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O'Sullivan showcased
Traded to Kansas City

© East County Sports.com 
NEW YORK (7-23-10) — It quickly became apparent that SEAN O'SULLIVAN's start Tuesday (July 20) against the New York Yankees was to fully demonstrate he was ready to fit into the rotation for almost any MLB ballclub

Less than 48 hours following his first MLB victory in a year, O'Sullivan, 22, was one of two pitchers traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for third baseman Alberto Callaspo, who was sent packing to the Los Angeles Angels.

O'Sullivan currently owns a career record of 5-2, the same mark as former West Hills High and San Diego State product STEPHEN STRASBURG.

O’Sullivan befuddles Yankees

© East County Sports.com
NEW YORK (7-21-10) — Los Angeles Angels pitcher SEAN O’SULLIVAN made his first major league start in nearly a year Tuesday (July 20) against the World Champion Yankees in a game televised over the Armed Forces Network from Yankee Stadium.

Of course, the majority of the audience, including the 47,775 fans at Yankee Stadium, was focused on seeking a New York knockout.

After surrendering two runs and two hits in the first inning, O’Sullivan – a product of Valhalla High and Grossmont College – settled in to hold the Yankees hitless over five innings to gain his first pitching decision of the season as the Angels prevailed 10-2.

“He doesn't get rattled," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of O'Sullivan. "That's a tough lineup. I thought Sean made some good adjustments as the game went on."

O'Sullivan, who spoke with his parents – Paul and Dina – before the game, said his 11th Major League start had a different feel at the outset.

"As a kid, the Yankees are the biggest team," O'Sullivan said. "To get to pitch here, on their mound -- the loneliest place on earth, they say -- it's big.”

Filling in for injured starter Scott Kazmir, O’Sullivan walked three and struck out four, while throwing 85 pitches.

“I didn't know I was starting until I got here today," O'Sullivan said. "Butch [pitching coach Mike Butcher] said he gave me a call yesterday, but I didn't get it.”

O'Sullivan arrived in the Bronx from Triple-A Salt Lake with reliever Trevor Bell, who ended up pitching the ninth inning after O'Sullivan went six.

O'Sullivan, who had made four relief appearances for the Angels while spending most of the season at Salt Lake, held the Yankees to two runs on two hits and three walks (one intentional) across six innings, striking out four. He is 1-0, his ERA a sparkling 2.08.

The 22-year-old right-hander, who won his Major League debut with a superb effort in San Francisco on June 16 of last year, pitched a no-hitter for Triple-A Salt Lake earlier this season.


Nick Longmire
trots the bases
following his first
professional HR.
(Howard Owens
The Batavian)
Longmire's fast pro start

Special to East County Sports.com
BATAVIA, N.Y. (6-28-10) — Although the Batavia Muckdogs (4-6) are off to a so-so start in the Class A New York Penn League, former Grossmont High slugger NICK LONGMIRE is on a hitting rampage.

The Muckdogs’ center fielder and No. 5 pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, Longmire leads the league in six offensive batting categories through 10 games. That includes hits (15), triples (3), home runs (3) and RBI (16). His .405 batting average is No. 2 in the circuit. MORE

Longmire takes first step in pros

Special to East County Sports.com
BATAVIA, N.Y. (6-21-10) — Fresh off signing a professional baseball contract as a 5th round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals, former Grossmont High standout NICK LONGMIRE has made an immediate impact for the Class A Batavia Muckdogs of the New York Penn League.

Batavia’s fans fell in love with the East County center fielder instantly.

In the Muckdogs’ home opener on Saturday (June 19), Longmire clubbed a home run, two doubles, and had a sacrifice fly to drive in six runs as Batavia edged the Auburn Doubledays, 7-5. Phillips picks-up Padres paycheck

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (6-26-10) — El Capitan High alum KYLE PHILLIPS, 26, is coming home – sort of.

A 10th round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2002, Phillips will now pick up his paychecks from the San Diego Padres organization. The left-hand-hitting third baseman was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays from their Pacific Coast League Triple-A farmclub in Las Vegas to the Padres PCL Triple-A ballclub in Portland on Friday (June 25).

Although Phillips is expected to finish the season playing for the Beavers, the continual transactions made by the major league ballclub leaves the door open for a possible call-up.

Phillips, who batted .300 with 8 home runs and 29 RBI a year ago at Las Vegas , was hitting only .258 for the same team this season. He is the brother of former major league JASON PHILLIPS, also a product of El Capitan High as well as San Diego State.


Brian Longpre in action
for CSU Northridge.
(CSUN photo)
Ex-Griffin signs with Blue Jays

© East County Sports.com
NORTHRIDGE (6-23-10) — Former Grossmont College pitcher BRIAN LONGPRE, who concluded his amateur career with two seasons at Cal State Northridge, has signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Longpre, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander, toiled for the Griffins as a redshirt sophomore during the 2008 season after bouncing back from San Diego State as a freshman. He struck out 37 batters in 31 1/3 innings while compiling a 4.31 ERA.

Longpre concluded his CSUN career by appearing in 25 games in the 2010 season, finishing the year with a 2-1 record and a 4.54 ERA. The La Crescenta native struck out 27 batters, walked just 12, and finished with three pick-offs, good for the third-highest total in the Big West Conference.

In addition to excelling on the baseball diamond, Longpre graduated in May with a degree in finance.


2010 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT

The next Strasburg?
Five local players tabbed on Day Two of MLB draft

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-9-10) — Five college athletes with East County ties were selected in Tuesday’s (June 8) second day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Nick Longmire
Pacific Tigers
Greg Garcia
Hawai'i Rainbows
At the top of the list is University of Pacific junior outfielder and Grossmont High alum NICK LONGMIRE (VIDEO) who was selected in the 5th round by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 169th overall pick. He is the highest player drafted out of the Stockton-based university since 2007. Longmire is no stranger to the stage of the MLB Draft. As a high school senior, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound then-first-baseman was drafted by Oakland in the 37th round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft. His choice to attend college first will definitely pay off should he decide to turn pro this summer.

This season at Pacific, Longmire finished as the top hitter in the Big West Conference games with a .354 average. He hit .327 overall.

A.J. Griffin
USD Toreros
Cameron Selik
Kansas Jayhawks
In his senior year at Grossmont, Longmire led the Foothillers with a .514 batting average, 15 home runs, 19 stolen bases, 36 RBI and a 1.010 slugging percentage. He was also named the San Diego CIF Division II Player of the Year.

Other Inlanders selected were: Valhalla (University of Hawai'i) product and middle infielder GREG GARCIA (7th round, St. Louis); Grossmont alum and USD senior right-handed pitcher AJ GRIFFIN (13th round, Oakland A’s); Grossmont College’s CAMERON SELIK (22nd round, Washington Nationals), who is now a junior at Kansas; and 6-foot-8 Grossmont College freshman KEVIN KLEIS (27th round, Pittsburgh Pirates).

Twenty-nine rounds were completed on Tuesday. The final 20 rounds will be conducted on Wednesday (June 9).

The Cardinals used the 229th pick to select Garcia, who led the Rainbow Warriors with a .358 batting average. Garcia earned first team all-WAC honors in 2010 after being named to the second team in each of his first two seasons at Hawaii .

A 6-foot-2, 234-pound senior right-handed pitcher and the 656th pick in the draft, Selik posted a 6-4 record in 15 starts for the Jayhawks this season with a 5.06 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings. Selik earned wins in his first four starts of the season, becoming the first Jayhawks pitcher to accomplish that since Pete Smart opened the 2000 with six-straight wins. He tossed one of two complete games by a Kansas pitcher this year, and held his opponents to a .277 batting average.

Griffin, a first-team All-West Coast Conference performer, was the 395th player selected in the draft. The 6-5, 215-pound right-hander registered a 5-0 record in league games with a 57-13 strikeout to walk ratio and had an ERA of 3.26.

Overall, Griffin was 8-3 with a 4.47 ERA and was second on the team in strikeouts with 113. Griffin picked up a win in the Tempe Regional after a dominating performance against Wisconsin-Milwaukee in which he allowed no runs on two hits in 5.0 innings.

A virtual unknown at Grossmont High, the 6-8 Kleis earned the closer’s role as a Grossmont College freshman this season. He compiled a 1-2 record with three saves, 5.51 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings.

After 30 rounds in this year’s draft, Grossmont College is the only San Diego community college to have a player chosen. The Griffins, in fact, had two. That’s right. Pacific Coast Athletic Conference champion San Diego City College and runner-up Palomar had none between them.


Watch the Clifton Thomas interview on Javelina Television.

Thomas' career end with record numbers

Courtesy, Texas A&M-Kingsville media relations
ABILENE, TEXAS – The 11th-ranked Abilene Christian baseball team ended the season of Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sunday (May 2) afternoon at the Lone Star Conference Tournament with a 16-7 win at Abilene Christian University's Crutcher Scott Fied.

The Javelinas (28-25) took an early lead when CLIFTON THOMAS (Grossmont College//El Cajon Valley HS) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and stole second and would later score.

The loss ended the Javelinas’ season, finishing with a school record with 24 conference victories. Thomas concluded his career in grand fashion with one of the most prolific seasons in school history hitting .388 with 63 runs, 21 doubles, nine triples, 10 homers, 46 RBI, 154 total bases and 27 stolen bases. He is the only player in school history to have at least 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases in back-to-back seasons. He also set a school record with 139 outfield putouts this season, including nine against the Wildcats, earning an all-tournament team berth.

Thomas is expected to join the San Diego Stars semipro baseball club for the Western Baseball Association summer season.

