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Stories
on East County
Professional Athletes
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"BRETT FAVRE AND
THE JETS" SONG
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Drew Garcia rocks Appalachian League
Grandson of former big league manager
slugs walk-off homer to complete cycle
| Bristol's
Baby Boom-er |
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Drew Garcia's walk-off homer
also completed
the cycle for the Valhalla/UC Riverside product,
giving the Bristol Sox an exciting 2-1 victory
in
Appalachian League action on Aug. 24.
(Courtesy photo by Belinda Bird Garcia)
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© East County Sports.com
BRISTOL, Va. (8-26-08) — Former Valhalla High
middle infielder DREW GARCIA had one of those dream
days. A career day.
Hitting a walk-off home run was thrilling enough
for Garcia. The fact that it was the final piece
of Garcia’s hitting for the cycle made it extra
special for the third-generation ballplayer.
A rookie second baseman for the Bristol (Va.) Sox,
the 22-year-old Garcia homered in the bottom of
the 10th inning Sunday (Aug. 24) to become the first
Appalachian Leaguer to hit for the cycle in at least
four years and give the Bristol
Sox a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Pulaski
Mariners in the second game of their doubleheader.
“Most of the guys were happy that I just ended
the long day," Garcia told MiLB.com’s
Daren Smith. “It was the first walk-off I've
ever hit in my entire life. It was pretty fun."
After Garcia
earned All-Big West Conference honors as a senior
last spring at UC Riverside, the Chicago White Sox
selected him in the 21st -round of the June draft.
The walk-off homer was Garcia’s 8th round-tripper
of the season.
"Home runs always come when you're not thinking
about doing it," Garcia told MiBL. "I
was just trying to get on base and get something
going. It was a 2-2 fastball in and I got a good
swing on it. I hit it down the line and was just
hoping it would stay fair."
Garcia started his historic night with a base hit
in the 1st inning. After grounding out in the third,
he led off the sixth with his first professional
triple.
Garcia collected his double in the 8th inning.
"Right after the game, I talked to my dad
on the phone. He watched it on the internet,"
Garcia said. "When he saw that (I homered),
he was going crazy. He told my grandfather and he
was pretty excited."
Garcia's grandfather is DAVE GARCIA Sr., who has
spent more than 60 years in baseball as a player,
coach, manager and scout. He managed the California
Angels from 1977-78 and the Cleveland Indians from
1979-82. Drew’s father, also named Dave, played
three years in the New York Yankees' minor league
system.
"It feels good when you make your family proud
or excited," Drew said.
Womack looking good on the Ice
© East County Sports.com
FT. COLLINS, Colo. (8-18-08) – Former Grossmont
College defensive back QUINTEN WOMACK, a graduate
of Northwest Missouri State, has joined forces with
indoor football's Colorado Ice, playing in 12 games
at defensive back during the 2008 spring-summer
season.
Womack finished the season with 54.5 total tackles
good for fourth on the team and 18th in the league.
He made one interception, posted five pass break-ups,
had a game-high and season-best nine tackles in
one game and also returned three kickoffs for 56
yards.
Following two season as a starter for Grossmont
College, the 6-foot, 200-pound Womack started at
cornerback at Northwest Missouri, helping lead the
Bearcats to a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic
Association (MIAA) title and two NCAA championship
appearances. He was a second team All-MIAA selection
in 2005, missing five games his senior year with
an injury, had 64 tackles, four interceptions and
nine pass breakups in 24 games. He had a season-best
seven tackles in the 2005 championship game.
In an historic move that will bring both credibility
and stability to indoor football, two of the sport’s
most stable business organizations will combine
strengths and resources beginning in 2009. The United
Indoor Football League and the Intense Football
League announced their plans to merge, creating
a partnership that will insure the long-term growth
of the sport. Both leagues have concluded their
fourth season of play. The new alliance will be
simply called the Indoor Football League.
Conrad receives call to Oakland Athletics
Courtesy, MLB.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (7-22-08) — Eight years
into his professional career, Oakland A's infielder
BROOKS
CONRAD (Monte Vista High) made his Major League
debut on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The long-awaited call was to his father, to tell
him he'd finally made it to the Majors. Conrad got
the news Saturday night that he was being promoted
from Triple-A Sacramento, and on Monday the move
was made official by the A's, who designated for
assignment infielder Donnie Murphy. STORY.
Conrad moves one step closer to the Majors
© East County Sports.com
HOUSTON (12-2-06) -- Former Monte Vista High standout
BROOKS CONRAD was informed he remains in the future
plans of the Houston Astros when the ballclub added
the minor-league veteran second baseman to its 40-man
roster. The announcement was made by Astros general
manager Tim Purpura.
The move protects Conrad from selection in the
Rule 5 draft and places him in line for a berth
as a reserve on the Major League roster come spring
training.
Conrad, 26, spent his first full season in Triple-A
in 2006, helping the Round Rock Express reach the
Pacific Coast League Championship Series. Even though
the Express fell in three straight games to the
Tucson Sidewinders, Conrad led the PCL in doubles
(40), triples (15), extra-base hits (79) and runs
scored (100).
His 79 extra-base hits were the most in minor league
baseball.
Conrad helped the Express capture the American
Division title, hitting .267 (142x532) in 138 games,
and led the club with 24 home runs and 94 RBI. Primarily
used as a second baseman (100 games) in 2006, Conrad
also appeared in 38 games at third base.
After his stellar career with the Monarchs, where
he was an All-East County selection. He originally
selected by the Astros in the eighth round of the
2001 draft out of Arizona State University, where
he was a three-time All-Pacific 10 Conference selection.
Conrad was a .320 career batter for the Sun Devils,
including a solid .336 in his senior year.
A 1998 graduate of Monte Vista, the four-year letterwinner
and academic team selection captained the team during
his junior and senior seasons, named by the coaches
as league player of the year and All-CIF first team
to cap his prep career.
Later, Conrad was honored at both All-East County
and CIF Division II Player of the Year after winning
the Grossmont Conference batting title. He still
holds Monarchs season records for runs scored (51),
hits (52) and doubles (12).
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Trey Young (Helix), who
led Calgary in tackles and
interceptions in 2007, joined two other veterans
among the final roster cuts by the Stampeders.
Ted Rhodes / Canwest News Service
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CFL Stampeders cut Trey Young
among 16 players in roster trimming
Helix High product called 'difficult' cut
By Allen Cameron
Courtesy, Calgary Herald / Canwest News
CALGARY, Alberta, Canada (6-21-08) -- TREY YOUNG
was up bright and early Saturday (June 20) morning
to walk his dog, Champ.
