Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
37-20
Rhode Island
34-20
Dirtbags Take First Step to Omaha
5/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Regional Play Begins at Blair Field College World Series (4): 1989, 1991, 1993, 1998 Super Regionals (2): 2003, 2004 NCAA Regionals (15): 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Record: 36-20 Big West: 14-7 | Hi Rank: No. 12 | vs. Ranked Teams: 11-9 Dirtbag Lowdown: The No. 12-ranked Dirtbags (36-20, 14-7 Big West) will embark on their 15th NCAA Regional, and third hosted playoff series, when Blair Field will serve as the host to one of 16 NCAA Regionals from June 3 to 6. The Beach will be the top seed, followed by No. 18-ranked USC (37-19), who finished third in the Pac-10, third-seeded and West Coast Conference Champion Pepperdine (38-21) and fourth-seeded and Atlantic-10 Champion Rhode Island (34-19). The Trojans and Waves open up play at 3 p.m. on Friday, followed by LBSU and the Rams at 7 p.m. The losers will play on Saturday at 3 p.m. in an elimination game, while the two winners will play at 7 p.m. The winner of Saturday's first game, and the winner of Saturday's second game will play on Sunday at 1 p.m. That winner will play Saturday night's winner for a chance at a Super Regional. A team must lose twice to be eliminated. If necessary the regional will play out on Monday at a time to be announced. Blair Field was host to an NCAA Regional in 2003 and a Super Regional in 2004 as this year's team is an impressive 24-7 at home. Ticket Information: All-Tournament tickets will be on sale starting Tuesday at 10 a.m., ranging from $40 to $80. Single game tickets will go on sale on Friday ranging in price form $6 to $12. The event has been sell outs each of the past two season, pulling of 10,974 fans for the Regional in 2003 and 8,982 fans for the Super Regional in 2004. A Quick Seasonal Recap: The Dirtbags began the season on a roll, winning five of its first six, including a series win at then-No. 9-ranked Arizona State. They did that despite losing centefielder Sean Boatright (hamstring), for what would turn out to be three weeks, and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (left hand) for six weeks. Then the team hit the skids, losing five straight to fall to 5-6 on the year. LBSU then turned it around, and despite losing its third starter, Danny Mocny (shoulder) for nearly a month, the Dirtbag ran off a win streak of six straight and 18 of 22 as the team ERA continued to plummet to as low as 1.94 on the season. The team moved to No. 9 nationally thanks to wins over Baylor and Wichita State and entered confercence play back into the top-20 to stay. The return of Boatright (March 26) first to designated hitter and then to center, Tulowitzki (March 24-26), and then Mocny (March 24) only helped the winning streak. Streaks continued throughout the season as Brian Anderson pitched 26.1 consecutive scorless innings out of the pen, while Sean Boatright came within one hit (27) of tying the school-record for conescutive hits. LBSU would get tripped up at LMU and at Pacific, but winning another five straight sent the team into the final stretch in the top-15. UC Santa Barbara would have The Beach's number for the second-straight year, but a series win over Cal Poly and a 3-3 split against top-ranked CS Fullerton the season. LBSU dropped a marthon 5-4 game at USC (four hours and 39 minutes over 11 innings) to end the year at 12-8 over its last 20. Rank and File: The 49ers dropped to No. 12 in Baseball America and remained the same in Collegiate Baseball (No. 15) and Sports Weekly (No. 16). The Dirtbags have been in the top-15 every week since April 4. The Beach returned to the top-25 in all three polls on March 28, after ranking between No. 25 and No. 29 in the coaches poll for the previous month. The Beach feature six opponents who are currently ranked this season, starting with previously top-ranked CS Fullerton, No. 8 Baylor, No. 18 USC, No. 20 Arizona State, No. 28 Wichita State and No. 34 Cal Poly. Regional Musings: The Dirtbags will be making its 15th NCAA Regional appearance since 1989, at the birth of Dirtbag baseball, as The Beach have advanced to two-straight NCAA Super Regionals. LBSU has also made four College World Series in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1998. Only eight programs since 1989 have made more trips to Omaha then LBSU. The Beach carries a 36-20 record into its previous four NCAA Regionals, and have won its last six regional games. POST-SEASON HONORS Ramos One of 10 Semifinalists For