All-Region honors for Thomas

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (5-16-10/revised 5-22-10) — Former All-East County baseball player CLIFTON THOMAS (El Cajon Valley HS/Grossmont College) of Texas A&M-Kingsville was recently named to three different all-region teams.

Thomas was tabbed to the Daktronics All-South Central Region, the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-South Central Region team, then was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-South Central Region team. On all three, he gained second-team berths.

Thomas led the Javelinas to a 28-25 record and a trip to the Lone Star Conference Tournament this year. Each player also earned First Team all-LSC honors this year, while Thomas also gained an LSC All-Tournament berth.

Thomas posted one of the best seasons in Kingsville history. He batted .388 with 63 runs, 21 doubles, nine triples, 10 home runs, 46 runs batted in and 27 stolen bases.

He is the first player in school history with at least 20 doubles, 10 homers and 20 stolen bases in one season. He tallied 154 total bases and a .703 slugging percentage en route to becoming the first player in school history with two seasons of at least 100 total bases.

Thomas is expected to join the Barona-San Diego Stars semipro baseball team this summer if he doesn’t get drafted.

Thomas gains first-team laurels

© East County Sports.com
ABILENE, Texas (5-1-10) — Texas A&M-Kingsville senior centerfielder CLIFTON THOMAS (El Cajon Valley HS/Grossmont College) has been selected to the first team of the All-Lone Star Conference baseball team. The award was announced at Friday's (Apr. 30) banquet held prior to the start of this weekend's LSC baseball championship at Abilene Christian's Crutcher Scott Field.

Thomas has been the mainstay to the offensive production after putting together one of the most exceptional seasons in school history. Thomas batted .381 with 59 runs, 20 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, a .690 slugging percentage and 26 stolen bases, all while playing outstanding defense. In fact, all but one Kingsville starter batted more than .300 this season (the lone exception batted .296).

Thomas, who was a second-team honoree in 2009, helped the Javelinas (28-23) gain the fourth seed to the conference event, with the winner gaining an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II South Central regional. The Hoggies will meet Cameron University in Saturday's first-round contest.

The Javelinas have won eight of their last 10 games and enter the tournament on a scoring binge having scored at least 10 runs in seven of their last nine contests. Since March 5, the Javelinas are hitting .363 as a team and seem to be getting better and better as the year goes along.

“Right now, it does not even bother us if we are down by five runs,” said head coach Jason Gonzales. “We think that we can get that back and still win.”

It was a remarkable turnaround for Kingsville, who placed four players on the first team after being completely shutout last season.


Eric Krause
Krause named MCC Pitcher of the year

© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (5-22-10) — The awards continue to arrive for former Granite Hills High standout ERIC KRAUSE, who now performs for William Penn University.

Following a Final Four appearance at the California state community college championships for Southwestern College, Krause continued his excellence with the Statesmen, earning Pitcher of the Year award in the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

A three-time MCC Pitcher of the Week, the junior finished 2010 with an 8-1 record and a 2.76 earned run average in 75 innings of work. Krause tallied 87 strikeouts with only nine walks and opponents hit just .229 against him.

He was especially dominant in the league, owning a 5-1 mark with a 1.95 ERA, striking out 60 with only three base on balls.

In addition, the 2010 MCC Gold Glove Team featured Krause and his battery mate, catcher Eddie Sobczak.

Krause three-peats

Courtesy, William Penn Media Relations
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (5-12-10) — ERIC KRAUSE, a graduate of Granite Hills High and Southwestern College, concluded his junior campaign with another solid performance, netting him Midwest Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Week laurels, the league office announced Monday (May 11).

Krause picked up his third league award of the spring as the Statesmen won the game he started on Friday, but lost later that day to end their 2010 season at 25-19.

The junior finished the week 1-0, helping Penn to an 11-2 win over Clarke. In seven innings of work, he gave up two runs (both earned) on four hits, striking out seven with two walks.

For the year, the staff ace was 8-1 with a 2.76 ERA in 75 innings pitched. He struck out 87 with only nine walks (9.7-to-1 K-to-BB ratio) and opponents hit just .229 against him.


Another Thomas award

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (5-10-10) — CLIFTON THOMAS, the record-setting centerfielder for the Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team, keeps adding to his trophy case of awards.

After gaining berths to the All-Lone Star Conference team and the LSC All-Tournament teams, Thomas, a product of El Cajon Valley HS and Grossmont College, was named recipient of the Gil E. Steinke Award as the college's Male Athlete of the Year for all Javalinas sports teams.

Thomas shared the honor with football player Billy Garza, and senior softball player Cassie Anderson, the program's Female Athlete of the Year.

Mike McCoy
McCoy finally standing tall with Blue Jays

By John Lott, National Post
TORONTO (5-4-10) — Looking at MIKE McCOY, you would not imagine a kid who once had hoop dreams.

But during his final year at Grossmont High School (1999), he honestly thought he had a future on the hardwood.

"I had a really good senior year in basketball - 23 points a game, six or eight assists a game, 86 three-pointers," he said. "But no recruiters."

To everybody but McCoy, the reason was obvious. Even his father had to call him on it.

"I was short," he said with a chuckle.

He still is. But that was less a barrier in the sport that gave him a long-term job and finally, at age 29, a spot on the opening-day roster of the Toronto Blue Jays.

McCoy stands 5-foot-9, weighs 175 pounds and plays six positions, which is why the Jays rewarded him for a sizzling performance in spring training. He is the proverbial 25th man on the roster, which means he will not play much and may not even stick around for long, once the inevitable Las Vegas shuttle begins.

For now, however, he fits the stereotypical description of the scrappy big-league utility guy whose performance belies his size. And after a breakout season at Triple-A last year - .307 average, 40 stolen bases, .405 on-base percentage - he figured he might have turned some heads in the front office of his employers, the Colorado Rockies.

Instead, the Rockies placed him on waivers and the Jays claimed him. Primarily a shortstop, McCoy also can play second, third and all three outfield spots. His versatility and 2009 numbers made him attractive, even more so after he batted .400 with a .486 on-base mark in spring training.

So for the first time in his career, McCoy stood along the third-base line alongside major-league teammates during pre-game ceremonies on Opening Day on Monday (Apr. 5).

After seven years in the minors and a brief September call-up with the Rockies last year (where he played in 12 games), he had to pinch himself.

"Big crowd, big ceremony," he said with a smile. "Just to be here in the big leagues on Opening Day, it was awesome. For me to make an Opening Day roster as a 34th-rounder, I was pretty happy."

Yes, the St. Louis Cardinals waited that long before drafting McCoy in 2002. He spent six years in the Cardinals' system before he was traded to Baltimore, then to the Rockies.

His minor-league career was patchy and there were times when he worried it might end before he ever sniffed the big leagues. "I've had some struggles in my career," he said. "There have been times when I was like, ‘Whoa, am I going to be able to get a job next year?' I remember in '08, I was hitting, like .200, and I'm wondering, ‘What's going on? What's going to happen to my career?' "

Then, suddenly, he snapped out of his slump, hit .343 in his last 39 games and kept up the beat for the full 2009 season.

He says his turnaround actually started in 2007 when he was still in the Cardinals' system. One of his coaches was Rick Eckstein, the brother of former Jay David Eckstein and currently the hitting coach for the Washington Nationals. Eckstein gave McCoy a curt message.

"He basically told me I'd never make it to the big leagues with my swing, trying to guide the ball and stuff," McCoy recalled. "He got me to focus on getting on top of the ball and getting more of a straight line to the ball with my swing."

The lesson stuck. "Something just clicked for me in my approach. I kind of matured as a hitter, understanding that I'm not going to drive the ball that much. I just need to get on base and steal bases."

Now his challenge is to stay sharp. Tony LaCava, Toronto 's assistant general manager, says McCoy's approach is ideal for his reserve role. "Everything he does is very compact," LaCava said. "He should play off the bench very well."

McCoy has maintained his major league status for at least a month as he has remained a Blue Jay through Monday (May 3).


Mats Mattson
(UNO photo)
Mattson produces landmark triumph
New Orleans stuns national champion LSU

© East County Sports.com
BATON ROUGE, La. (4-30-10) — Following Tuesday's (Apr. 27) landmark victory, perhaps the University of New Orleans should re-think its proposal to the NCAA to drop to a non-scholarship Division III program in a few years.

Backed by a strong relief pitching stint by Grossmont High product MATS MATTSON, the Privateers rallied with four runs over the final two innings to stun 15th-ranked and defending national champion LSU, 7-4, before a Tigers crowd of 10,584 at Alex Box Stadium.

While Mattson shut down the Bayou Bengals, UNO senior Nick Schwaner belted his club-leading 15th home run in the 8th inning for the go-ahead runs to snap the ballclub's 9-game losing streak in one of biggest Division I upsets in the nation this season.

Mattson struck out two Tigers in 1 1/3 innings of relief to garner the victory. Mattson, a junior left-hander, has been one of the few bright spots for the Privateers (11-29).

Despite being a middle-reliever, Mattson now leads the pitching staff in victories (3), now owning a 7-2 overall record in his past two seasons with New Orleans. He is averaging nearly one strikeout per inning (30 Ks in 32.0 IP), while issuing just five walks.

   
Nick Spears
Shain Stoner
Ryan Brosnan
(SNU photos)
The Sooner Lumber Company

© East County Sports.com
PLAINVIEW, Texas (4-30-10) — In a career outing, former Grossmont College standout NICK SPEARS belted two home runs and knocked in six runs in a 4-for-5 performance, leading Southern Nazarene University to a 24-14 pasting of host Wayland Baptist in a Sooner Athletic Conference contest Tuesday (Apr. 27).

The ballgame featured 11 homers, including 7 by the Red Storm (30-13).

