All-CCAA Baseball team announced

Jordan Whitman

2013 CCAA Baseball All-Conference Team

First Team
Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown
Cody Doyle Cal State L.A. C Jr. Covina, Calif.
James Wharton Cal State L.A. 1B Sr. Reseda, Calif.
Ryan Cooperstone Cal State L.A. 2B Sr. Chatsworth, Calif.
David Garcia Cal State Monterey Bay 3B Sr. Gilroy, Calif.
Jason Merjano Cal State Monterey Bay SS Sr. San Ramon, Calif.
David Castillo Cal State East Bay INF Sr. Pinole, Calif.
Mark Hurley Cal State Monterey Bay OF Jr. Hollister, Calif.
Scott Masik Cal State L.A. OF Sr. Santa Cruz, Calif.
Danny Susdorf UC San Diego OF Sr. Newhall, Calif.
Ivory Thomas Cal State Dominguez Hills OF Sr. Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Whitman Cal Poly Pomona OF Sr. Cypress, Calif.
Jeremy Weber Cal State L.A. DH Jr. Lancaster, Calif.
Troy Cruz UC San Diego UTL Fr. Chula Vista, Calif.
Will Anderson Cal State Monterey Bay SP Jr. Pleasanton, Calif.
Nick Baker Chico State SP Jr. La Quinta, Calif.
Harmen Sidhu Sonoma State SP Sr. Martinez, Calif.
Glenn Wallace Sonoma State SP Sr. Reno, Nev.
A.J. Quintero Cal State Monterey Bay RP Jr. Vacaville, Calif.
Second Team
Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown
Mark Lindsay San Francisco State C Sr. Upland, Calif.
Bo Walter Cal Poly Pomona 1B Jr. Lafayette, Calif.
Ronnie Fhurong Cal State Monterey Bay 2B Sr. Hollister, Calif.
Tyler Christian Cal State L.A. 3B Sr. San Jose, Calif.
Miguel Flores San Francisco State SS Sr. Union City, Calif.
Kyle Zozaya Cal State East Bay INF Sr. Hollister, Calif.
Craig Beevers Cal State Stanislaus OF Sr. Newman, Calif.
Grady Espinosa San Francisco State OF Jr. Yucaipa, Calif.
Blake Gibbs Chico State OF Sr. Bellevue, Wash.
Garrett Schwartz Sonoma State OF Jr. Salinas, Calif.
Cody Webber Chico State DH Sr. Fountain Valley, Calif.
Charlie Sharrer Cal State East Bay UTL Sr. Palmdale, Calif.
Sean Becker Cal State East Bay SP Jr. San Fernando, Calif.
Troy Neiman Chico State SP Sr. Castaic, Calif.
Jeff Owen Cal State Monterey Bay SP So. Clovis, Calif.
Jordan Sechler Cal State L.A. SP Sr. Santa Maria, Calif.
Cody Ponce  Cal Poly Pomona RP Fr. Upland, Calif.

 

HONORABLE MENTION: SP: Nolan Sheridan (Fr., San Francisco State), Ryan Goodbrand (Sr., UC San Diego), Kagen Hopkins (SR., Chico State), Matt Fontaine (Sr., CS East Bay) RP: Sean Martin (Sr., Chico State); C: Ben Manlove (Sr., Chico State) 1B: Richard Seigel (Sr., UC San Diego); 2B: Eren Miravalles (Jr., CS East Bay) 3B: Pierson Jeremiah (Sr., Chico State) SS: Dillon Moyer (Jr., UC San Diego) INF: Myles Dempsey (Sr., Chico State), Cody Slader (So., Chico State), Zac Chuvala (Sr., CS East Bay); OF: Brandon Alexander (Sr., CS East Bay), Steven Filippi (Sr., Sonoma State), Kevin Logan (Jr., CS Dominguez Hills), Austin Prott (Sr., Chico State) DH: Billy Hamilton (SR., CS San Bernardinoi); UT: Jason Padlo (Fr., Cal Poly Pomona).