But a phone call from McMahon Stadium changed his
plans. And his football career.
"When you get a phone call to come in and
see the head man," Young said later on Saturday,
"you kind of know what it's in regards to."
Young and two other veterans - defensive lineman
Terrence Patrick and cornerback Crance Clemons -
were among 16 players cut by the Stampeders on Saturday
to get down to the Canadian Football League roster
limit of 53 (46 on the active roster, seven on the
practice roster).
Related story from CBC
HERE
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The 28-year-old Young, who led the Stampeders in
tackles (69) and interceptions (four) in 2007, was
hoping to open his fourth season with the team Thursday
night when the B.C. Lions visit McMahon Stadium
for the regular season opener.
But after an off-season position shift from safety
to weak-side linebacker, Young lost the starting
role to free-agent signee JoJuan Armour and a backup
job to Matt Grootegoed.
"Trey Young was the most difficult of the
difficult decisions," admitted Stampeders coach
and GM John Hufnagel. "He is truly a very good
football player; he brings 100% to the practice
field, to the meeting rooms, and he got caught up
in a numbers game in how we're formulating the defence."
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2005
STORY WHEN SMITH FIRST MADE CALGARY'S ROSTER |
| |
Trey,
try again
Rookie escaped from obscurity by training
hard
By Ian Busby
Courtesy, Calgary Sun
CALGARY, Alberta, Canada (6-7-05) -- As he
prepares to make his CFL debut, Trey Young
has thought plenty of the man who helped keep
his football dreams alive.
Yet the coach Young has in mind has nothing
to do with football.
After graduating from the University of Montana
in 2002, Young's playing options were limited
by his size. The Calgary Stampeders linebacker
took a job in public relations at the university
and kept working out on campus in hopes of
catching a break.
It was there assistant track coach Brian
Schweyen offered to teach Young the finer
points of running.
The 25-year-old learned how to break off
the ball, change direction and fly to an open
spot on the field.
Since coming to Calgary as a free agent,
Young has impressed Stamps defensive co-ordinator
Denny Creehan with his quickness.
"Brian kept me going, just being out
there with him," said Young, who will
play linebacker tomorrow against Winnipeg
in place of George White, who is recovering
from a hamstring injury.
"He would have me doing sprints on the
track and then come in and do some field work.
It was just me but the motivation was there
to have somebody help out.
"At first, I was doing all my training
on my own. He saw me in the gym and said,
'Hey Trey, I'll help you out.'
"I said, 'Is it free? I can't afford
you now.' It worked out well. I told him I
would look out for him once I got a real cheque.
I'm happy here and this is a great chance."
Young had an impressive college stint at
Montana, winning the Div. I-AA national title
in 2001 and following that up by being named
Big Sky Conference MVP and Grizzlies top defensive
player the next season.
His smaller stature -- generously listed
at 6 ft., 210 lb. -- had NFL scouts looking
past him.
Creehan isn't worried one bit about throwing
Young into his complicated defence.
"He's young and there will be some growing
pains but if you saw him in the Saskatchewan
exhibition game, as soon as he went in, he
picked up an interception, a tackle for a
loss and a fumble recovery," said Creehan.
"He's really a good player, very talented."
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Young's final shot at clinching a job came in Thursday
(June 19) night's pre-season loss at B.C. when he
made a team-high six tackles, but that wasn't enough
for the Stamps to keep him around.
"I feel I can play on this team, but at the
same time, they moved me to (weak-side linebacker),
where it was probably a position where they knew
I wasn't going to play, moving from the safety spot,"
said Young. "I felt I had a decent game - it
was probably the last time I'll strap it up with
a few of those guys on that side of the ball, and
that's what I said to the defence before the game
- hey, you never know if you'll be here tomorrow.
I was speaking for myself, and I went out there
and had some fun with those guys. They have a good
defence, a good scheme and I think they'll do well
this year."
Patrick, 25, also was heading into his fourth season
with the Stamps, and also had to adjust to a new
position in training camp after the team moved him
from defensive tackle to defensive end. He was overshadowed
by the emergence of non-imports Mike Labinjo and
Justin Phillips at the end spot, then took one more
crack back at tackle in Thursday night's loss.
"We tried very hard to give Terrence a good
look during training camp," said Hufnagel.
"We moved him inside to see if something good
could happen for him. He got a lot of snaps at the
inside position (in the B.C.) game, but he just
couldn't beat out (Marcus) Parker, Eddie Freeman
and Miguel Robede."
Clemons, meanwhile, was hampered by injuries for
much of training camp and never found the form to
beat out free-agent pickup Dwight Anderson.
Also cut Saturday were import receivers Nate Curry,
Eddie Montgomery, Reggie Williams and James Banks,
Canadian receiver Greg Hetherington, import defensive
backs Jesse Burton, Willie Byrd and Milton Collins,
Canadian offensive lineman Tom Dolezel, import defensive
lineman Charleston Hughes, Canadian defensive lineman
Hakeem Kashama, Canadian defensive back Sean Manning
and Canadian fullback Jonathan Lapointe.
Kashama, Williams, Manning, Lapointe, Byrd, Collins,
Hetherington and Banks will likely be offered practice-roster
spots, depending on whether the Stamps add players
released from other teams, although Hufnagel wasn't
beating down any doors to sign castoffs Saturday.
The Stamps will declare their practice roster and
injured list Sunday.
The cuts mean that the Stamps will enter the season
with four quarterbacks, and Hufnagel declared Barrick
Nealy will be the No. 3 man behind Henry Burris
and Dave Dickenson; Ben Sankey will be on the injury
list for the opener.
As well, all three import running backs - undisputed
No. 1 Joffrey Reynolds, along with returnee Ken
Simonton and rookie Demetris Summers - are still
around, although Summers will be on the injury list
after hurting his ankle Thursday in Vancouver.
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Jordan Abruzzo
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Justin Snyder
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Local pair advance to SAL All-Star Game
© East County Sports.com
GREENSBORO, N.C. (6-13-08) — A pair of former
El Capitan High and University of San Diego baseball
standouts have been selected to play in the 49th
annual South Atlantic League Class A All-Star Game
on Tuesday (June 17).
Catcher JORDAN
ABRUZZO of the New York Mets’ Savannah
Sand Gnats will be the starting designated hitter
for the Southern Division All-Stars. Abruzzo is
batting at a .306 clip (59 for 193) with four home
runs and 25 RBI.
Second baseman JUSTIN
SNYDER of the New York Yankees’ Charleston,
S.C. farm club will also play for the South squad.
He boasts a .298 batting mark (77 for 258) with
three homers, 18 doubles and 32 RBI for the RiverDogs.