Spears, who was named the conference top shortstop as a junior in 2009, continues stroking a hot bat. The senior is now averaging .425 for the season.

Meanwhile, Spears' pair of homers gives him 13 for the year, matching West Hills High alumni SHAIN STONER for the club lead. Stoner leads all Southern Nazarene batters with a .479 batting average, while is just one behind Spears for the RBI lead with 56.

Also playing for SNU is RYAN BROSNAN (Santana), who is batting .285 after missing half of his freshman season at Grossmont College with a broken hand after hitting .321 for the Griffins.


Eric Krause
(WPU photo)
Krause named top dog – again

© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (4-20-10) — Former East County standout ERIC KRAUSE was chosen the Midwest Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week.

The Granite Hills High alum hurled eight scoreless frames for William Penn (Iowa) University last week, including a complete game six-hit, 7-inning shutout with nine strikeouts in beating Iowa Wesleyan.

Krause raised his season record to 7-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.45. The junior right-hander has 66 strikeouts in 56 innings for the Statesmen (22-13).

Statesmen's Krause makes statement

© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (4-17-10) — Former Granite Hills High-Southwestern College pitcher ERIC KRAUSE tossed two strong games to earn Midwest Collegiate Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week laurels for the league-leading William Penn University Statesmen.

Krause picked up his first career league award as the NAIA Statesmen (20-12, 10-4 MCC) went 5-1 last week. The junior right-hander went 2-0 during his week of honor. He gave up just one run (earned) on nine hits in 13 2/3 innings while striking out 16 with only one walk. Opponents hit only .188 against him.

For the season, the Statesmen’s ace is 6-1 with a 2.81 ERA. His six wins and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings lead all MCC pitchers.


Clifton Thomas
(TA&MK photo)
Thomas was named LSC Player of the Week for this effort.
Ex-Griff Thomas hits for cycle

© East County Sports.com
ADA, Okla. (4-19-10) – Former El Cajon Valley High-Grossmont College outfielder CLIFTON THOMAS hit for the cycle Friday (Apr. 16), leading Texas A&M-Kingsville to a 12-7 Lone Star Conference victory over East Central (Okla.).

Thomas singled in the 1st inning, led off the 5th with his seventh homer, began the 6th with his sixth triple and doubled in the 7th.

In the 7th, it looked like Thomas would not have a chance to hit for the cycle when the first two Hoggie batters made outs. Trent Wagner was then hit by a pitch to give Thomas a chance and the senior center fielder came through with a double to complete the cycle.

The Javelinas finished the game with 15 hits. Thomas went 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBI.


Griffin receives WCC honor

© East County Sports.com
SAN BRUNO (3-30-10) — Former Grossmont High standout AARON GRIFFIN shared this week's West Coast Conference pitcher of the week honor following one of the best pitching efforts of the season for Loyola Marymount.

Facing powerful Cal State Fullerton, Griffin, a freshman right-hander, tossed his first career complete game, leading the Lions past the Titans, 4-2. Griffin carried a shutout into the 9th, then hung on to defeat a team which owns three College World Series titles.

He used 119 pitches (73 strikes) to record the triumph. He faced 34 hitters and retired 15 of 16 batters from the second through the seventh, including 10 straight from the fourth into the seventh.

Griffin (2-1) allowed seven hits, a walk and two runs while striking out five. The complete game was the first for LMU since Lee Roberts tossed nine against Gonzaga on May 15, 2009.


Thomas continues hitting tear

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (3-22-10) – In perhaps the biggest weekend of his collegiate career, former El Cajon Valley High and Grossmont College standout CLIFTON THOMAS batted a smooth .706 (12-for-17) to lead Texas A&M-Kingsville to a 3-1 series victory over Northeastern State (Okla.) at Nolan Ryan Field.

Included was a doubleheader sweep on Sunday (Mar. 21), when Thomas ignited a late comeback after trailing 6-2 in the 6th inning of the opener. The senior registered the first of several consecutive run-scoring basehits with two outs to tie the ballgame for the Javelinas

Earlier, Thomas smacked a home run in a 2-for-4 outing.

He then capped the twinbill with a 4-for-4 outing to stun the visiting Riverhawks. He added three runs, two stolen bases and a pair of RBI to cap the series with totals of eight runs and four stolen bases to go along with his dozen basehits.


Eagles alum Ward signs pro contract

© East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (3-22-10) — The Barona-San Diego Stars semipro baseball team announced that former Granite Hills High and Grossmont College pitcher GABE WARD, who most recently played collegiately at Cal Lutheran, has signed a professional baseball contract with the independent Oakland County Cruisers (Waterford Township, Mich.). MORE
Alex Rosenthal
(AAU photo)
Helix alum garners school's first-ever victory

© East County Sports.com
PHOENIX (3-17-10) — It took a lot longer than expected, but the new baseball program at Academy of Art University in San Francisco finally owns its first-ever baseball victory. And the winning pitcher hails from East County.

When the history of Urban Knights baseball is penned, it will be former Helix High standout ALEX ROSENTHAL who will be denoted as gaining the first win after AAU downed host Grand Canyon University, 5-4, in the second game of a Pacific West Conference (NCAA Division II) doubleheader held March 12 at Brazell Stadium.

Rosenthal (1-4) pitched five strong innings with four strikeouts, with only two of the runs allowed earned. Then the bullpen maintained the advantage with 1-hit relief to defeat the Antelopes, a former NCAA Division I program.

“I’m happy for the kids,” said head coach Brian Guinn. “They’ve been battling really hard throughout the year and last year. To get that first victory takes that weight off their shoulders. Now they can go out and play baseball and do what they’re capable of doing. They’re pretty excited.”

Rosenthal, a sophomore transfer from Grossmont College, also got it done with the bat as well. He went 2-for-4 (.500) in two of the 4-game series split against Grand Canyon, with a run and a double. He also posted a .750 slugging percentage.

For his efforts, Rosenthal, an Illustration major, gained mention on the honor roll as one of the Pac West's players of the week.

AAU, which went 0-30 during its 2009 debut campaign, saw its losing streak hit 43 straight before the breakthrough triumph over the weekend.


Selik tabbed Big 12
pitcher of the week


© East County Sports.com
LAWRENCE, Kan. (3-8-10) — Former Grossmont College standout CAMERON SELIK, who pitched two seasons for the Griffins in 2006-07, has made a remarkable comeback following Tommy John surgery, recently being named Big 12 Conference pitcher of the week for the period ending Feb. 27.

The University of Kansas right-hander collected three quick victories to open the season, posting a 1.40 earned-run average in 19 1/3 innings. Included were a pair of victories in the Week 1 to share the Big 12 citation with Texas right-hander Cole Green.

Selik allowed an unearned run and two hits over six innings in the second game of a doubleheader against Eastern Michigan at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. He struck out five without issuing a walk, as the Patrick Henry High alum just missed a career high for strikeouts, set last season against both San Diego State and Northern Colorado.

Then on Feb. 27, Selik scattered six hits and one run over 7 1/3 innings to top Sacramento State in a contest held at the Peoria (Ariz.) Sports Complex, the spring training home of the San Diego Padres.

Selik was tendered his Jayhawks scholarship after making a comeback playing summer ball in the semipro Western Baseball Association with East County's Barona-San Diego Stars, who participated in the NBC World Series.

  
Clifton Thomas
(TAMK courtesy photo)

LSC honor
for Thomas

Special to East County Sports
RICHARDSON, Texas (3-10-10) — Texas A&M-Kingsville senior centerfielder CLIFTON THOMAS was named the Diamond Hitter of the Week by the Lone Star Conference on Wednesday.

Thomas, a Journalism major, flashed his power stroke last week as he had seven extra base hits in a four game series with Eastern New Mexico. After driving in one run and scoring another in the series opener he caught fire. He went 3-for-6 in Game 2 with three runs and two RBI’s. He missed hitting for the cycle by a single. In Saturday’s first game he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, two runs and two RBI’s. He finished the series with a 2-for-5 performance that included two runs, an RBI and a triple. He went 1-for-5 with a run scored on Tuesday against A&M-International. He finished the week with three doubles, three triples and a home run. He is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and has scored in a run in each of his last six games.

Thomas enjoys big weekend

© East County Sports.com
PORTALES, N.M. (3-8-10) — The college baseball season is only a month old, yet former El Cajon Valley High and Grossmont College standout CLIFTON THOMAS continues to be red-hot while playing for Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Over the weekend, Thomas batted .474 (9-for-19) with seven extra-base hits during a trio of top-notch performances, leading the Javalinas to a 3-game sweep of Eastern New Mexico.

On Friday (Mar. 5), Thomas, the starting center fielder for the Hoggies (12-9, 8-8 Lone Star Conference), missed hitting for the cycle by a mere single, registering a double and a triple after hitting his second home run of the season to lead-off the ballgame.

Thomas threw out an ENMU runner attempting to stretch a single into a double, nailing the Greyhounds batter by more than 10 feet according to a school press release.

A day later, Thomas batted 5-for-9 with two doubles and a pair of triples during a doubleheader sweep.

In all, the senior collected three doubles, three triples, a homer and six RBI in the series. For the season, Thomas is now hitting .358 with 20 runs and 13 stolen bases through 21 contests.

TAMK opens a 10-game homestand at Nolan Ryan Field on Tuesday (Mar. 9), hosting Texas A&M-International.


Tanida powers Fullerton past Long Beach St.

© East County Sports.com
FULLERTON (2-24-10) — Former Helix High catcher ZACH TANIDA provided the spark for Cal State Fullerton Sunday (Feb. 21) as the Titans won their first baseball game of the season by beating Long Beach State 8-1.