Most Valuable Player: Glenn Wallace, Sonoma State
Most Valuable Player: James Wharton, Cal State L.A.
Freshman of the Year: Troy Cruz, UC San Diego
Co- Newcomer of the Year: Mark Hurley, Cal State Monterey Bay; Sean Becker, Cal State East Bay
Coach of the Year: Walt White, Cal State Monterey Bay

Cal State job should draw great interest

Kevin Becker cropped.jpg

Kevin Becker resigned today after 17 years heading the Cal State San Bernardino women’s basketball program. He was the longest-tenured coach in the CCAA. Anyone that lasts that long in a position is doing something right.

Now comes the task of finding a successor. The vacancy comes at a tough time with it being the peak recruiting period for coaches. Athletic director Kevin Hatcher says the school expects to move swiftly in filling that position. The bigger and better the pool of applicants, the faster administration can proceed.

It shouldn’t take long. The Cal State job is one of the best, maybe THE best in the 12-team conference for several reasons.

First, the facility. Coussoulis Arena is the top venue in the conference. RIMAC Arena at UC San Diego is also nice and it’s on a campus in La Jolla, so that trumps most. But no other facility can compare from a facilities standpoint.

Second, resources. Yes Cal State system is cash strapped. But the women’s program is funded better than the men’s program which annually competes for conference and regional titles. The women’s has to be funded better because of the gender equity issues and the high ratio of women’s student to men.

Third, the talent pool in the area is unmatched. It probably hasn’t been tapped as much as it should have been in recent years. Yes a lot the talented players in the area probably want to get out and go to school elsewhere. But there are plenty of talented athletes that would welcome the chance to play close to home.

Cal State volleyball coach Kim Cherniss wins with local talent, supplementing it with a few kids from elsewhere. There is no reason the same can’t be done in women’s hoops.

Fourth, it’s a quality job in a quality conference. The top teams in the CCAA pretty much contend for national titles in every sport. The travel is really pretty convenient and less tedious (with the exception of Humboldt State), compared to other conferences. And for the most part the competition within the conference is top notch no matter what the sport.

It shouldn’t be a hard sell for Hatcher.

Taijeron faring well in Mets system

Former Cal Poly Pomona standout Travis Taijeron has been named Florida State League Player of the Week. Taijeron, of the Ports St. Lucie Mets went 9-for-19 in six games with , six doubles, and a home run.

After tearing up the South Atlantic League for 64 games last season, Taijeron was promoted to St. Lucie in mid June. Though he struggled in the FSL in 2012, hitting .203 in 48 games, he seems to have taken the measure of the league in 2013. The 24-year-old outfielder has at least one extra-base hit in each of his last seven games and is reaching base at a .393 clip, which leads the Mets and ranks 11th in the league.

Taijeron was selected by the New York Mets in the 18th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal Poly Pomona where we was named California Collegiate Athletic Association Male Athlete of the Year..

CPP player earns weekly CCAA honor

Cal Poly Pomona’s Chris Carlson has been named the Rawlings/California Collegiate Athletic Association Baseball Player of the Week for the week of Apr. 29-May 5.

The junior from Chino Hills guided the Broncos to a four-game series split with Cal State East Bay to wrap up the 2013 season and spoiling the Pioneers chances at their first CCAA post-season appearance.

Carlson compiled a weekend average of .692, hitting 9-for-13 with two runs scored, a double, a homerun, and two RBI.  He also walked twice in his 14 total plate appearances for an on-base percentage of .733.

Defensively, the starting outfielder was flawless with nine putouts and an assist on the weekend.

 

Rawlings/CCAA Baseball Player of the Week
Feb. 1 – 3: David Gacia (Cal State Monterey Bay);
Feb. 4 – 10: Cody Doyle (Cal State L.A.)
Feb. 11 – 17: Manny Acosta (Cal State L.A.)
Feb. 18 – Feb. 24: Kyle Zozaya (Cal State East Bay)
Feb. 25 – Mar. 3: Kevin Logan (Cal State Dominguez Hills)
Mar. 4 – 10: Jordan Whitman (Cal Poly Pomona)
Mar. 11 – 17: Garrett Schwartz (Sonoma State)
Mar. 18 – 24: Charlie Sharrer (Cal State East Bay)
Mar. 25 – 31: James Wharton (Cal State L.A.)
Apr. 1 – 7: Grady Espinosa (San Francisco State)
Apr. 8 – 14: Scott Masik (Cal State L.A.)
Apr. 15 – 21: Mark Hurley (Cal State Monterey Bay)
Apr. 22 – 28: Mark Hurley (Cal State Monterey Bay)
Apr. 29 – May 5:  Chris Carlson (Cal Poly Pomona)

