Coach White on series split at CSUSB: “This past weekend truly tested our focus and resolve.  Many teams would have folded or would have become desperate, but we just continued to play the way we have all season.  This team believes in each other and they accepted the challenge that was in front of them.  I am proud of the way we competed when our backs were against the wall.”
 
    Coach White on playing final 10 of 12 regular season games at home: “Playing at home is a great way to end the regular season.  We have had great crowds with plenty of energy.  Our team feeds off the comforts of home.  We understand our park and we understand how our park plays in certain conditions.  We look forward to playing our best baseball of the season in front of the people that care about us the most. ”
 
      Coach White on Cal Poly Pomona: “Cal Poly Pomona is a great team and they are coached well.  Despite their .500 conference record, Pomona could be the most talented team in the league.  Prior to the season, they were to picked to finish in the top four in the conference.  It goes to show how challenging our conference can be with every weekend presenting a serious test. This series will be a great challenge for us and we are looking forward to it.” 

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LEADING OFF: CSUMB begins a long homestand (minus a stop in Turlock for a doubleheader on April 27) at the Otter Sports Complex to conclude the 2013 regular season.  The Otters begin with a single game on Friday at 3 p.m. followed by an 11 a.m. doubleheader Saturday.  The series comes to an end on Sunday with a 11 a.m. first pitch. 
 
SCOUTING CAL POLY POMONA: The Broncos have struggled a bit in conference action this season with three series losses (Chico, Sonoma State and Cal State L.A.) and three splits (Cal State San Bernardino, UC San Diego and Cal State Dominguez Hills).  Their season highlight thus far is a series sweep at Cal State Stanislaus. The Broncos are still in the hunt to make the CCAA tournament; just two games back from fourth place Sonoma State. Players to Watch: junior first baseman Bo Walter (.364 BA, 52 H, 9 2B), senior outfielder Jordan Whitman (.355 BA, 52 H, 31 R, 37 RBI), senior RHP Kevin Bosson (8-4, 2.92 ERA, 83.1 IP, 61 K).
 
LAST MEETING WITH THE BRONCOS: The Otters and Broncos have split the series in the last two seasons.  In 2012, CSUMB won the Saturday doubleheader against then No. 24 CPP with identical scores of 5-1 but dropped the series opener (3-2) and finale (6-2).
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Otters had to settle with a split at Cal State San Bernardino after dropping the first two games by a single run (5-4 and 8-7).  CSUMB regrouped and pulled off an 11-4 7-inning victory followed by a 4-2 finale win. Sunday's victory was CSUMB's 26th of the season, tying the program record that was set last season.
 
FIRST CCAA SWEEP EVER: The Otters clinched their first CCAA series sweep in program history, taking four from No. 23 Sonoma State last homestand.  A four-run seventh inning launched the Otters to a 5-3 series opener win.  A Tommy George (Elk Grove HS) walk-off double and another gem by Jeff Owen (Clovis East HS) led the Otters to a twinbill sweep on Saturday. Junior A.J. Quintero (Vacaville/Sacramento City College) earned his a CCAA leading sixth save after tossing four shutout innings to clinch an 11-4 series finale victory.   
 
CCAA STANDINGS BREAKDOWN: The Otters (18-10 CCAA) enter the weekend in third place in the conference standings, five games behind leader Chico State and four games back on second place Cal State L.A. Sonoma State sit in the fourth spot with a 16-12 record.  There are three series (12 games) remaining in the regular season, the top four teams will advance to the CCAA Tournament held in Stockton on at Banner Island Ballpark.
 
COLLEGIATE BASEBALL POLL:  The Otters have slipped down to the No. 28 spot in the College Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30 (released April 14). CSUMB received 42 votes in the latest poll and is one of five West Region programs (three CCAA schools) ranked in the top 30.  Chico State leads with a No. 3 ranking and Cal State L.A. moved up to No. 12. Pac West Conference's Dixie State makes their debut at No. 22 while Grand Canyon sits at No. 15. 
 
OTHER NATIONAL POLLS:  CSUMB is also featured in two other national polls this week. The College Baseball Lineup poll is CSUMB's highest ranking of the week at No. 21.  The Otters are ranked No. 24 in the D2Baseball.com.
 
2013 NCBWA REGIONAL RANKING:  The Otters (24-10) drop down to No. 5 in the latest NCBWA West Regional poll this week. Chico State (23-5) continues to lead the Top 10 for the ninth consecutive week, followed by No. 2 Cal State L.A. (25-13), No. 3 Grand Canyon (30-9) and No. 4 Dixie State (26-10). After the Otters is No. 6 Cal State East Bay (24-14), No. 7 Sonoma State (24-14), No. 8 Cal Baptist (26-12), No. 9 Cal Poly Pomona (24-18) and No. 10 Western Oregon (23-15).
 
CCAA STATISTICS:  Senior RHP Jeff Owen shares the top spot in wins (8) with Cal Poly Pomona's Kevin Bossen.  He ranks second behind leader Harmen Sidhu with 66 strikeouts and 10.07 strikeouts per nine innings (seven or more starts).  Among the ERA leaders with six or more starts, Owen ranks fifth with a ERA of 1.83 and Will Anderson (Pleasanton/Fresno State) is sixth with 1.88 ERA.
 
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN:  Senior Tommy George became CSUMB's all-time career hit leader (167) during the CSULA series, passing Jacob Flores (2007-10) in the record books. He added most game started (146) and games played (169) during the Chico State series. With 70 RBIs, George now has his sights set on passing Matt DeJesus's record of 79. George already has three other career records; stolen bases (54), triples (18) and runs scored (95).  Senior Ronnie Fhurong (Hollister, Calif./San Benito HS) is also making his way up the RBI career record ladder with 68 (4th). 
 
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN II:  With six strikeouts last Saturday at CSUSB, sophomore RHP Jeff Owen passed Grayson Adams (2007) as the CSUMB single season leader in strikeouts with 66 thus far. Owen already clinched the top spot in the CSUMB record books this season with most wins in a single season (8) and career (12).  Junior A.J. Quintero has tied the single season record with eight saves, set in 2012 by Harold Zosel.
 
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.
 
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.  Rawlings/CCAA Baseball Player of the Week – check.  This checklist can be found on Cal State Monterey Bay senior third baseman's David Garcia locker for the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 3. In the season opener on Feb. 1, the 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 series sweep.
 
MR. MARCH:  With Reggie Jackson claiming the Mr. October nickname, senior Will Anderson is CSUMB's Mr. March.  He had a lights-out month by going 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA that consisted of 30 innings of work, giving up only three runs and 14 hits.  He racked up 24 striekouts while walking only seven batters.
 
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 were named to the second team while shortstop Jason Merjano (San Ramon/Sierra College) and right-fielder Tommy George earned honorable mention nods.
 
2012 POST SEASON HONORS:  Four Otters earned All-West Region honors in 2012.  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. Owen was also 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.  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. 
 
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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