Zeidman signs with NFL Panthers
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (4-28-08) — Former Steele Canyon High
and Grossmont College punter-kicker DANNY ZEIDMAN
has signed a free agent contract with the Carolina
Panthers of the National Football League.
Although Zeidman had held pre-draft talks with
a dozen or more NFL teams, he was bypassed during
the weekend draft. Disappointed, but not surprised,
Zeidman accepted Carolina ’s post-draft offer.
Spending the past two seasons at Idaho State after
accepting a scholarship out of Grossmont College
in 2004, where he earned All-Foothill Conference
honors for the Griffins, Zeidman is slated to participate
in the Panthers’ mini-camp Thursday (May 1)
in the Panthers’ Charlotte, N.C. home stadium.
Zeidman was involved in several late but pointed
conversations with the Cleveland Browns prior to
the draft. So much so that he thought he might be
signing with them.
So much for the oddity of the NFL draft.
Rumor had it that former Broncos kicking phenom
Jason Elam was headed for Carolina . That never
materialized as Elam instead hooked on with the
Atlanta Falcons.
Zeidman received four firm free agent offers on
Monday (Apr. 28) from the Panthers, Dallas Cowboys,
Baltimore Ravens, and the Atlanta Falcons.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Zeidman averaged 42.7 yards
on 59 punts at Idaho State in his third and final
season for the Bengals last fall.
Dorrell joins NFL’s Dolphins
© East County
Sports.com
MIAMI (1-25-08) — When you are good at what you do, it
seems you’re always able to find a job.
Case in point is Helix
alum KARL DORRELL, who was fired as UCLA's head coach in December 2007 and since
has been hired by the Miami Dolphins as the team's wide receivers coach.
It's
a return to the NFL for Dorrell, who was wide receivers coach for the Denver Broncos
from 2000-02. In Miami, he'll work under new Coach Tony Sparano, hired last week
after the Dolphins suffered a 1-15 season.
Dorrell, 44, will coach the Dolphins
receivers after spending the past five years leading the Bruins, his alma mater,
to a 35-28 record and bowl appearances all five years.
Before becoming a
head coach, Dorrell served as the Denver Broncos receivers coach in 2000-02, tutoring
Pro Bowl receivers Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey.
The Dolphins regard Dorrell
as a young, innovative offensive mind in the coaching ranks.
Since being
fired on Dec. 3 following a 6-6 season where UCLA was supposed to be contenders
for the Pac-10 title, Dorrell was a finalist for the head coaching position at
Duke, but lost out to David Cutcliffe. He also talked to the NFL’s Texans
about becoming Houston's offensive coordinator, but wasn't offered the job.
Dorrell
turned down an offer to become the receivers coach in Kansas City to take the
same position with the Dolphins, where he'll be expected to develop two young
and inconsistent receivers in Ted Ginn Jr. and Derek Hagan.
Dorrell was
one of the top wide receivers in UCLA history, contributing 108 receptions for
1,517 yards and nine touchdowns during his career. He has handled the role of
offensive coordinator during his college stops at Northern Arizona, Colorado and
Washington.
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Former
Granite Hills High School baseball coach Gordy Thompson (left) introduces San
Diego Padres outfielder Brian Giles for his induction
into the Granite Hills
Athletics Hall of Fame on January 22.
(Photo by Greg Eichelberger) |
O'Ree: barrier breaker
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (1-18-08) -- Fifty years
ago, on Jan. 18, 1958, former La Mesa resident WILLIE
O'REE, who later played for the original San Diego Gulls of the Western Hockey
League (1966-74), became the first black athlete to play in the National Hockey
League, as his Boston Bruins blanked the Montreal Canadiens,
3-0, at the Montreal
Forum.
O'Ree was playing senior hockey for the Quebec Aces when he received
the historic midseason call-up and inserted into the lineup.
Willie Eldon
O'Ree, 72, was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. He also played with
the San Diego Sharks (So. California Senior League) and San Diego Hawks (Pacific
Hockey League). His 29-year career was marked playing blind in one eye.
O'Ree
now heads the NHL Diversity Program. He will be honored at next week's NHL All-Star
Game.
Snyder set for NY-Penn All-Star Game©
East County Sports.com
WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (8-14-07) -- Former El Capitan
High standout JUSTIN SNYDER will take the field tonight (Tue., Aug.14) as one
of 28 players to play for the American League Affiliates in the 3rd annual New
York-Penn League All-Star Game, to be played at Dutchess Stadium, home of the
Hudson Valley (N.Y.) Renegades.
|
| Third baseman Justin Snyder (left)
and starting pitcher Zach McAllister will represent the Staten Island Yankees
in today's
NY-Penn League All-Star Game.
(Courtesy, S.I. Yankees) |
Snyder,
the AL's leadoff batter starting at third base, went 0-3, but the AL rallied
for a 6-4 win. GAME STORY HERE |
Snyder, listed as a third baseman, proved worthy of his All-Star selection
because of his versatility while playing for the Staten Island (N.Y.) Yankees
this summer. Snyder enters the All-Star break tied for the league lead in batting
at .382, matching the mark of Todd Martin of Mahoning Valley, who is seeking the
Triple Crown.
Snyder, a 21st round pick in the 2007 draft out of the
University of San Diego, has been the most consistent bat and glove in the Baby
Bombers lineup this season. He has played nearly every position for Staten Island
(30-22), starting ballgames at centerfield, third base, second base and shortstop.
Snyder,
who is mostly featured as the Yankees' leadoff man, has also been the ballclub's
most reliable bat. Along with his astounding batting average, he owns 46 runs,
31 RBI, 15 doubles and 5 homers, including a clutch, game-tying shot in the 9th
inning on Aug. 6, in what eventually turned into a victory over Hudson Valley.
The next night, Snyder went 4-for-6 with three doubles, highlighting a recent
11-20 stretch. He owns hits in nine of the team's last 10 contests, including
five multi-hit outings.
Snyder's Yankees are tied for the third-best record
in the 13-team circuit, but second to the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Cyclones in the division.
The Cyclones feature JORDAN ABRUZZO, Snyder's former collegiate teammate, who
was recently placed on the disabled list with a strained right knee.
McCoy
promotion -- An injury on the parent St. Louis Cardinals ignited a ripple
effect throughout its organization, allowing former Grossmont High standout MIKE
McCOY to be promoted to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League.
And McCoy is taking advantage of the situation.
After helping the Double-A
Springfield ( Mo. ) Cardinals to the top of the Texas League's North Division,
McCoy is now sharing the starting duties at second base for the Redbirds, where
he has improved his batting average to .242 following a slow start. Included is
a .394 on-base percentage over his last 10 ballgames.