All-Region and state selections in Community College softball

Photo Credit: Dave Aguilera

CCCAA SOFTBALL AWARDS

Coach of the Year – Ruby Rojas, Mt. SAC

Player of the Year – Natalie Barrios, Riverside

Pitcher of the Year – Emily Seidel, Mt. SAC

ALL-STATE (SOUTH)

Gabrielle Beasley, Southwestern; Vanessa Bracamonte, Mt. SAC; Carlie Daniel, Palomar; Kawehi Ephan, Citrus; Alyssa Fuimaono, College of the Desert; Gina Grijalva,Riverside; Kimmie Lockhart, College of the Canyons; Katherine Macias, Riverside; Kryn Matsutani, Cuesta; Ariana Mejia, Cerritos; Nicole Nobbe, Cypress; Alendrina Pichardo, Mt. SAC; Chelsea Ponce, Riverside; Karina Romero, College of the Desert; Alexandrea Simmons, Mt. SAC; Alexandria Thorpe, Ventura.

ALL-STATE (NORTH)

Racie Carel, Shasta; Kyla Cisneros, Fresno; Sierra Clark, Cabrillo; Grace Combs, Fresno; Bridget Godfrey, Sequoias; Kaycee Gonzalez, Hartnell; Miya Hamilton ,Napa Valley; Tawni Jobke, DeAnza; Megan McColpin, Shasta; Selina Rodriguez, San Mateo; Treasure Rodriguez, San Jose; Megan Scherer, Monterey Peninsula; Samantha Schilling, Marin; Jenna Thorne, Sierra; Ashten Welch, Sacramento; Taylor Wright, Sequoias.

ALL-SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Andrea Arellano, Cerritos; McCrae Cayton, Saddleback; Amanda Chatman, Moorpark; Nicole Checkie, Moorpark; Kelsey Christopherson, LA Mission; Ashley Colon, Canyons; Brenna Farinas, Antelope Valley; Savannah Gutierrez, Canyons; Monique Guzman, LA Mission; Alyssa Hernandez, Canyons; Stephanie Luhman, Cypress; Brenna Parker, Palomar; Terry Lee Rahe, Santiago Canyon; Hannah Romanski, Santiago Canyon; Katelyn Traut, San Bernardino Valley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All-Foothill Conference baseball honors

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The Foothill Conference baseball coaches have taken a cue from softball coaches, naming everybody to the All-Conference team. A total of 23 players on the second team . . . Come on guys. For better of worse, here it is.

Pitcher of the Year – Paul Paez, Rio Hondo

Player of the Year – Jeff Ricker, Mt. San Jacinto

Coach of the Year – Bill Mierzwik, San Bernardino Valley

Howard Lowder Award – Nate Lamdin, Barstow

FIRST TEAM

Starting pitchers – Manny Arciniega, San Bernardino Valley; Jake McCoy, College of the Desert; Joe Fernandez, Mt. San Jacinto, Diego Ibarra, Chaffey

Relief pitcher – Tyler Campbell, Chaffey

Catcher – Ryan Miller, San Bernardino Valley

First base – Alex Campos, Rio Hondo

Infielders – Kyle Jackson, Chaffey; Ryan Goodman, Chaffey; Vince Carnales, Mt. San Jacinto; Dylan Lohman, Antelope Valley

Utility – Gabriel Soto, Barstow; Brandon Kinser, San Bernardino Valley

Outfielders – Aaron Owen, Antelope Valley; James Carraway, Barstow; Jesus Cuevas, Rio Hondo; Isaiah Delsi, Chaffey

Designated hitter – A.J. David, San Bernardino Valley

SECOND TEAM

Starting pitchers – Andrew Rabiej, Antelope Valley; Tyler Rich, San Bernardino Valley; Augie Gallardo, Mt. San Jacinto; Josh King, Barstow

Relief pitcher – Kurtis Sargent, San Bernardino Valley; Adrian Lopez, Victor Valley

Catcher – Bryce McKee, Desert

First base – Alex Pollard, Barstow; Andrew Dorado, Chaffey; Nick Meyers, Cerro Coso

Infielders – Johnny Armenta, Mt. San Jacinto; Sho Serrano, Antelope Valley; Dominic Davis, Rio Hondo; Conner Garrison, Desert

Utility – Cory Clevenger, Desert

Outfielders – Dominic Martinez, Rio Hondo; Tyler Spotville, Victor Valley; LKeonard Malfavon, San Bernardino Valley; Gabby Soto, Barstow; Chase Phillips, Mt. San Jacinto

Designated hitter – Jorge Ortega, Rio Hondo; Bryan Faucher, Cerro Coso; Michael McNicholl, Barstow.