Making his debut at CSUF, Tanida scored the go-ahead run in the 5th inning after leading off with a double. Tanida scored two runs for the Titans (1-2). He spent the first two years of his college career at San Diego Mesa College.

Tanida will make an appearance in San Diego from Mar. 11-14 when the Titans participate in the San Diego State Tournament. CSF will meet Fresno State (Mar. 11), the host Aztecs (Mar. 12), USD (Mar. 13 at USD) and Alabama-Birmingham (Mar. 14).


Haar's slam lifts No. 19 Toreros

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SAN DIEGO (2-23-10) — University of San Diego sophomore infielder BRYAN HAAR, a product of Grossmont High, batted at a .438 clip (7 for 16) as the 19th-ranked Toreros claimed a 3-1 opening series edge over visiting Indiana (Feb. 19-22).

After four games, Haar has two home runs and six RBI, including a grand slam in the Toreros' 16-10 victory in the opener.

An All-WCC pick as a freshman when he batted .298 and finished second with 38 RBI, the 6-foot-3 Haar normally plays first base but spends some time as USD’s shortstop.

     Ex-Hiller shines for Palomar

© East County Sports.com
MISSION VIEJO (2-23-10) — Grossmont High alum LEVI STEVENS, a freshman left-hander at Palomar College, has been just short of perfect for the Comets this year.

In Monday’s (Feb. 22) makeup game at Saddleback, Stevens pitched the last four innings in relief as the visiting Comets clipped the Gauchos, 4-1. Stevens gave up one run (unearned) to record the save. He has an ERA of 0.00 for seven innings pitched on the season.


O'Sullivan injured vs. No. 22 Oklahoma

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-20-10) – The first start as part of the weekend rotation on the San Diego State pitching staff for RYAN O'SULLIVAN (Valhalla High) failed to last very long. And it had nothing to do with facing 22nd-ranked Oklahoma.

O'Sullivan, on just his 12th pitch of the evening, walked off the mound with severe elbow pain and was removed from a game eventually won by the Sooners, 9-5, to complete a doubleheader sweep.

According to SDSU media relations to an email statement, "It's something with (O'Sullivan's) right elbow but they're not sure of the extent of the injury. He was supposed to start at shortstop tomorrow, but that won't happen now."

On the potentially plus side, O'Sullivan was found sitting along the rail of the Aztecs dugout late in the contest, yet without ice or any other medical device to support his pitching arm.

The statement also noted that O'Sullivan, a sophomore, will be further examined by the medical staff on Monday.
    
Eddie Young (left) and Trevor Frank
(Courtesy, UCR Highlanders)
UCR's Young to visit SDSU

© East County Sports.com
RIVERSIDE (2-21-10) — Former Christian High standout EDDIE YOUNG stroked a key RBI single in the 3rd inning, staking UC Riverside to a 6-0 lead en route to downing Brigham Young in Friday's (Feb. 19) season-opening baseball doubleheader.

Young, who missed most of the 2009 season following a head injury after getting struck in the head by a line drive during practice, has bounced back strongly. The sophomore has gained starts at second base and designated hitter for the undefeated Highlanders (3-0).

He elected to sign with the Highlanders after getting drafted out of Christian by the Chicago White Sox.

Also on the UCR roster is freshman pitcher TREVOR FRANK, who was on Valhalla High's 2006 SDCIF championship team under then head coach STEVE PERDUE, who now heads the program at Foothills Christian.

UC Riverside hosts Bethune-Cookman on Monday (Feb. 22), then visits Tony Gwynn Stadium on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. ballgame against SDSU.


Aztecs drop opener to No. 22 Sooners
O'Sullivan makes '10 debut Saturday

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-20-10) – Addison Reed, the 2009 National Stopper of the Year, made his first collegiate start but took the loss as 22nd-ranked Oklahoma opened the NCAA baseball season by rallying past San Diego State, 7-4, Friday (Feb. 19) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Reed, a junior who was a consensus All-American, carried a 3-2 lead into the 5th inning, but allowed a pair of runs before getting lifted following a career-long stint of 4 1/3 innings.

The Sooners received home runs by Garrett Buechele and Cameron Seitzer to key the comeback.

For the Aztecs, freshman DH Blair Moore went 2-for-3 with a single and double in his collegiate debut. Matt Parker and Cory Vaughn had two hits apiece for the Aztecs.

The teams play a doubleheader here on Saturday (Feb. 20) at 1 p.m., with Valhalla High product RYAN O'SULLIVAN expected to start.

O'Sullivan (4-4, 1 save, 6.79), who is also SDSU's regular at shortstop, moves into the weekend rotation this season after serving as a mid-week starter during his freshman season of 2009.


Thomas matches school record in A&M opener

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (2-7-10) – Former El Cajon Valley High standout CLIFTON THOMAS opened his senior season at Texas A&M-Kingsville in record-setting fashion.

Thomas, the starting centerfielder, equaled a school record by stealing four bases in the season opener, lifting the Javelinas to a doubleheader sweep of University of Houston-Victoria, 8-2 and 10-0, on Friday (Feb. 5) at Nolan Ryan Field.

Thomas batted 3-for-5 in the opener, including a pair of RBI, aiding a pair of scoring rallied with his thefts. He jump-started the offense in the 3rd inning when he reached via bunt single, stole second and third before registering the first run of the season.

In the 7-inning nightcap, Thomas added two more steals against the Jaguars, placing him on pace to top his personal best of 26 steals in a season set last spring; the Hoggies' school mark is 28.

Former Kingsville star and current San Diego Padres pitcher MIKE ADAMS tossed the ceremonial first pitch.


Blondin tabbed NAIA preseason All-America

© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (12-15-09) — It's never too early for baseball, as the NAIA released its preseason rankings and the preseason All-America team – both with a distinctive East County flavor.

Former Grossmont College standout ROSS BLONDIN not only landed a first-team berth along with his Lubbock Christian teammate R.L. Eisenbach, the defending national champion Chapparels gained the No. 1 ranking in the 2010 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll.

The Chaps, who finished last year with a 52-8 record and its second NAIA World Series title, gathered 23 of the possible 24 first-place votes and 684 total points. National runner-up Point Loma Nazarene captured the No. 2 ranking with 649 total points, followed by Oklahoma City, Southern Poly State (Ga.) and Lee (Tenn.).

The Preseason All-America team was chosen by the NAIA All-America Selection Committee.


2009 SEASON
O'Sullivan named "general manager" for
inaugural SDSU Red-Black World Series

Free events includes complimentary car wash

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (11-17-09) — San Diego State pitcher RYAN O'SULLIVAN is one of four current members of the Aztecs baseball team granted a managerial roll in the first SDSU Red-Black World Series.

The series, which completes the fall practice session, will consist of a trio of nine-inning contests over three days and is open to the public free of charge.

The three-game series will commence on Thursday (Nov. 19) at 2 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Subsequent contests are schedule for Friday (Nov. 20) at 6 p.m. and Saturday (Nov. 21) at 1 p.m. The team will have full batting practice and infield before each of the first two games with no batting practice prior to Saturday’s contest.

An autograph session will be held after the final game of the series on Saturday and fans will also have a chance to meet the 2010 Aztecs squad during a free car wash that is open to the public on Sunday from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at the stadium.

Each team in the series has been appointed an “owner” and “general manger” who will preside over the Series draft which will take place on Wednesday (Nov. 18). O'Sullivan, a sophomore, and junior CORY VAUGHN ("owner") serve one team as the GM and owner, while senior Pat Colwell and sophomore Brandon Meredith are the GM and owner of the other ballclub.

Rosters and pitching rotations will be available following the draft.

Following the Red-Black World Series, the team will be idle until it resumes practice in February. The Aztecs will open their 2010 campaign on Friday, February 19, against Oklahoma at Tony Gwynn Stadium.


Titans tab Tanida

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (8-31-09) — Cal State Fullerton baseball coach Dave Serrano caught Helix High alum ZACH TANIDA by surprise when he called Highlanders’ baseball coach COLE HOLLAND and offered the catcher out of San Diego Mesa College a chance to catch for one of the nation’s top college programs.

A versatile baseball player for the Olympians, Tanida continue his education and baseball career with the NCAA Division I power Titans.

“Coach Serrano called us and wanted Zach to come up and play for him,” Holland said. “It was an opportunity that none of us expected.”

Tanida batted .345 (51 for 148) with one home run and 31 RBI last season for Mesa.


Granite Hills' Eric Krause (circa 2007)
(East County Sports.com file photo)
Former Eagles great accepts scholarship
Krause set Granite Hills mark with 32 career wins

© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (8-19-09) — ERIC KRAUSE, a former EastCountySports.com Player of the Year, has accepted a baseball scholarship to William Penn University. Krause, who was an all-state pitcher at both the high school (Granite Hills, 2007) and community college (Southwestern, 2009) levels, is projected to be a starting pitcher for the Statesmen next season.

Krause, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound right-hander, was named to the All-Grossmont South League team in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and was also a three-time honoree to the All-EastCountySports.com team during that period. He established a Granite Hills record for career wins with 32, leading the Eagles to the San Diego CIF Division I championship in 2007.

William Penn finished as Midwest Classic Conference champions and advanced to the regional NAIA Regional playoffs last season.

Krause just finished a summer campaign with the San Diego Force that included a trip to the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan. While on the Force, he compiled a record of 5-1, and was named the team's pitcher of the year in leading the semipro ballclub to the Western Baseball Association crown. At Southwestern College, Krause compiled a 6-3 record with a 4.66 ERA in 2009.