With his ability to
consistently reach base (.364 for the season), McCoy is optimistic for a call-up
to St. Louis when rosters expand in September.
Coit makes Golden Baseball League history
© East County Sports.com
FULLERTON (8-10-07) — Credit
Granite Hills High graduate JOHNNY COIT for never giving up. Twice this season
Coit has been handed his walking papers, first by the River City Rascals (O’Fallon,
Mo.) of the Frontier League.
Then after a brief stint with the St. George
(Utah) Roadrunners of the Golden Baseball League, Coit was released again, but
was picked up the very next morning by former Padre and current manager of the
Orange County Flyers, GARRY TEMPLETON.
In his second game with the Flyers
-- playing outfield instead of catcher -- against his former team from St. George
on July 21, Coit collected the first cycle in the Golden League history, driving
in seven runs with a home run, triple, double and single in a 14-3 victory. That
effort made Coit an instant hero as he delivered in front of a capacity crowd
of 3,500 at Cal State Fullerton's Goodwin Field.
UPDATE -- A SECOND CYCLE vs.
St. George: Golden Baseball League link HERE
Coit
finds a home with St. George Roadrunners©
East County Sports.com
ST. GEORGE, Utah (6-21-07) — Since his graduation
from Granite Hills High School in 2003, JOHNNY COIT has been on the move.
A
three-year starter at Cal State Northridge, Coit originally signed a professional
contract with the River City Rascals of O’Fallon, Miss. in the independent
Frontier League. But his stay there was short-lived, and Coit eventually hooked
on with the St. George Roadrunners of the Golden Baseball League.
Coit is
now the Roadrunners starting catcher. He landed a position with St. George after
impressing former major leaguer and now-Roadrunners manager Cory Snyder during
a private tryout.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Coit is batting .278 (10-for-36)
with 4 doubles and an on-base percentage of .458 after 13 games.
Coit obviously
had something going for him since Snyder took a chance on him. Snyder played in
the major leagues from 1986 to 1994, spreading his time as an outfielder among
the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants
and Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Coit's 2004
trading card in Alaska.
(Courtesy, Alaska Goldpanners Baseball) |
Coit signs with Frontier League©
East County Sports.com
O'FALLON, Mo. (5-3-07) -- Former Granite Hills High
standout JOHNNY COIT, who started in centerfield for three seasons at CSU Northridge,
has signed a professional contract with the River City Rascals of the Frontier
League.
Coit will return to catcher with the independent league franchise,
a position where he earned All-Grossmont South League honors, helping Granite
Hills to the 2002 Grossmont South League title.
Coit earned All-GSL and
All-East County berths in both 2002 (.415 batting average) and 2003 (.404 avg.),
then was recruited by USD, San Diego State and Long Beach State before settling
with Northridge. He later played the 2004 summer season with the Alaska Goldpanners.
Abruzzo
catches Rustich's debut©
East County Sports.com
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (7-02-07) -- The intertwining
amateur baseball careers of JORDAN
ABRUZZO and BRANT
RUSTICH finally came together in the professional ranks, when Abruzzo, a catcher,
was behind the plate for the pro debut of right-handed pitcher Rustich in Sunday's
(July 1) start for the Kingsport (Tenn.) Mets of the Appalachian
League.
Tuesday
Update
Jordan Abruzzo's stint at rookie ball quickly ended, promoted to
the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Cyclones of the
Class A New York-Penn
League. Despite batting 0-for-4 in Tuesday's (July 3) debut in the short-season
league, the Cyclones won on the road against the Aberdeen (Md.) IronBirds, 2-1,
to now own the league's best record at 11-4. |
Rustich
tossed three shutout innings, striking out two and allowing just a single, to
get his feet wet in a successful debut in the rookie league. Although his Mets
eventually lost, 2-0, the pair of East County products are enjoying their fast
starts getting paid to play.
According to MinorLeagueBaseball.com,
both reportedly signed $400,000 contracts.
Not bad for a pair who have been
playing for or against each other since the age of 8, each eventually getting
drafted by the same major league organization. And the pair are now rooming together
some 2,000 miles away from home.
The journey started in La Mesa some 15
years ago, when Brent and his Lake Murray Little League team played interleague
against Jordy and Vista La Mesa L.L. The pair later played club ball together,
but were high school rivals with Rustich playing for Grossmont, while Abruzzo
was a two-time (2002-03) All-East County first team selection for El Capitan.
Rustich earned one first-team and one second-team berth as All-East County.
Only
during their college years were the pair separate, yet Abruzzo (USD) would catch
Rustich (UCLA) during winter breaks when back home.
Abruzzo (6-3, 230) capped
his senior year with the nationally ranked Toreros (43-18) by batting .332 in
starting all 61 games, chosen in the 13th round (No. 423 overall) of the amateur
draft by the Mets. Meanwhile, Rustich (6-6, 225), who missed most of his 2006
season following finger surgery, posted a 3-2 record with 6 saves out of the Bruins
bullpen this spring, selected in the second round (No. 93 overall) by the Mets.
Along
with Rustich's solid pitching opener, Abruzzo is swinging a powerful bat. Among
his first 10 hits (10-25, .286) were three doubles and three home runs, including
a 2-homer outing against the first-place Princeton (W.V.) Devil Rays on June 22.
Ring recalled by Padres©
East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (6-22-07) — Former Monte Vista High
standout ROYCE RING is making an impact with the San Diego Padres after being
recalled on Friday (June 22) from Triple-A Portland.
Ring, a left-handed
relief pitcher, has allowed only two hits in five shutout innings during four
appearances for the Padres this season. He has eight strikeouts compared to only
one walk.
The addition of Ring to the Padres bullpen gives the Padres two
southpaw relievers, including Justin Hampson.
Ring, 26, was 4-0 with a
1.23 ERA (4 ER/29.1 IP) and one save in 25 games with Portland this year.
Ring
optioned by Padres © East County
Sports.comPEORIA, Ariz. (3-22-07) -- The San Diego Padres have optioned
ROYCE RING to its Triple-A affiliate in Portland earlier today (Thurs., Mar. 22).
Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Towers made the announcement.
|
| Royce Ring pitching
for the Mets in 2006
(Courtesy, New York Mets) |
Ring, a left-handed pitcher, is a product of Monte Vista High, who
pitched for the New York Mets organization until being included in a trade to
the Padres following last season. Moving to shore up their middle relief, the
Padres acquired Ring and Heath Bell, both releivers, from the Mets in exchange
for outfielder Ben Johnson and reliever Jon Adkins on Nov. 15.
