Coach White on CSUMB's bye week: “Our bye weekend really came at a good time.  It allowed for our pitchers to be well rested and it gave us an opportunity to improve upon some fundamental aspects of our game.  We have been able to put in a little more practice time as we head into the stretch run of conference play.”


Coach White on Jason Brady returning after an injury in February: “Jason is a big part of our team and having him back at practice, working his way back into game shape, is a big emotional lift for our team.  His injury was concerning at the time and knowing that he is back, healthy and excited to play is uplifting.  We will be easing Jason back in the mix once he is comfortable and he progresses to a point where he is ready to play without hesitation.” 


Coach White on playing at Sonoma State: “Sonoma is a well-coached team, they are very talented as a whole and they have exceptional pitching.  This series will be another challenge and it will come down to which team plays better baseball this weekend.  Our fans should anticipate an exciting series between two very good teams.  Our focus this coming weekend will be to strive to play our best baseball of the season.  That has been our goal all year and this weekend is no exception.” 

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LEADING OFF: The Otters are back in town this weekend, hosting the Seawolves of Sonoma State.  The Otters begin the weekend with a 3 p.m. single game Friday, April 5.  CSUMB follows it with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 and the series finale is on Sunday, April 7. Both days begin at 11 a.m. 
 
SCOUTING NO. 23 SONOMA STATE: The Seawolves concluded the month of March with two CCAA series victories.  Sonoma State defeated San Francisco State 3-1 on March 22-24, giving up just five runs in the entire series.  The Seawolves clinched the series win at Cal Poly Pomona last weekend with a 6-0 victory in the series finale.  Players to Watch: junior outfielder Garrett Schwartz (.388 BA, 33 H, 10 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBIs), senior outfielder Steven Filippi (.349 BA, 22 H, 16 R, 6 SB), senior RHP Harmen Sidhu (6-1, 0.53 ERA, 50.2 IP, 59 K).
 
LAST MEETING WITH THE SEAWOLVES: CSUMB prevented a sweep with a 8-3 victory in the series finale in Rohnert Park to end the 2012 season. The Otter offense exploded with five runs in the eighth to regain the lead.  CSUMB dropped the previous three games 8-5, 4-0 and 8-3.
 
PREVIOUS TIME OUT: The Otters split their second CCAA road series with a 2-2 result at Cal State Dominguez Hills. CSUMB won the first two games 7-2 and 9-5 behind starters Chris Daniels (Citrus Heights/Sierra College) and Will Anderson (Pleasanton/Fresno State). The Otters dropped the final two games 2-1 and 3-2 due to late-inning runs.  Senior Victor Rasor-Thompson (San Diego/Univ. of San Diego) led the Otters, going 7-for-13 (.538) with four RBIs and three runs. Senior David Garcia (Gilroy/San Jose CC) also produced at the plate with a .400 batting average and two doubles. 
 
CURRENT NATIONAL POLLS:  CSUMB is featured in three national polls this week. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll is CSUMB's highest ranking of the week at No. 23. The Otters are ranked No. 26 in the College Baseball Lineup and No. 24 in the D2Baseball.com rankings.  CSUMB is second in the receiving votes section of the Collegiate Baseball poll.
 
2013 NCBWA REGIONAL RANKING:  The Otters (20-10) are No. 3 in the latest NCBWA West Regional poll this week. Chico State (23-5) continues to lead the Top 10 for the seventh consecutive week, followed by No. 2 Grand Canyon (26-5). Rounding out the Top 10 are No. 4 Sonoma State (21-9), No. 5 Cal State East Bay (24-10), No. 6 Dixie State (20-8), No. 7 Cal State L.A. (21-13), No. 8 Cal Baptist (21-9), No. 9 Hawaii Pacific (20-14) and No. 10 Cal Poly Pomona (18-15).
 
CCAA STATISTICS:  Senior RHP Jeff Owen (Clovis East) and Will Anderson are in a six-way tie for second in the conference with six wins.  Owen ranks second with 9.77 strikeouts per nine innings (four or more starts) and third with 51 strikeouts.  Anderson is tied is seventh and Owen follows in eighth among starters (with four or more starts) in ERA with a 1.51 and 1.72 respectively. 
 
COLLEGIATE BASEBALL POLL DEBUT:  The Otters muscled their way into the baseball elite with it's highest ranking, No. 21 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II poll released March 18. CSUMB made its first national poll appearance in the 27th spot on Feb. 27, 2012. The Otters who received 168 votes in the latest poll and are one of four West Region programs (all CCAA schools) ranked in the top 30.  Chico State leads with a No. 13 ranking while Cal State East Bay debuted tied at No. 22 and Sonoma State dropped to No. 24.
 
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN:  Senior Tommy George (Elk Grove HS) became CSUMB's all-time career hit leader (155) during the CSULA series, passing Jacob Flores (2007-10) in the record books. He added most games started (138) and games played (161) during the Chico State series. With 65 RBIs, George now has his sights set on passing Matt DeJesus's record of 79. George already has three additional career records; stolen bases (51), triples (18) and runs scored (88).  Senior Ronnie Fhurong (Hollister/San Benito HS) is also making his way up the RBI career record ladder with 61. 
 
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN II:  With his win on March 16, sophomore RHP Jeff Owen has the CSUMB career record with ten wins. The previous record was shared by Aaron Appino (Rancho Cordova, Calif./Sacramento City College) and Jake Paolinetti (Santa Clara, Calif./San Jose City College) in 2011-12 season. 
 
TWO SERIES SWEEP IN 2013:  The Otters achieved their first ever series sweep at Point Loma Nazarene to open the 2013 season (Feb. 1-2).  CSUMB registered another three-game series sweep against Western Oregon on March 15-16. Against the Wolves, the Otters also set program record for margin of victory with a 20-3 pounding in the series opener.
 
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 (Gilroy/Mission College) 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 strikeouts 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 (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.
 
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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