Gold Glove winners

Infield – Kyle Jackson (Chaffey); Outfield – James Carraway (Barstow); Catcher – Ryan Miller (San Bernardino Valley); Pitcher – Diego Ibarra (Chaffey)

 

All-Conference honors not always an “honor”

There’s nothing like watering down what is supposed to be a nice honor. The issue came to my attention as I’m typing in the All-Foothill Conference selections for softball in this same space.

There were a total of 21 players named to the first-team alone in women’s softball. There were another 16 named to the second team. That’s totally ridiculous for a sport in a good conference, much less a bad one. The Foothill Conference is good in some sports but softball isn’t one of them.

I’m OK with maybe 12 – nine position players in addition to a Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year, maybe one utility player. More than 12 and it ceases to be that much of an honor.  This isn’t one of those leagues where everyone gets saluted for “participation.”

It is evident in the selections that it is predetermined how many selections each team will get, with every team getting at least a token selection. So even last-place Barstow (6-29, 1-13) had two selections, a first team and a second team selection. The first-place selection from Barstow hit .286, .a .286 in a weak conference, Ugh, OK!

First place College of the Desert had 10 selections. So every player in the starting lineup made All-Conference. Really?

Maybe coaches feel pressured to push for their players, lest they be subject to ridicule from parents, much like it can be at the high school level. Well at the college level we’re dealing with adults. We shouldn’t be throwing lots of names out there just so no one’s feelings are hurt.

All-Foothill honors out in softball

Softball

All-Conference honors have been announced in softball with lots of locals among those selected. Here’s the full list:

Coach of the Year – Bianca Urquidi, Rio Hondo

Pitcher of the Year – Alyssa Fuimaono, College of the Desert

Player of the Year – Karina Romero, College of the Desert

First team

College of the Desert – Miranda Romero, Danyelle Sturm, Tori Heinemann, Janelle Eccles; Chaffey – Taylor Jenkins, Anjelica Cerecedes, Jennifer Del Mar, Allison Dunn, Morgan Hoare; Antelope Valley – Breanne Farinas, Destinee King, Haley Schulman; Rio Hondo – Aisha Ruiz, Samantha Martinez; San Bernardino Valley – Katelyn Traut, Katherine Maldonado; Mt. San Jacinto – Nohely ALvarez; Victor Valley – Marissa Amaya; Barstow – Tessa Saenz

Second team

Desert – Roxanne Allen, Ashlee Stolarski, Natalie Padilla, Rylee Perez; Chaffey – Lauren Avila, Jennifer Springer, Alexandria Haro; Antelope Valley – Ashlee Vivirito, Taylor Anderson; Rio Hondo – Natalie Nunez, Amanda Reynoso; San Bernardino ValleyCeleste Martinez, Robyn Davis; Mt. San Jacinto – DJ Morones; Victor Valley – Lorena Acosta; Barstow – Alexis Conant

 

 

All-SCIAC softball honors announced

SCIAC honors have been announced in softball and it is Claremont-Mudd-Scripps with a conference-best seven players recognized. The University of Redlands finished first in the regular season but it was CMS winning the post-season tournamentr.

