortstop Jason Merjano 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 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 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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