In 2006,
the 25-year-old was named to the Triple-A All Star Game while with Norfolk, pitching
a scoreless inning for the International League on July 12. He twice was called
up to the Mets in August and September, compiling a 2.13 ERA in 11 apprearances,
including 2 1/3 innings of perfect relief against Philadelphia.
The native
of La Mesa was team MVP with the Monarchs, then became a third-team All-America
selection by Collegiate Baseball at San Diego State.
The Padres now have
39 players in Big League camp, including 32 players from the 40-man roster and
7 non-roster invitees.
Padres acquired Monte
Vista product RingSan Diego Padres press release
SAN DIEGO (11-15-06)
-- The San Diego Padres today acquired right-handed pitcher Heath Bell and left-handed
pitcher ROYCE RING from the New York Mets in exchange for right-handed pitcher
Jon Adkins and outfielder Ben Johnson. Executive Vice President/General Manager
Kevin Towers made the announcement.
“In Bell and Ring, we are getting two pitchers with solid Major League
experience,” said Towers. “We think that Bell, with his size and power,
has tremendous upside as a potential set-up guy with a good fastball and plus
slider. Situational lefties are hard to come by and Ring is someone who has been
dominant against lefties his entire career,” added Towers.
Bell,
29, made 22 relief appearances for the Mets in 2006, going 0-0 with a 5.11 ERA
(21 ER/37.0 IP) and 35 strikeouts. Born in Oceanside, CA, Bell also appeared in
30 games with New York’s Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, going 3-3 with a
1.29 ERA (5 ER/35.0 IP), 56 strikeouts and a team-leading 12 saves. He did not
allow a run in 14.1 innings of work at home with the Mets nor with the Tides (19.2
innings), giving him 34.0 combined shutout innings at home in 2006.
Originally
signed as a non-drafted free agent on June 16, 1998, Bell has appeared in 81 Major
League games over parts of three seasons with the Mets (2004-06), going 1-5 with
a 4.92 ERA (59 ER/108.0 IP) and 105 strikeouts. In parts of nine minor league
seasons, the right-hander is a combined 23-20 with a 3.17 ERA (165 ER/468.1 IP)
and 543 strikeouts over 342 games (two starts).
Ring, 25, went 0-0 with
a 2.13 ERA (3 ER/12.2 IP) in 11 relief appearances for the Mets in 2006. He recorded
eight strikeouts compared to three walks in his 12.2 innings of work, holding
left-handed hitters to a .150 average (3-for-20) while right-handers batted .160
(4-for-25) in the minors.
Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first
round (18th overall) of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Ring was acquired by
the Mets as part of a trade that sent Roberto Alomar to Chicago on July 1, 2003.
Ring has compiled a 0-2 record with a 3.47 ERA (9 ER/23.1 IP) in 26 Major League
games over parts of two seasons with the Mets (2005-06). Over parts of five minor
league seasons, he is a combined 16-9 with a 3.06 ERA (77 ER/226.2 IP) in 195
games (all in relief). A native of La Mesa, Ring attended San Diego State University,
going 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA and a school-record 17 saves his junior year (2002).
He played high school ball locally at Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley.
Adkins,
29, went 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA (24 ER/54.1 IP) in 55 relief appearances for the
Padres in 2006. The right-hander registered three scoreless innings streaks of
at least 8.2 innings, including 13.1 consecutive scoreless frames from May 16-June
9. Adkins began the season at Triple-A Portland, combining to go 1-0 with seven
saves and a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13.0 IP) in 13 games during his three stints with the
Beavers.
Over parts of four Major League seasons with the Chicago White
Sox (2003-05) and Padres (2006), Adkins is 4-5 with a 4.63 ERA (69 ER/134.0 IP)
in 114 games. Originally selected by the Oakland Athletics in the ninth round
of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Adkins has spent parts of eight minor league
seasons in the A’s (1999-2002), White Sox (2002-05) and Padres (2006) organizations,
going 47-43 with nine saves and a 4.53 ERA (369 ER/733.2 IP) in 158 games (119
starts).
The 25-year-old Johnson batted .250 (30-for-120) with five doubles,
two triples, four home runs, 12 RBI, 19 runs scored and three stolen bases in
58 games for the Padres in 2006. He made 28 starts for San Diego, including 18
in left field and 10 in center field. Acquired by the Padres in a trade with the
St. Louis Cardinals on July 31, 2000, Johnson has hit .236 (46-for-195) with 13
doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 25 RBI and 29 runs scored in 89 career
games over parts of two Major League seasons with San Diego (2005-06).
Originally
selected by the St. Louis in the fourth round of the 1999 First-Y ear Player Draft
and acquired by the Padres on July 31, 2000, Johnson appeared in 836 minor league
games, batting .263 (789-for-2999) with 175 doubles, 112 home runs and 454 RBI
in parts of eight seasons in the Cardinals (1999-2000) and Padres (2000-06) organizations.
In addition, he was named the Padres Minor League Player of the Year in 2005 after
batting .312 (129- for- 414) with 79 runs scored, 27 doubles, 25 home runs and
83 RBI in 107 games with Triple-A Portland.
IL
Stars 6, PCL Stars 0 |
Royce
Ring threw a scoreless inning of relief, helping the International League All-Stars
shutout the Pacific Coast League. |
Former Aztecs Ring
and Gwynn To Meet At Triple-A All-Star Game
SDSU pitcher and outfielder
honored for performance on the field in 2006
Courtesy
San Diego State media relationsTOLEDO, Ohio (7-12-06) -- Former San Diego
State standouts ROYCE RING and ANTHONY GWYNN will be on opposite team benches
when the International League and the Pacific Coast League meet here in the 2006
AAA All-Star Game on Wed., July 12, at Fifth Third Field.
Ring (Monte Vista
High) is currently a member of the Norfolk Tides, the triple-A affiliate of the
New York Mets. At the mid-point of the season he has a record of 2-0 with eight
saves and a 1.53 earned run average. He has recorded 32 strikeouts in 29 innings
and opponents are hitting just .175 against him.
Gwynn (Poway), meanwhile,
is an outfielder of the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers organization) where
he is hitting .301 with 16 doubles and 31 runs batted in. He leads the club in
hits (100), runs (55), triples (4) and stolen bases (23) through the first 84
games of the season. He was named the Brewers’ minor league player of the
month this past May.
Ring (2000-02) and Gwynn (2001-03) were teammates for
two of their three seasons at SDSU with each departing after their junior year
via the major league draft.
As a relief specialist, Ring was a two-time
all-conference performer and earned All-American recognition as a junior in 2002.
He finished second in the nation in saves that season and was a first-round draft
pick of the Chicago White Sox.