Here’s the full list:

Player of the Year: Kayla Uphold, SR – University of Redlands

Rookie of the Year: Katie Savard, FR – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

All-SCIAC First Team

P – Natalie Both, FR – Chapman

P – Hayley Schultz, SO – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

C – Samantha Mellano, SO – Whittier

1B- Raven Freret, JR – University of La Verne

2B – Harmony Palmer, SR – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

SS – Danielle Vela, SO – University of La Verne

3B – Mercedez Cundiff, SO – Whittier

OF – Jenny Richards, SR – Chapman

OF – Jacqueline Shimamoto, JR – Occidental

OF – Sarah Beeman, SR – University of Redlands

DP – Nikoli Sharp, SO – University of Redlands

UTKaty Kibbe, FR – University of La Verne

At-Large – Marie Bradvica, SO – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

All-SCIAC Second Team

P – Brittany Vacura, SR – Occidental

P – Cassie Oregel, SO – Chapman

C – Shannon Tinsley, SR – California Lutheran

1B – Caitlyn Hynes, JR – Pomona-Pitzer

2B – Alexandra Flores, SO – Whittier

SS – Jordan Learn, JR –Whittier

3B – Candice Nunez, JR – University of La Verne

OF – Tara Robinson, FR – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

OF – Kerry Peterson, SR – Chapman

OF – AJ Carrasco, FR – University of Redlands

DP – Mikayla O’Neal, FR – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps          

UT – Shonna Christianson, SO – California Lutheran

At-Large – Megan Latta, JR – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

All-CCAA softball honors doled out

CSUSB_SB_Alyssa Flores

UC San Diego and Sonoma State each had a conference-high seven players named to the All-CCAA team.

The lone representative from Cal State San Bernardino is senior third baseman Alyssa Flores who hit .405 with 47 RBI.

Most Valuable Player – Chrissy Stalf, Humboldt State; Most Valuable Pitcher – Samantha Lipperd, Sonoma State; Freshman of the Year – Katie Obbema, Humboldt State; Coach of the Year - Frank Cheek, Humboldt State; Newcomer of the Year – Vanessa Avila, CS Monterey Bay

 

FIrst Team
Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown
Stephanie Jimenez Cal State Dominguez Hills P Sr. Norwalk, Calif.
Katie Obbema Humboldt State P Fr. Morgan Hill, Calif.
Courtney Hiatt Humboldt State C Sr. Laguna Hills, Calif.
Chrissy Stalf Humboldt State 1B Sr. Oakley, Calif.
Holli Brown Sonoma State 2B Jr. Fremont, Calif.
Alyssa Flores Cal State San Bernardino 3B Sr. Fontana, Calif.
Ancia Purdy Sonoma State SS So. Huntington Beach, Calif.
Vanessa Currie Sonoma State OF Sr. San Diego, Calif.
Dani Randall Humboldt State OF So. San Jose, Calif.
Kirsten Willmon UC San Diego OF Jr. Elk Grove, Calif.
Cori Reinhardt Cal State Monterey Bay UTL So. Riverside, Calif.
Nicole Spangler UC San Diego DP Sr. Kirkland, Calif.
Caitlin Brown UC San Diego AL Jr. Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif.
Sarah Locarnini Cal State Stanislaus AL Sr. Morgan Hill, Calif.
Second Team
Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown
Marisa Ibarra San Francisco State P Jr. Hollister, Calif.
Samantha Lipperd Sonoma State P Sr. Boulder Creek, Calif.
Keisi Chinen Sonoma State C So. Pleasant Hill, Calif.
Ali Palermo Sonoma State 1B Sr. Redwood City, Calif.
Taryn Thomas Cal State East Bay 2B Sr. Union City, Calif.
Emily McQuaid UC San Diego 3B Jr. Monrovia, Calif.
Christina Chavez Cal State Dominguez Hills SS Sr. Carson, Calif.
Callie Grant UC San Diego OF Fr. Simi Valley, Calif.
Taylor Sepulveda UC San Diego OF So. Temecula, Calif.
Tonya Walker Humboldt State OF Jr. Redding, Calif.
Hayley Condon Sonoma State UTL Jr. Santa Monica, Calif.
Hannah Williams Humboldt State DP So. Brentwood, Calif.
Mya Romero UC San Diego AL Jr. Woodland, Calif.
Adriana Sanchez Cal State Dominguez Hills AL Jr. San Fernando, Calif.

AL – At-Large selection

Honorable Mention

Brittany Brenner, CS Dominguez Hills (Jr., C/DP); Desiree’ Gonzalez, Chico State C (Fr., 1B); Courtney Gravel, San Francisco St (So., INF); Sara Holdridge, CS East Bay (Sr., 3B);Brittani Weatherford, CS Stanislaus (P/OF)