Former Griffins making progress

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (8-9-09) — Former East County standouts JOSH MAZZOLA, SHANE KAUFMAN, LANCE JANKE and JOHNNIE LOWE, all 2006 graduates of the Grossmont College baseball team, are currently making a strong showing at the minor league level.

Mazzola, a 23-year-old first baseman for the San Francisco Giants’ South Atlantic League (Class A) affiliate Augusta Greenjackets, is proving to be a big time RBI man. While compiling a .270 average in 381 at-bats, Mazzola, a product of Santana High, has driven in 82 runs with 103 hits. Included in his totals are 13 home runs and 25 doubles.

Kaufman, a 6-foot, 185-pound right-hander out of Santana High, also began the season pitching for the Greenjackets before receiving a promotion to the Giants’ Eastern League (Double-A) farmclub, the Connecticut Defenders. He’s posted a combined 4-1 record with a 5.11 ERA.

A product for the Cincinnati Reds, Janke was dominating the Midwest League as a member of the Dayton Dragons before he was recently promoted to the Class A Florida State League Sarasota ballclub. Janke, who played two seasons (2005-06) for the Griffins, posted a 5-5 mark and a 4.06 ERA for Dayton before joining Sarasota.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Lowe, a right-handed draftee in the 6th round by the Chicago White Sox in June 2007, has made rapid progress up the organizational ladder. Lowe posted a 7-5 record in 20 outings for the Double-A Birmingham Barons earlier this season. Lowe has since moved over to Double-A Winston-Salem of the Central League, where he has lost his only decision.


Baseball in the summertime

© East County Sports.com
ROCHESTER, Minn. (7-28-09) — Although college baseball players don’t play an organized home schedule during the summer doesn’t mean that they aren’t busy. Many of them travel to other parts of the country to fine tune their game.

Five collegians from East County high schools are participating in The Northwoods League, a 14-team wood-bat circuit comprised of franchises from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Iowa.

Granite Hills alum and current Pepperdine sophomore outfielder BRIAN HUMPHRIES along with Grossmont High-Pacific outfielder NICK LONGMIRE are playing for the St. Cloud (Minn.) River Bats. Humphries recently earned player of the week honors with a 3-for-6 batting effort, including a game-winning single in a 9-8 victory over the Brainerd (Minn.) Lakes Area Lunkers.

Other Inlanders playing in the Northwoods League include left-handed pitcher ERIC JULIENNE (Valhalla-Cal State San Marcos), who toils for the Waterloo (Iowa) Bucks; sophomore infielder BRYAN HAAR (Grossmont-Pacific) who is a member of the Mankato (Minn.) Moondogs; and 6-foot-7, 195-pound pitcher MATS MATTSON (Grossmont High-New Orleans), who plays for Brainerd.

ON TOP OF THE CASCADES
Senior designated hitter/catcher DANE PONCIANO (Mount Miguel High) and junior third baseman AUSTIN COLEMAN (Granite Hills), both products of Cal State San Marcos, have been named to the All-Cascade Conference baseball team and then repeated the honors by being selected to the All-NAIA West Region team.


Braves send Conrad back to AAA

© East County Sports.com
GWINNETT, Ga. (7-24-09) — It’s a tough business, this baseball. Just ask Monte Vista High graduate BROOKS CONRAD.

Despite batting .344 (11-for-32) with two home runs and eight RBI in 14 games, Conrad found himself without a position when Atlanta’s veteran second baseman Kelly Johnson was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday (July 23).

Thus, Conrad was sent to the Braves AAA farm club in Gwinnett. Serving as Gwinnett’s designated hitter, Conrad went 0-for-3 in a 5-1 win over Norfolk, Va.


Conrad making contact in Atlanta

© East County Sports.com
ATLANTA (7-14-09) — Former Monte Vista High graduate BROOKS CONRAD has spent the majority of his professional baseball career toiling in the minor leagues.

Oh sure, he had a brief stint – 19 at-bats – with the Oakland ’s A’s during the 2008 season. But then, a .158 batting average is obviously not a high enough caliber to keep one in the big leagues.

The A’s gave Conrad his release following last season and the Atlanta Braves signed him as a free agent on Nov. 18, 2008.

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox sees a positive upside for the switch-hitting Conrad, whose primary position is second base.

“Fans will love this kid," Cox told MLB.com. “He's all-out all the time. He's one of those gritty old-timers. He's not old, don't get me wrong, but he plays like the old-timers."

The 29-year-old Conrad was batting an unspectacular .259 (67-for-259) with 9 home runs and 38 RBI at Triple-A Gwinnett, Ga. Yet, Cox had a feeling Conrad was ready to have a breakout year. The first step of that opportunity came earlier this month when Conrad was called up to the major league club.

The veteran skipper wasted little time putting Conrad in the hot seat, dispatching him as a pinch hitter. And Conrad responded with a three-run home run that gave Atlanta a 9-8 nod over the Nationals in Washington.

"[It was a] huge thrill," Conrad told MLB.com. "Obviously, [it's] the best experience I've ever had in the big leagues. It just feels awesome to come up and contribute right away like that."

Conrad has hit safely in eight of 10 games since joining the Braves, batting at a .355 clip with a pair of homers and eight RBI.

An eighth-round pick of the Houston Astros out of ASU in 2001, Conrad signed as a six-year Minor League free agent with the A's in December and opened some eyes with a strong spring, earning a trip to Tokyo for Oakland 's season-opening series against the Red Sox.

He was inactive for the games against Boston and opened the season with Triple-A Sacramento, where he was batting .242 with a .321 on-base percentage, 21 doubles, 21 homers and 67 RBI in 93 games for the River Cats.

"It's been a roller coaster," Conrad said, “But I'm just floating right now."


More honors for Phillips

© East County Sports.com
ORANGE (06-09-09) — Chapman University senior and Grossmont High graduate TRISTAN PHILLIPS has been named to the All-West Region Division III baseball team, as selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).

A second team pick, Phillips batted .416 with a team-high 64 RBI and added eight home runs and 17 doubles. Phillips' RBI total is the most by a Chapman player since 1999.

Chapman won its fifth consecutive West Region title in 2009 and finished third place at the Division III championships. The Panthers were 32-17 overall.


Tristan Phillips
(Chapman University photo)

Phillips at D-3 World Series

© East County Sports.com
APPLETON, Wis. (05-24-09) — Former Grossmont High all-star TRISTAN PHILLIPS and his Chapman University teammates have split their first two games at the NCAA Division III World Series.

Thus the Panthers (31-16) need a victory over Kean University (39-10) of Union, N.J. on Sunday (May 24) to remain alive in the double-elimination tournament that concludes on Tuesday (May 26).

Chapman lost its series opener to St. Thomas (Minn.), 9-1, but rebounded to defeat Farmingdale State (N.Y.) a day later, 4-2.

Kean toppled Trinity (Conn.) 8-5 in round one only to fall to Wooster (Ohio) 14-1 on day two.


Tristan Phillips
(Chapman University photo)

Phillips advance to D-3 finals

© East County Sports.com
APPLETON, Wis. (5-18-09) — TRISTAN PHILLIPS has made it clear to all those who know him, including his baseball oriented father coach ROB PHILLIPS, that the 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior Panther isn’t ready to hang up his cap regardless how Chapman fares in the NCAA Division III championships that begin Friday (May 22) and runs through Tuesday (May 26).

The Panthers (30-15) take on St. Thomas (Minn.) with a 36-12 record in the opening round of the eight team tournament on Friday at noon.

Seeded No. 6 in the eight-team West Region, the Panthers (30-15) won four of five games in the double elimination event that concluded with a 7-4 victory over George Fox (Ore.) Sunday in McMinnville, Ore.

That victory catapults Chapman into the Division III final eight for the fifth straight season.
Phillips: An independent man

© East County Sports.com
ORANGE (5-17-09) — Former Grossmont High standout and current Chapman University third baseman TRISTAN PHILLIPS and eight of his teammates have been named to the Association of Division III Independents All-Independent baseball team for 2009.

Phillips was selected Independent Player of the Year and Panthers' head coach Tom Tereschuk was named Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive season. It's Phillips' second All-Independent selection of his career.

A 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior, Phillips earned the award after leading Chapman with a .436 batting average and 60 RBI in 40 regular season games. He also had eight home runs and 14 doubles and compiled a .952 fielding percentage at third base.

Phillips’ torrid batting has carried over into the NCAA Division III West Regional Playoffs in McMinnville, Ore. where he and the Panthers are only one victory short of qualifying for the Division III World Series in Grand Chute, Wis. (May 22-26).

But first things first. Chapman (29-14), which has swept to regional wins over Tyler ( Texas ) 16-2, Cal Lutheran 7-6, and Pomona-Pitzer 5-2, needs to beat George Fox ( Ore. ) on Sunday (May 17) at noon. If the Panthers win that game, a second contest between the two clubs will follow 40 minutes following the conclusion of game one.

Phillips is batting at a .538 clip (7-for-13) with a pair of doubles and three RBI in the regionals.

His production numbers have been some of the best in Chapman history. His batting average currently ranks second all-time in school history and only two players have had more RBI in a single season.


Phillips reaches fourth NCAA D-3 regional

© East County Sports.com
McMINNVILLE, Ore. (5-13-09) — Former Grossmont High School standout TRISTAN PHILLIPS will lead Chapman University into the NCAA Division III West Regional baseball playoffs Thursday (May 14) at Linfield College when the Panthers take on No. 2 seed Texas-Tyler (38-10) at 3:30 p.m.

Although the Chapman Panthers (26-14) are the four-time defending champs, they are seeded No. 5 in the six-team bracket, making them an underdog for a change.