Gwynn was a freshman All-American and an
all-Mountain West Conference honoree as an Aztec and ranks among the all-time
SDSU top 10 in seven offensive categories. He was selected in the third round
by Milwaukee in 2003 and is in his first season at the AAA level.
Doane stars in IBL All-Star Game
East County Sports.com
PETACH TIKVA, Israel (7-30-07) --
JOSH
DOANE, batting leadoff as the starting centerfielder
for the North, batted 3-for-4 with a walk. but the
South rallied from an early 5-0 deficit to capture
the inaugural Israel Baseball League All-Star Game,
6-5, before 1,112 fans at Yarkon Field.
Doane, who played locally for San Diego Christian
College, singled to open the bottom of the 1st inning,
as the North scored all five of its runs. He then
opened the 2nd with a double, but the South stopped
the rest of the North stars to stay in contention.
Doane plays for the Netanya Tigers.
BOXSCORE
PRO
BASEBALL DRAFT -- SIGNINGS
Wilkins inks deal with Rangers© East
County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-13-07) — Even pitcher BOBBY WILKINS
himself could not believe how smoothly his negotiations with the Texas Rangers
and area scout Steve Flores went when the two parties met Sunday (June 10) night
at the Wilkins family residence.
Wilkins, Texas’ 6th round pick and
the 200th player selected overall in last week’s free agent draft, agreed
to contract terms that have him headed to Surprise, Ariz., later this week where
he will join the Rangers’ Arizona Rookie League team. The ARL season begins
on Friday, June 22.
“Honestly, about halfway through my senior season
I could see something like this happening,” said Wilkins, who was 5-5 with
a 1.08 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 64.2 innings as a Valhalla High senior.
“But
they (the Rangers) gave me more than I asked for, and that is exciting,”
Wilkins added.
Although Wilkins did not give any specific figures it is
believed that he received a $150,000 signing bonus plus incentives and money for
school. The hard-throwing right-hander had the option of accepting a scholarship
to San Diego State University, but chose to start his professional career over
that.
Seven drafted in '007'
© East County
Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (6-09-07) — Hard-throwing right-hander BOBBY
WILKINS of Valhalla was the first East County high school player picked in the
2007 Major League Baseball draft when the Texas Rangers selected him in the sixth
round on Friday (June 8) morning.
Wilkins was slipping into his cap and
gown in preparation for the pomp and circumstance that is graduation when his
cell phone rang.
”They called me Thursday (June 7) night and told me
they were very interested and that they would have taken me the first day had
TV not slowed the draft down so much,” Wilkins said. “But I was excited
when they called. The Rangers have shown a lot of interest from the start.”
Lowe
drafted by Chi-Sox Courtesy, Grossmont College
EL CAJON (6-12-07)
-- Former Grossmont College pitcher JOHN LOWE, who pitched for Point Loma Nazarene
in 2007, was selected in the sixth round of last week's Major League Draft by
the Chicago White Sox. Lowe was part of a starting pitching staff in 2006
that helped the Griffins win 30 games and advance into the Southern California
Regional Playoffs. The right-hander posted an 8-2 record with a 2.33 earned-run
average, striking out 72 batters over 89 innings. Moving on to Point Loma's
Sea Lions on a full scholarship -- where he became better known as Johnnie --
Lowe posted a 4-5 mark and a 3.72 ERA in the sluggers' circuit of smaller ballparks.
However, Lowe's power numbers were still solid, gaining 75 strikeouts in 75 innings. Lowe
and Azusa Pacific All-America selection Scott Hodsdon (Oakland Athletics) were
the highest selections out of the Golden State Athletic Conference, both in the
6th round. "We are proud of our alumni," said Grossmont head coach
Randy Abshier. "John was an important part of the 2006 team and the athletic
department and coaching staff are proud for Johnnie." |
Wilkins,
who deserved better than his 5-5 record suggests, posted an East County-best 1.08
ERA with 74 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings.
”They’ve been to my
house a couple of times before – one time we talked for three hours,”
Wilkins said of the Rangers’ contingent led by Area scout Steve Flores. “We’re
supposed to meet again next week sometime. I think things look good for me to
sign and get going on my career.”
Wilkins, the 200th pick taken, was
among seven players with East County ties to be drafted on Friday’s second
day, which included rounds 6-to-50.
A pair of El Capitan High products now
at the University of San Diego could wind up New York City rivals. Toreros senior
catcher JORDAN ABRUZZO was taken in the 13th round by the New York Mets and USD
junior second baseman JUSTIN SNYDER was chosen in the 21st round by the New York
Yankees.
Other Inlanders drafted on Day two were: Pacific third baseman
JUSTIN BAUM (Grossmont High), 13th round by the San Diego Padres; Grossmont High
outfielder NICK LONGMIRE by the Oakland A’s in the 37th round; Long Beach
State outfielder ZACH BARGER (Valhalla High/Grossmont College) in the 44th round
by the Minnesota Twins; and right-handed pitcher GOLDY SIMMONS (Monte Vista High/San
Diego CC) by Atlanta in the 47th round.
Abruzzo, who was a token 39th pick
by the Red Sox in the 2006 draft, capped off his four-year Torero career by becoming
the All-time hits leader (305) and RBI leader (208). Abruzzo was a first-team
All-WCC selection and helped lead USD to the WCC Championship, a program-best
No. 4 national ranking and a No. 8 national seed in the NCAA Regionals. For the
season, Abruzzo posted a .332 batting average, had 85 hits, 15 doubles, one triple,
eight home runs and a team-leading 59 RBI.
Snyder, also a first-team All-WCC
selection, put together a phenomenal junior campaign. Snyder finished the season
as USD’s leading hitter with a .352 batting average, a team-best 89 hits,
21 doubles, had four home runs and 36 RBI.
An All-Best West Conference first-team
pick for the second year in a row, Baum, the Tigers’ highest pick since the
2002 draft, gives the Padres a future power-hitter. The All-ESPN Academic All-American
led the Tigers with a .367 average, eight home runs, 16 doubles, 43 RBI, a .553
slugging percentage, 44 walks and a .471 on-base percentage.
Baum's 2007
season was the continuation of a stellar career at Pacific. During his three seasons
at the Stockton, Ca. university, Baum was one of the most decorated and powerful
players in Tiger baseball history. He holds the Pacific career record for home
runs with 37, nine more than any Tigers in history.
Longmire, who has a
baseball scholarship to Pacific worth more than $100,000, figures to be tough
sign. The right-handed hitting outfielder led East County with a .514 batting
average, a SDCIF-best 15 home runs and 36 RBI, spent the night of his selection
basking in the moonlight as Grossmont High’s seniors celebrated Grad Night
aboard the Admiral Hornblower and cruised San Diego Harbor.
