February 4, 2010
SEASIDE, Calif. - The 2010 Otter Baseball looks to rebound from a season with many near victories and the loss of two All-CCAA players in #Shea Davis# and #Matt DeJesus#. This year's team will be built around pitching and defense. With the loss of 13 players due to graduation, the Otters will rely on their youth and strong 2009 recruiting class. The 2010 team will feature three freshmen and four seniors in starting roles.
Pitchers
The 2010 Otters pitching staff will be looking to rebound from their 2009 season. Head Coach #Rich Aldrete# will rely on strong starting pitching to get to a rebuilt Otter bullpen.
The starting rotation will be lead by senior #Patrick McClain# and will also feature the return of 2008 starter #Justin Aguilera# from Tommy John surgery and junior transfer #Scott Tully# from Sierra College, 2009 Northern California Super Regional Runner-Up, rounding out the starters will be sophomore #Thadd McAlpin# and freshmen #Jeff Owen#. The rebuilt bullpen will be lead by junior #Adam Lanthier# and complemented by senior #Truett Hardin#, freshmen #Gavin Kinoshita#, junior #Ron Duer#, along with sophomores #Tanner Van Meter#, Andrew Suarez and freshmen #Patrick Fletcher#, #Daniel Girard#, #Corey Lathram# and #Jacob Crose#.
Coach Aldrete's Pitching Breakdown
We will rely heavily on quality Friday starts by McClain, who last year was one of the best pitchers in the CCAA. With the return of Aguilera and Tully to the starting rotation, I feel we have a good one-two punch for our Saturday doubleheaders. After losing so many games in the final three innings last season, I feel strong with our new bullpen led by Lanthier in the closer roll. If Lanthier has the ball in the ninth, I know we can win the game.
Catchers
Behind the plate, the Otters will rely on freshmen #Tyler Young#. Young earned Second Team All-State honors at Punahou High School in Honolulu, HI while leading his team to a state title. In addition to Young, returning senior #Joey Friedman# and junior #Peter Estes# will compete for time.
Coach Aldrete's Catcher Breakdown
We have three quality catchers this season. Young, Friedman, and Estes are capable of handling the pitching staff and show their power at bat.
Infield
The 2010 infield will be led by four-year starter #Jacob Flores# at third base. Last season, splitting time between third and catcher, Flores was one of the top hitters for the Otters and the CCAA. After a strong summer season, Flores is back to help the Otters in his senior campaign. Backing up Flores will be freshmen #Sean Barber#, one of the top hitters from Rio Mesa High School in the Pacific View League. Up the middle, the Otters will rely on red-shirt freshmen #Ronnie Fhurong# at shortstop and freshmen #Nolan Murray# at second base. Fhurong, which was named the 2008 Tri-County MVP from Hollister High School, is a top notch fielder and a very competent hitter. Murray has been one of the top hitters in San Diego County the past two seasons and will lead off for the Otters. Competing for their spots are red-shirt freshmen #Alex Mangubat#, a shortstop with some power at the plate and at second base #Kyle Espinola#, an All-County player from Chowchilla High School. Both Mangubat and Espinola may also see time in the outfield. This year at first base will be sophomore #Niko Kanakaris#, a right handed power hitter from San Diego County.
Coach Aldrete's Infield Breakdown
We are fairly young in the infield this season. Fhurong and Kanakaris have big shoes to fill with the graduation of ALL-CCAA Davis and DeJesus. I feel both are more than capable of doing well in the conference for the next three to four years. At second, I have two guys in Murray and Espinola that can hit and play the field well. At third with Flores, I have confidence in his continued growth and success form last season and I have a very capable backup in Barber.
Outfield
The Otter outfield will feature seniors #Brent Sargenti# in center field, #Ryan Chagonjian#, and UC-Santa Barbara transfer and Monterey High standout #Chris Lopiccolo# in left field. Also seeing time will be senior #Jason Okamoto# along with freshmen #Tommy George# and #Will Kollmeyer#. Senior #Jerrod Krick#, junior #Andrew DeGarmo# and sophomore #Jordan Porcella-Smeds# will also be a part of the Otter outfield.
Coach Aldrete's Outfield Breakdown
Our outfield will be strong and have the ability to cover a lot of ground. Both Sargenti and Chagonjian are five-year players who know the offense and defensive system better than anyone on the team. Lopiccolo has some pop with the bat and is very good defensively. Our other outfielders, Okamoto, DeGarmo, George and Kollmeyer might be some of the fastest players in the CCAA. Porcella-Smeds adds power to the gaps from the right side of the plate, while Krick will add a left bat to the bench.
Schedule
CSUMB opens their season with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 5 at 11 AM at the CSUMB Baseball Stadium against No. 15 Sonoma State. The Otters will continue CCAA play through May.