Rounding out the six-team first round bracket are No. 1 Pomona-Pitzer (35-5), No. 3 Cal Lutheran (31-9), No. 4 George Fox (33-9) and No. 6 Hendrix (22-21). The Panthers are 2-4 against the field this season, having been swept in a three-game series by Pomona-Pitzer, splitting a pair of games with Cal Lutheran and defeating Hendrix ( Ark. ) in March.

Nobody has stopped Phillips, however. The Panthers are led by an offense that is averaging over 8.6 runs per game and batting .343. Phillips is the leader of the pack with a .436 batting average, with 8 home runs and 60 RBI.

Phillips is on track to establish several career batting records.

Temperatures in the McMinnville area have been in the high 30s, which certainly will be no advantage to Chapman.


Phillips ranks among national leaders

© East County Sports.com
ORANGE (3-28-09) — Former Grossmont High standout TRISTAN PHILLIPS is tearing up NCAA Division III pitching as a senior for perennial power Chapman University.

Phillips, in fact, ranks second nationally with 48 hits and is tied for fourth in the nation with 42 RBI.

In his last two games – against Claremont-Mudd on Friday (Mar. 27) and Sunday (Mar. 22) versus Occidental – Phillips pounded four home runs and drove in a dozen runs for the Panthers (17-6).

Phillips also tops Chapman in batting average with a .478 mark and 7 home runs.

He trails only Javier Arrieta of Sul Ross State (Texas) for the NCAA Div. III lead in hits (51). The RBI race is a little more jammed up as three players are tied for first with 44 runs driven in.


Powell, Blondin, named NAIA All-America

© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (6-5-09) — Former Grossmont College standouts MATT POWELL and ROSS BLONDIN have been selected among a group of 17 players as first-team members of the NAIA All-America baseball team. The team was chosen by the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association selection committee

Powell, a senior catcher who transferred from Cal State Fullerton to Southern Nazarene (Okla.), batted a career-best .451 for the Crimson Storm (37-15), including 12 homers and 65 RBI, starting in all 52 ballgames.

Powell is currently a member of the Barona-San Diego Stars semipro baseball club.

Meanwhile, Blondin helped Lubbock Christian (Texas) to the NAIA national championship. The junior third baseman batted .437 with 25 homers this season, finishing second to teammate Will Stramp (26 HRs) nationally.

Blondin also aided the Chapparals (51-8) in defeating Point Loma Nazarene, 5-1 and 11-8, for the school's second national crown at the NAIA World Series, held in Lewiston, Idaho.

In the first game, Blondin slugged a solo homer, then went 2-for-4 with three RBI in the playback final.

Notes — Former El Cajon Valley High standout CLIFTON THOMAS, who spent this past baseball season with Texas A&M-Kingsville, has been signed to play summer ball with the Brazos Valley (Bryan, Texas) Bombers of the Texas Collegiate League.

Known for his exceptional defensive ability, Thomas has also been a terror at the plate this season for the Javelinas. In 50 games, the center fielder has hit .330 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 37 RBI and 20 stolen bases.

Thomas was selected in the 46th round of the Major League draft by the Texas Rangers. He earned First-Team All-San Diego CIF honors during his senior season after setting an East County record with 50 stolen bases. Thomas also earned First-Team All-San Diego honors in football his senior season after catching 92 passes.


Former Griffins earn post-season honors

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (5-13-09) — Three former Grossmont College baseball standouts have earned 2009 All-Sooner Athletic Conference awards.

Lubbock Christian University’s third baseman ROSS BLONDIN, and Southern Nazarene’s shortstop NICK SPEARS and catcher MATT POWELL all received first-team honors.

Powell, a senior catcher from La Mesa, was one of two First Team All-Conference catchers after finishing regular season play with an average of .463, which is second best on the SNU squad. Powell had 12 homers during the regular season and hit 62 RBI’s, while finishing with a slugging percentage of .815 and a school record on-base percentage of .556. Powell also earned the SAC’s Golden Glove Award as the top defensive catcher in the league.

Spears, a junior from West Hills, was chosen the SAC’s top shortstop this year and is third on the team in hitting with a .424 average. Spears has 13 homers on the year, which is second best on the team, and 67 RBI, which is second best on SNU’s squad thus far this season. Spears has scored 63 runs heading into post-season play and has a slugging percentage of .762 and an on-base percentage of .507.

Blondin, a 6-foot-3 junior third baseman, leads the LBU Chaps with 84 RBI and 22 home runs. He ranks second in the NAIA in RBI per game (1.7) and is fourth in total bases per game (3.6) and slugging percentage (.942).


UPDATE - Chaps alone in First Place
LUBBOCK, Texas (4-5-09) – The only thing close in No. 1 Lubbock Christian’s ballgame at No. 21 University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma was the program records the Chaparrals nearly set Saturday (Apr. 4).

The Chaps were a home run shy of tying a school single-game record for homers, as they used seven home runs to defeat USAO 20-1 in a game shortened to seven innings by run rule in sweep a 3-game Sooner Athletic Conference road series at Bill Smith Ballpark.

The Chaps are now in sole possession of first place in the SAC because No.2 Oklahoma City University lost at home to Oklahoma Baptist University 7-5.

Blondin hits cycle for No. 1 Chaps

© East County Sports.com
ABILENE, Texas (4-1-09) — Former Grossmont College standout ROSS BLONDIN became the first player in Lubbock Christian University history to hit for the cycle Tuesday (Mar. 31), going 4-for-6 to power the Chaparrals to a 13-6 triumph over host Hardin-Simmons at John J. Hunter Field.

Ross Blondin
Blondin opened his cycle sequence with a 1st-inning, 2-out solo homer, his team-leading 16th of the season.

He later added a line double off the top of the right-centerfield wall to drive home two more runs in the 3rd. An inning later, he went down the right-field line for a triple, then completed the feat with a lead single in the 8th.

For the contest, he produced four runs and three RBI.

Blondin, who has started in all 34 games at third base, is second on the team with a .446 batting average and a massive .962 slugging percentage.

The Chaps (30-4), ranked first in the nation in the NAIA, have now won four straight contests. They are tied for lead in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 13-2 record. FULL STORY HERE.


Nick Spears
(SNU Courtesy Photos)

Spears finds the bull's-eye

© East County Sports.com
BETHANY, Okla. (2-25-09) – NICK SPEARS has made a lot of stops during his amateur baseball career.

Spears found firm footing at Poway High as a junior and senior, and finally locked in at Grossmont College last year as a sophomore. At present Spears, a junior shortstop, is tearing it up at Southern Nazarene University.

Spears is batting at a .600 clip (27-for-45) for the Crimson Storm, an NAIA team that boasts a 13-1 record. He was named Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week for Feb. 16-21, when he hit .667 (12-for-18) with 12 runs, two doubles, a triple, four home runs and 12 RBI.


Jusino loved in Philadelphia

© East County Sports.com
PHILADELPHIA (6-3-09) — Former Grossmont College standout TONY JUSINO has been named to the All-Philadelphia Big 5 team. The selections are from the five Division I schools – Temple, Villanova, Penn, St. Joseph's and La Salle – located within the metro area.

Temple infielder Tony Jusino.
(Courtesy, Temple Owls)
Following a pair of All-Pacific Coast Conference berths with the Griffins in 2007-08, Jusino ranked third on the Temple Owls with a stellar .363 batting average, also ranking among the ballclub's leaders in nearly every offensive category, including hits (73, 2nd) doubles (19, 2nd) and RBI (39, 4th).

Jusino's top performance of the season came in an Atlantic 10 Conference game against Xavier on Apr. 24. Playing at third base, Jusino batted 4-for-5 with 5 RBI, including a grand slam for a 13-9 victory at the Owls' home of Skip Wilson Field in Ambler, Penn.

Unfortunately for Temple, following a 10-5 start in conference play (16-20 overall), the Owls lost 12 of their final 13 contests to finish at 17-32 (11-15 in the A-10).

Jusino, who played his high school ball at Rancho Bernardo before joining Grossmont College, just completed his junior year. He is a criminal justice major. MORE


Upstart Utes down Aztecs for MWC title

© East County Sports.com
FORT WORTH, Texas (05-24-09) — Utah completed a remarkable run at the Mountain West Conference Tournament as it defeated San Diego State, 9-3, to claim the title and the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals. The Utes became the first No. 6 tourney seed to win the championship while SDSU was the first No. 4 seed to advance to the final.

With the win, Utah improved to 26-29 while the Aztecs saw their record drop to 40-21.

San Diego State will now have to wait until Monday (May 25) when the NCAA hosts in annual tournament selection show to see if it will receive an at-large bid to the postseason. The show will be telecast live on ESPN at 9:30 a.m. (PT).

Freshman RYAN O’SULLIVAN was roughed up by the Utes on the mound and was saddled with his 4th win in eight decisions. However, the Valhalla High graduate paced the Aztecs with three hits, an RBI and one run scored.

The Utes took control of the contest when they sent 10 men to the plate and scored six times in the top of the 3rd against O’Sullivan. After striking out the first two batters, the Aztec right-hander gave up five hits and a pair of hit batters including a two-run double by Austin Jones and two-RBI single by Rick Cornu.

Two Aztecs were named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of the contest. That twosome included third baseman/catcher Erik Castro along with starting pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG. Castro hit .400 (8-for-20) over five games with four doubles, four runs scored and four RBI. Strasburg made one start, throwing 7.2 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in the win over New Mexico.


Aztecs go crazy in 8th
SDSU advances to MWC Tournament finale

© East County Sports.com
FORT WORTH, Texas (5-22-09) — The University of Utah entered the 8th inning with a seemingly comfortable 8-1 lead in Thursday's (May 21) winners bracket final of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

Did someone say "seemingly"?