“From all
the talk before the draft, I thought I’d go higher,” said Longmire,
who noted the Tigers see him as their center fielder of the future. “At this
point, I’d say I’m leaning more toward college.”
This is
the second go-round for Barger, who was drafted in 2006 in the 45th round by the
Cleveland Indians, and Simmons, who was a 40th round pick by Oakland a year ago.
PRO
BASEBALL DRAFT -- DAY ONE
Mets tab Rustich in second round©
East County Sports.com
LOS ANGELES (6-8-07) — Former Grossmont High
standout BRANT RUSTICH was selected by the New York Mets in the second round of
the Major League Baseball Draft Thursday (June 7) afternoon.
Now a redshirt
junior at UCLA, the 6-foot-6, 225-pound right-handed pitcher was the 93rd player
overall to be selected in the 2007 draft. He is the only player with East County
ties to be chosen in the first five rounds on Thursday. The draft resumes on Friday
(June 8).
"I was definitely ecstatic when I heard that the Mets chose
me in the second round," Rustich said. "I can't help but think of all
the people who have been there to support me throughout my career."
Rustich,
who features a fastball that sits in the 93-94 mph range, leads the Bruins with
six saves this season. He has a 3-2 record and a 6.67 ERA in 20 appearances, striking
out 28 batters in 29.2 innings.
Some might say that Rustich went higher
in the draft than projected, since he missed the majority of the 2006 season with
a finger injury. He had surgery to repair the damaged finger and seems to be throwing
well again.
Rustich and the Bruins (33-26) will face Cal State Fullerton
in the NCAA Super Regionals at Goodwin Field beginning Saturday (June 9) at 4
p.m. live on ESPN in a best-of-3 series.
El Cap alum signs
with Royals© East
County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (6-7-07) — If El Capitan alum BRYAN PAUKOVITS
is as good as his statistics indicate he is, the Kansas City Royals got a steal
in the 6-foot-7, 235-pound right-handed pitcher.
According to Paukovits,
scouts have told him that his fastball consistently measures between 91-95 mph,
peaking out at 97.
Those are great numbers considering the Royals selected
Paukovits in the 44th round of the 2006 June draft.
“I’m anxious
for the opportunity to get my pro career going,” said Paukovits, who pitched
at Southwestern in 2006 before transferring to San Diego Mesa College last spring.
“I can’t think of anything better than to wake up every day and be able
to play baseball for pay.”
Paukovits, who posted an 8-4 record with
a 1.90 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 90 innings, was signed by Royals scout John Ramey
on May 19.
Paukovits will report to the Royals minor league headquarters
in Surprise (Ariz.) on June 8. After spending a week there he will join the Royals
Burlington (N.C.) ballclub of the Class A Appalachian League on June 17.
Hey,
it's a paycheck
© East County Sports.com
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (4-1-07) --
Whether you watch it or not, most sports fans have heard of the Arena Football
League. But did you know there are two other indoor football leagues?
One
of them is the United Indoor Football League (UIF). And a former Grossmont College
All-America selection is participating.
The Colorado Ice (Fort Collins,
Colo.) welcome 6-foot-3, 356-pound offensive lineman AUNDREA LIDDELL to the starting
lineup, as the Ice captured its season opener by nipping the Billings (Mont.)
Outlaws, 26-25, as the only home team to win in Week 1 (Mar. 23).
Over the
weekend, Colorado fell on the road to the Omaha Beef, 31-20.
Liddell played
for the Griffins during the 2003 season -- the school's first undefeated (regular
season) team -- eventually claiming the Southern California championship and earning
a scholarship to San Jose State .
Liddell was a third-team All-America
selection by J.C. Grid-Wire and honorable mention All-America by J.C. Athletic
Bureau, plus JuCal Transfer named him All-State. He blocked for quarterback JORDAN
ADAMS, who earned a scholarship to Nebraska .
With Liddell's protecting,
Adams set a Grossmont record of 531 passing yards in a single game, completing
30-of-42 passes against Antelope Valley.
Wright's pro debut
needs to wait©
East County Sports.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (3-2-07) -- Former Grossmont
College All-America defensive lineman RODERKUS WRIGHT, who was attempting to make
the jump directly from the Griffins to the professional ranks, will not make his
debut tonight.
After being signed by the 5-time champion Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena
Football League, Wright failed to make the roster as one of the final cuts at
the conclusion of training camp.
"He showed some good thing," noted
Jim Robinson, the Storm's Public Relations Director. "But he still is a little
raw."
While Wright and his agent seek other opportunities, the Storm opens
the season tonight with a War on Interstate-4 battle with South Division rival
Orlando Predators. Last year, Wright was a free-agent selection by the Calgary
Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, but never signed a contract.
Wright
signs with AFL Tampa Bay Storm
(c) East
County Sports.com
TAMPA, Fla.(11-1-06) -- Former Grossmont College All-America
defensive end RODERKUS WRIGHT has signed a free agent contract with the Tampa
Bay Storm, a five-time champion of the Arena Football League.
Tum Marcum,
the Storm's head coach and general manager, made the announcement Wednesday (Nov.
1), along with the signing of three additional players: fullback/linebackers Torrance
Marshall (Oklahoma) and Rodney Filer (San Diego Chargers pratice squad member
in 1996), and defensive back Bo Rogers (Western Michigan, CFL Ottawa Roughriders).
Wright is an AFL rookie, the others have expereince with the indoor game.
Wright,
a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive lineman, began his collegiate career at the University
of Oregon before transferring to join the Griffins. He played in three years of
college football (one year as a red-shirt) before leaving school to pursue a professional
career.
Wright has 4.9 speed in the 40-yard dash and led his team in sacks
his junior year. He earned First Team National J.C.grid-Wire Association All-America
honors in 2005, helping Grossmont to both state and national titles..
Three
weeks ago, he was claimed by the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, but did not sign and
was released.
Wright becomes the first Griffins athlete to sign a professional
football contact directly out of Grossmont. Many other athletes have done so in
other sports, especially baseball.
Included are current performers JOE KENNEDY,
a starting pitcher for the Oakland A's, Atlanta Braves second baseman MARCUS GILES,
San Francisco Giants pitcher KEVIN CORREIA, and women's pro beach volleyball player
JENNIFER MURRELL HOLDREN, among others.
Plus, KEVIN McCADAM is a starting
free safety for the NFL's Carolina Panthers after playing for Grossmont and Virginia
Tech.