Former Valhalla High standout RYAN O'SULLIVAN opened the bottom of the 8th with a single, the first of 13 San Diego State batters in the frame, as the Aztecs rallied to shock the Utes, 9-8, at TCU's Lupton Stadium.

The victory advances SDSU to its first tournament championship contest since 2004, as the Aztecs (40-19) reached the 40-win plateau for the first time since the 2002 season and staging their biggest rally of the season. Utah fell to 23-29.

The 8-run outburst started when O'Sullivan led off with a basehit, was bunted over to second base, then a pair of walks loaded the bases.

Then it all unraveled for Utah

Erik Castro made it an 8-3 contest with a 2-run single. A walk to Cory Vaughn re-loaded the bases before Mitch Blackburn and Matt Parker singled to drive in a run apiece and pinch hitter Chris Wilson walked to bring in another and make it 8-6.

Tyler Andersen then came on to pitch, but he fared little better than his three predecessors. O’Sullivan promptly singled up the middle to bring home a pair of runs and tie the score before Colwell doubled to left center to complete SDSU’s amazing comeback.

During the inning, the Aztecs had nine consecutive hitters reach base on five hits and four walks.

San Diego State closer Addison Reed was then called upon in the ninth and he shut down the Utes to record his nation-leading 19th save in 19 opportunities.

The winner of the challenger (losers) bracket finale between TCU and Utah, will play the Aztecs in the championship round, to be held Friday (May 22) at 5 p.m. (PT). If SDSU falls, a playback final will be played Saturday (May 23) at 1 p.m. (PT).


O'Boys make some noise

© East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (5-16-09) — One brother is currently taking the professional route in his baseball career, while the other is on course for The Show through the collegiate ranks. The O'SULLIVAN brothers of Rancho San Diego found themselves just 35 miles apart in the state of Utah on Saturday (May 16) – and both turned in marvelous performances.

While older brother SEAN O'SULLIVAN was tossing seven innings of no-hit ball for the Class AAA Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League, younger bro' RYAN O'SULLIVAN had a career game with a pair of home runs and recording the save in relief for San Diego State.

King Bee stings Iowa Cubs
Sean O'Sullivan flirted with a no-hitter, while his teammates pounded out 19 hits as the Salt Lake Bees routed the Iowa Cubs 16-7 on Saturday night. O'Sullivan (3-1) allowed only one batter to reach in the first 6 1/3 innings and that was when he hit Jake Fox with a pitch in the 1st inning. Ironically, it was Fox who broke up the no-hitter with a clean single up the middle.

Sean, a 21-year-old right-hander, fanned a season-high nine batters in seven innings with one walk. He was a standout performer at Valhalla High and Grossmont College before signing as a third round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in 2006.

Younger O’Sullivan is double threat
Earlier in the day, a half-hour drive north along Interstate 15, freshman Ryan O'Sullivan lifted the Aztecs from deficits of 4-1 and 7-3 to stun Utah, 10-9 in 12 innings, in the teams' final ballgame prior to the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

Ryan, the starting shortstop, batted 3-for-5 with three runs, accounting for four RBI with his two home runs. The first-year shortstop initially torched the fences at Lindquist Field with a solo homer in the 8th inning, then added his second bomb in as many innings – a 3-run shot – with two outs on a 3-2 pitch tying the game at 7-7.

In the 12th, SDSU scored three times, but the drama was far from over though as Utah would score twice in its half of the inning and eventually load the bases with two outs.

At that point, O’Sullivan was called to the mound and got the final out. He did so by inducing C.J. Cron to ground into a fielder’s choice to nail down the victory and pick up his first collegiate save.

San Diego State (37-19) now heads to Fort Worth, Texas, for the annual Mountain West Conference Tournament hosted by TCU. As the No. 4 seed, the Aztecs will open play against UNLV on Tue., May 19, at 7 p.m. (CT) at Lupton Stadium.


O'Sullivan homers in Aztecs win

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (5-12-09) — Former Valhalla High standout RYAN O'SULLIVAN was one of three San Diego State batters to homer Monday (May 11), powering the Aztecs to a 12-4 triumph over San Francisco at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Senior Jon Berger was honored with the start in the final home game of the season for SDSU (35-18), which won for the sixth time in seven outings.

Following a shaky start which included a 3-run homer by Dons second baseman Stephen Yarrow, Berger settled in and retired 14 batters in a row. Meanwhile, the Aztecs bats rallied from a 4-2 deficit with a series of homers.

Erik Castro's 2-run homer tied the game, then Chris Wilson added another 2-run bomb, as State scored four times in the 3rd inning to take a 6-4 lead.

In the 4th, O'Sullivan launched his fourth homer of the season – his second in two days – as the Aztecs went on to score 12 runs for the second straight contest.

San Diego State will hit the road for its final Mountain West Conference series at Utah. The 3-game series will be played in Ogden, Utah, at Lindquist Field, the home of the minor league Ogden Raptors, a Rookie affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.


O'Sullivan: Strasburg's future replacement?
National leader Reed equals Ring's save record

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (5-10-09) — Just who will San Diego State replace as a member of its starting rotation following the expected departure of STEPEHN STRASBURG, who is odds on favorite to be the No. 1 choice in the Major League Baseball free agent draft next month.

The Aztecs may have another East County product in line following Saturday's (May 9) victory.

Former Valhalla High standout RYAN O'SULLIVAN captured his third straight victory, striking out a season-high six batters in the Aztecs’ 5-2 win over Air Force at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

O'Sullivan, a freshman, tossed the first seven innings, then relievers GOLDY SIMMONS (Monte Vista) and Addison Reed limited the Falcons to a pair of unearned runs on three hits for the team's fifth win in six outings.

Reed, who tossed a perfect 9th inning, recorded the final two outs of the game on strikeouts. The save was his nation-leading 17th of the season as he tied the San Diego State single-season record set by former Monte Vista High standout ROYCE RING during the 2002 campaign.

The Aztecs (33-13, 12-8 MWC) and Air Force (14-33, 3-14 MWC) conclude their three-game weekend series with a contest at 1 p.m. Sunday (May 10) in SDSU's final home game of the season.

The Aztecs close the regular season next weekend at Utah (May 14-16), then the Mountain West Conference Tournament will be hosted by TCU in Fort Worth, Texas (May 19-20).


Niners nixed by O'Sullivan

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (4-22-09) – San Diego State freshman RYAN O'SULLIVAN (Valhalla HS), in his first start in nearly three weeks, pitched eight strong innings Tuesday (Apr. 21) to pace the 19th-ranked Aztecs to a 6-3 non-conference decision over Long Beach State at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

O'Sullivan allowed just seven hits during his stint on the mound, then sophomore closer Addison Reed recorded his nation-leading 13th save of the season for the Aztecs (27-15). The 49ers fell to 17-19.

O'Sullivan was staked to an early lead with three SDSU home runs, including a pair by sophomore outfielder Cory Vaughn, who went 3-for-4 for the contest. It was Vaughn's first multiple-HR game as an Aztec. Junior center fielder Josh Chasse also homered.


Ryan O'Sullivan chooses Aztecs over Giants

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (9-3-08) — When classes began at San Diego State University on Tuesday (Sept. 2), Aztecs baseball skipper Tony Gwynn was glad to see freshman RYAN O'SULLIVAN toting an arm-load of books.

O’Sullivan, a 10th round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants last June, turned down the professional team’s offer to accept a baseball scholarship to SDSU.

“We put a number (desired signing bonus) out there at the beginning of the summer,” O’Sullivan said. “The Giants finally made an offer close to what we wanted a day or so before the final signing date. But by then my feelings had changed.”

O’Sullivan shunned the Giants and instead will play shortstop and occasionally pitch for the Aztecs for a minimum of the next three years.

“Shortstop is my first love,” said O’Sullivan, who noted the Giants drafted him as a pitcher. “I want to get myself known as an everyday player. I want to work on getting stronger... perfecting my game. I’ll be able to do that at SDSU.”

O’Sullivan spent the majority of his summer playing wood bat baseball in the Northwoods League. He hammered five homers and logged 24 RBI in 146 at-bats.

“I don’t regret my decision to choose college over pro ball at this time in my life,” he said. “I feel in my heart that I made the right decision.”

He’ll look into his pro future some time before June 2012.


O’Sullivan enjoys banner night

Special to East County Sports.com
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (8-4-08) — Valhalla High’s RYAN O’SULLIVAN put together one of the best statistical lines of any Northwoods Collegiate League (NWL) player this summer in the Eau Claire Express’ 19-0 destruction of the Madison Mallards on Sunday (Aug. 3).

It started with a three-run home run in the 1st inning, O'Sullivan's fourth consecutive game with a homer. He added three more hits, all doubles, in his next four at-bats to go with a walk in his other plate appearance. Overall, O'Sullivan finished 4-for-5 with six RBI and three runs scored.

O’Sullivan topped off the evening by tossing three innings and allowing just two hits while striking out three. O'Sullivan, a 10th round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants, is an incoming freshman to San Diego State University.


Top o' of the mound
O'Sullivan: 7 shutout innings for first collegiate victory

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-18-09) — Sometimes it’s good to be a little bit Irish. No doubt it would be nice to have an Irish moniker if one were pitching on St. Patrick’s Day.

That combination was a perfect fit for San Diego State freshman right-hander RYAN O’SULLIVAN, who picked up his first collegiate victory as the Aztecs blanked Kansas 1-0 Tuesday (Mar. 17) night at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Making his fourth collegiate start, O’Sullivan turned in his best performance of the season as he allowed just three hits over 7 innings with a walk and a strikeout.

After giving up a pair of hits in the 1st, O’Sullivan – a Valhalla high graduate – settled in and retired 12 batters in a row from the 2nd through 5th frames before giving up a leadoff single in the 6th. His excellence was rewarded with a victory as he evened his season record at 1-1.

The Aztecs improved to 12-6, while Kansas fell to 10-6.


Longmire ain't no paper Tiger

© East County Sports.com
STOCKTON (5-14-09) — While the University of Pacific baseball team continues to struggle, Grossmont High alum NICK LONGMIRE continues to shine.

Starting all but one of the Tigers’ 51 games as a freshman and leading the team in batting average (.323), triples (3) and RBI (31), Longmire is once again at the head of the class.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Longmire leads Pacific (18-28) with a .390 batting mark. He also has four home runs and 31 RBI with a half-dozen games remaining in his sophomore season.

He earned All-Big West Conference honorable mention as a freshman and should be recognized with even higher postseason praise this year.

Longmire came to Pacific already having proven his ability to hit the long ball as he led the state of California with 15 bombs in 2007. Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 37th round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft, Longmire chose instead to pursue his degree and play for the Tigers.

The Grossmont North League and Division II Player of the Year in 2007, Longmire led the Foot­hillers with a .514 batting average, 56 hits, 15 home runs, 19 stolen bases, 36 RBI and a 1.010 slugging percentage. In addition, Longmire struck out only nine times during his senior season.


Thomas joins exclusive club

Thomas named all-conference

© East County Sports.com
RICHARDSON, Texas (5-8-09) – El Cajon's CLIFTON THOMAS, who now plays baseball for Texas A&M-Kingsville, was one of two Javelinas named to the All-Lone Star Conference team.

Thomas, a junior centerfielder, had an outstanding year at the plate and in the field en route to earning second-team honors. He batted .330 with a team high 49 runs, .574 slugging percentage, 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases, becoming the first player in school history to hit at least 10 home runs and steal at least 20 bases in a season.

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (4-26-09) — Texas A&M-Kingsville will not repeat as Lone Star Conference baseball champions this season, nor will they advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

But they did enjoy a somewhat memorable season thanks to El Cajon Valley High/Grossmont College alum CLIFTON THOMAS.

On Saturday (Apr. 25), Thomas clouted a home run in the second game of a doubleheader against visiting Angelo State University, becoming the first Javelinas ballplayer to ever reach the 10/20 Club for homers and stolen bases.

His leadoff shot to open the 3rd inning allowed Thomas, a junior, to finish the year with a solid .330 batting average and a school-high .574 slugging percentage,

Thomas also stole 20 bases in 27 chances this season to reach the Barry Bonds type figures in 50 starts for the Javs (20-35).


Thomas transforms into power hitter

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (4-5-09) — It's hard to believe that former El Cajon Valley High standout CLIFTON THOMAS, who fell one short of the CIF-San Diego Section record for stolen bases in 2006, is developing into a power hitter.

Former ECVHS standout Clifton Thomas (2) jogs
around the bases following his second home run
of the ballgame against Tarleton State.
(Texas A&M-Kingsville courtesy photo)
Former ECVHS standout Clifton Thomas (2)
celebrates yet another home run on Mar. 29 for
the Javelinas of Texas A&M-Kingsville. Thomas
batted 2-for-4 with six RBI. FULL STORY HERE.
Nevertheless, Thomas slugged a pair of home runs in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday (Apr. 4), powering Texas A&M-Kingsville to a split with Lone Star Conference rival Tarleton State at Nolan Ryan Field.

In the first inning, Thomas struck for a leadoff home run to right field. An inning later, who went to right-center with a 2-run shot.

In the second game, Thomas "returned" to his high school ways, when he registered a stolen base and a sacrifice fly. The centerfielder finished the doubleheader batting 5-for-9, with four runs and four RBI for the Javelinas.

For the season, Thomas is batting a solid .338, leading the ballclub with 8 homers. He also is tops in extra-base hits, second in RBI, and third in doubles. Oh, yeah, he also leads in stolen bases, too.


Clifton Thomas
(TA&M-K photo)

Thomas starts big in Lone Star Conference

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (2-20-09) – Former El Cajon Valley High and Grossmont College standout CLIFTON THOMAS isn't the "Lone Star" for Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Javelinas are off to a quick start thanks a variety of community college transfers from the West.

Thomas topps the list, keying an early rally with a towering 2-run homer and also slugging a double, powering Kingsville to an 11-3 triumph over East Central University in a Lone Star Conference contest at Nolan Ryan Field.

Thomas' double came in the 1st, scoring on a basehit by Philip Johnson. An inning later, Thomas hit his homer to straightaway centerfield for a 5-0 lead. In the third, Luis Diaz (Cypress College) hit a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI triple by Will Mettlach.

Later, Thomas Miller (Western Nevada CC) slugged a lead home in the 5th for a 7-0 lead.

For the contest, Thomas scored three runs and drove in a pair for the defending conference champions. He ranks second on the ballclub in extra-base hits, while leading the conference with a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts.

Thomas earned First Team all-East County honors as a junior and senior. He was named First Team all-San Diego during his senior year. He set an East County record for stolen bases in a season (50) and led the county in batting average. He was drafted in the 46th round by the Texas Rangers in 2006.

In addition, Thomas earned First Team all-East County and all-San Diego honors in football as a senior with 92 pass receptions.


Garrett Jenner

Jenner on record home run pace

© East County Sports.com
DAVENPORT, Iowa (4-16-09) — Former Grossmont College standout GARRETT JENNER slugged a 2-run homer to right field Tuesday (Apr. 14), capping a 6-run rally to give William Penn University a 10-3 triumph over St. Ambrose in Midwest Collegiate Conference action.

For Jenner, a resident of Jamul, it was his Statesmen leading 12th homer of the season, keeping the junior on pace to equal the school record of 17, set by Bill Holman in 1992.

The team's fourth straight victory moved William Penn (25-11, 10-4 MCC) into a first-place deadlock with Mount Mercy.

For the season, Jenner is among the conference leaders with a .366 batting average and 37 RBI.


East County Players at Four-Year Schools 2009
Name High School/JC College Team Page
Don Anderson Granite Hills Lindenwood (MO) Lions
Donald Arthur Steele Canyon San Diego Christian Hawks
Zach Barger Valhalla/GC Concordia Eagles
Derek Baum Grossmont HS U. of the Pacific Tigers
Ross Blondin Grossmont College Lubbock Christian Chaparrals
David Bristol West Hills CSU San Marcos Coyotes
Andrew Bruder Steele Canyon Cal Poly Mustangs
Austin Coleman Granite Hills CSU San Marcos Coyotes
Brandon Decker Granite Hills San Diego State Aztecs
Greg Garcia Valhalla Hawai'i Rainbows
A.J. Griffin Grossmont HS U. San Diego Toreros
Bryan Haar Grossmont HS U. San Diego Toreros
Brandon Haley Santana Avila University (MO) Eagles
Brian Humphries Granite Hills Pepperdine Waves
Ryan Inverso El Capitan San Diego Christian Hawks
Joe Inzone Steele Cyn/G'mont CC West Texas A&M Buffaloes
Garrett Jenner Steele Cyn/G'mont CC William Penn (Iowa) Statesmen
Kyle Johnson Steele Canyon George Fox (OR) Bruins
Bradley Johnston Christian HS San Diego Christian Hawks
Eric Julienne Valhalla CSU San Marcos Coyotes
Tony Jusino Grossmont CC Temple Owls
Nick Longmire Grossmont HS U. of the Pacific Tigers
Marco Mariscal El Capitan Dartmouth Big Green
Joel Matthews Christian HS Lee University (TN) Flames
Mats Mattson Grossmont HS U. New Orleans Privateers
Travis McCleary Mountain Empire Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions
Blaze McEntee Helix San Diego Christian Hawks
Eric McKnight West Hills UC San Diego Tritons
Josh Miller
Granite Hills/GC CSU San Marcos Coyotes
Cody Minich Steele Canyon U. Sioux Falls (S.D.) Cougars
Bryan Mitchell Christian HS The Master's Mustangs
Danny Mitchell Christian HS San Diego Christian Hawks
Steve Noble Valhalla Wheaton College (Ill.) Thunder
Johnny Omahen Granite Hills CSU San Marcos Coyotes

Ryan O'Sullivan

Valhalla San Diego State Aztecs
Tristan Phillips Grossmont HS Chapman Panthers
Charlie Piro Grossmont HS Chapman Panthers
Dane Ponciano
Mount Miguel/GC CSU San Marcos Coyotes
Matt Powell Helix/Grossmont CC Southern Nazarene (OK) Crimson Storm
Eddie Pryor West Hills San Diego Christian Hawks
Chris Rabichaud Santana Simpson University Red Hawks
Aaron Richardson West Hills/G'mont CC West Texas A&M Buffaloes
David Ruiz Grossmont CC William Penn (Iowa) Statesmen
Garrett Russell Granite Hills N.M. Highlands Cowboys
Louis Russo El Capitan CSU San Marcos Coyotes
Kyle Secciani Grossmont HS UC Riverside Highlanders
Cameron Selik Henry/Grosmsont CC Kansas Jayhawks
Josh Simms Grossmont HS U. of the Pacific Tigers
Nick Spears Grossmont CC Southern Nazarene (OK) Crimson Storm
Stephen Strasburg West Hills San Diego State Aztecs
Clifton Thomas El Cajon Valley Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas
Eddie Young Christian HS UC Riverside Highlanders
Jeremiah White Mount Miguel Baker University (KS) Wildcats
Taylor Wohlwend Grossmont HS UNC Asheville Bulldogs
Tyler Zickel West Hills Whittier Poets

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