Wright passes on Stampeders
(c)
East County Sports.com
CALGARY, Albt. (10-11-06) -- Former Grossmont College
defensive end RODERKUS WRIGHT, who was attempting to become the first Griffin
to make the jump directly into professional football, was released by the Calgary
Stampeders of the Canadian Football League today.
Wright was claimed as
a free agent, but never signed with the CFL ballclub, thus was released from the
Stamps' reserve list.
Wright, a J.C. Grid-Wire All-America selection
on Grossmont's state and national championship team in 2005, was seeking a berth
in the CFL or NFL Europe. At 6-foot-6, 275 pounds and a lineman with 4.9 speed
in the 40-yard dash, Wright, 24, has the credentials many NFL teams seek.
This
past weekend, Calgary completed its regular season at 10-8 for second place in
the CFL West Division. The Stampeders will host Saskatchewan in Sunday's (Nov.
5) divisional semifinals, seeking a berth to meet division champion B.C. Lions
for a berth in the 94th Grey Cup, to be held Sun., Nov. 19, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
DeGrenier
tabbed both Arizona state,
national
football Coach of the Year© East County Sports.com
CAVE
CREEK, Ariz. (12-27-06) -- During the 2005 football season, El Cajon Valley head
football coach JASON TEXLER turned the Braves' lowly program into a CIF contender,
advancing to the San Diego Section Division II championship game at Qualcomm Stadium.
It
was quite a season.
In 2006, a former East County football standout did
even better.
|
| Chad DeGrenier
(Courtesy
photo, Arizona Rattlers) |
Following a professional
playing career with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League, former
Christian High (1990) and Grossmont College (1991-92) quarterback CHAD DeGRENIER
produced the largest possible turnaround in high school football history.
Taking
over a weak program at Cactus Shadows High School as head coach in 2004, his Falcons
went a disappointing 0-10 in this small community just north of Phoenix. This
past season, DeGrenier's team captured the Arizona State championship with a perfect
15-0 slate.
And the honors are rolling in, as DeGrenier was named the Arizona
coach of the year by the Arizona Republic newspaper, then was tabbed National
coach of the year by the high school website MaxPreps.com.
DeGrenier's
0-10 squad allowed more than 52 points per contest, but improved to 5-6 the following
season under his direction. But no one could envision a state Class 4A Division
II banner just two years removed from a winless campaign.
"I took the
job here after teaching in the district for six years, and playing for the Rattlers,"
DeGrenier told MaxPreps.com. "We were somewhat of a doormat in football.
It wasn't something there was a lot of pride in.
"We wanted to fill
up the stands and make it a community event. I told the kids they could win a
state championship. I wanted to put big dreams in the kids' hearts, and just get
better every day."
DeGrenier's first ballclub featured 16 sophomore
starters and a lot of blowout defeats.
"We were young. It was very
difficult."
However, with his father, Jack DeGrenier, the former head
coach at Scottsdale Christian joining his coaching staff, things started to turn
around.
"The words of wisdom, just saying, 'Hey, you are doing the
right things,' when you doubt yourself, that was big," DeGrenier said. "He
helped me be a better leader."
Finally on Dec. 2, the Falcons' path
to glory was complete after doubling Higley High, 28-14, for the state title.
Prior
to joining Cactus Shadows, DeGrenier taught physical education at Black Mountain
Elementary School in Phoenix. He also was the basketball coach at Cactus Shadows
while playing for the Rattlers (1998-2002).
DeGrenier played his college
ball at Washington State and Division II power Midwestern (Texas) State.
Kiger could make Major League debut in ALCS
(c) East County Sports.comOAKLAND (10-10-06) -- MARK KIGER,
a standout infielder for Grossmont College in 1999, will be eligible to make his
major league debut this week after the Oakland A's added him to their postseason
roster for the American league Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers.
Kiger,
who split the 2006 season between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento, replaces
second baseman Mark Ellis, who fractured his right index finger last in his ninth-inning
at-bat against Minnesota's Joe Nathan in Game 2 of the American League Division
Series last Wednesday (Oct. 4).
Kiger is making his first appearance on
the A's 40-man roster after batting a combined .276 with nine home runs and 34
RBIs in 119 games. Kiger hit .233 in 61 games with Sacramento's River Cats before
he was transferred to Midland on June 29. He batted .307 with six home runs and
20 RBIs in 58 games at third base with the Rockhounds.
Following his Griffins
career, Kiger played for the University of Florida before being drafted in fifth
round of the 2002 draft.
Kiger, who was coaching youth baseball in Temecula
when he was told to report to Arizona in the wake of Ellis' injury, said he was
"shell-shocked" by the invitation.
"You don't think, after
three weeks [of the offseason] you're gonna get a call and find yourself here
in October," he told MLB.com. "I'm just trying to stay out of things.
These guys worked their butt off all year to get to this point. This is their
season."
Kiger said he was heading back to Arizona after Sunday's
workout. He is schedule to report Tuesday morning, the day of Game 1 of the ALCS.
While
at Griossmont, Kiger (La Jolla High) was selected First Team All-America by the
California Community College Baseball Coaches Association, and was tabbed Pacific
Coast Conference Player of the Year after hitting a state-best .497 with 10 home
runs and posting a 44-game hitting streak in 1999.
Eagles alum captures Cal League crown SAN BERNARDINO (9-19-06) -- Featuring a .344 postseason
batting performance by former Granite Hills High standout CASEY CRAIG, the Inland
Empire 66ers scored in the bottom of the 8th inning to nip the Visalia Oaks, 2-1,
capturing the California League baseball championship.
Johan Limonta's
run-scoring double broke a 1-1 tie, as the 66ers captured the series in Monday's
(Sept. 18) fifth and final contest, 3-games-to-2.
Craig, 21, went 1-for-3
in the pennant clincher. He singled to open the 5th inning, but was erased on
a double play ball. The next batter, Josh Womack (Crawford HS), then rattled a
ball to right field for an inside-the-park homer and a 1-0 lead.
However,
Craig was a key to forcing a fifth game. Facing elimination and trailing 1-0 in
Game 4, Craig slugged a 2-run homer when the Sixers scored six times in the 5th
in an 8-2 victory.
A starting corner outfielde, Craig went 5-for-13 (.385)
in the divisional series, then 6-for-19 (.318) in the title series, collecting
hits in eight of his nine playoff ballgames.
Inland Empire, the first half
winners of the South Division, bested the Lake Elsinore Storm, 3-games-to-1, to
gain a berth in the championship series. Trailing 5-0, the 66ers scored six times
in the 8th, including a sacrifice fly by the left-handed hitting Craig, in a 9-5
triumph.
Craig also scored the only run in a 1-0 win in Game 2.