Clemens Award: Announced on May 20, lefthander Cesar Ramos (Pico Rivera) is one of 10 semifinalists for the Roger Clemens Award, given to college baseball's best pitcher. Last year Long Beach State's own Jered Weaver was named the nation's top player. Dirtbags Net Eight on All-Big West Team: Eight Dirtbags were named All-Big West Conference, highlighed by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (Sunnyvale), lefthander Cesar Ramos (Pico Rivera) and closer Neil Jamison (San Diego) on the first team. A trio of players made the second team in third baseman Evan Longoria (Downey), outfielder Sean Boatright (Mission Viejo) and righthander Jared Hughes (Laguna Beach). Righthanders Marco Estrada (San Fernando) and Brian Anderson (Aliso Viejo) were honorable mention selections. Tulowitzki was a first team selection as a sophomore and a second teamer as a freshman. Ramos was named to the second team last season, while Jamison has twice been named to the second team. For Hughes, Estrada and Anderson on the pitching staff and position players, Longoria and Boatright, this is the first all-conference award. DIRTBAG BITS Home Cooking: LBSU has put together one of the most successful seasons at Blair Field, going 24-7 at the pitcher-friendly confines. LBSU produced the third-most wins in school-history and had the highest winning percentage (.775). The team's ERA entering regional play is 1.48 at home. Streak Comes to an End: Centerfielder Sean Boatright's (Mission Viejo) run at history came up a hit short, as the junior produced the second-longest hit streak in school-history, at 27 games, and fell one game short of the 49er record. Boatright had gotten a hit in every game for nearly two months, from March 19 to May 14. Boatright also saw his average rise from .250 to the .320's. Boatright leads the club in RBIs with 28 and doubles with 16. His hit streak began about the same time Boatright returned to centerfield. The junior had spent three weeks on the disabled list (hamstring) and had spent most of the early part of March as the team's designated hitter. He enters regional play with a .311 average. Ramos Continues Starting Trend: Lefthander Cesar Ramos (Pico Rivera) became the third-straight Dirtbag pitcher to win 10 games in two consecutive seasons following in the rotation of Jered Weaver and his record 37 wins (2002-04) and Abe Alvarez and his 23 career wins (2001-03). The All-American is also the school's all-time winningest lefthander and the eighth pitcher to win 20 games in a 49er career. Ramos, a contender for Clemens Award honors, leads the Big West in ERA (2.27) and is one of three 10-game winners. His ERA ranked 27th nationally, as he has reached the seventh in 12 of the last 13 starts. On the year, Ramos has opponents batting .220 with 91 strikeouts and just 14 walks. The first team All-Big West selection in 2005 is projected to be a first round pick, as he is the 33rd-best prospect in this year's draft and has the best command of any college pitcher. He is 3-0 in three career post season starts. Estrada Rebounds to End Regular Season: Saturday starter and honorable mention All-Big West Marco Estrada (San Fernando) after starting the season 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA, lost two straight decisions, before pitching six strong innings at top-ranked CS Fullerton in the team's final Saturday game on CSTV. Estrada has ranked amongst the nation's leaders in ERA, as it comes in at 2.27, Estrada has given up three runs or fewer in 13 of his first 14 starts. Estrada currently leads The Beach with 103 strikeouts, having struck out seven or more eight times, and has opponents batting just .212. Estrada is tied for second on the team with eight wins and ranks 32nd nationally in ERA. Hughes Keeps Racking up the Wins: Second team All-Big West Jared Hughes (Laguna Beach), prior to his loss at CS Fullerton in the team's final regular season Sunday game, had not lost since March 20, going 7-0 with a 1.33 ERA over eight starts. The 6-7 righthander enters the post season at 8-3 with a 2.83 ERA, as he has struck out 87 and walked just 23, with opponents batting .212 against him. He hurled 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings earlier this year. Jamison Hits Century Mark: First team All-American closer Neil Jamison (San Diego) became just the second 49er ever to reach 100 career appearances (now 103). The former eighth round pick of the Mets (2004) will finish is career second all-time in career saves, as his 26 over four years is currently tied with Brewers farmhand Josh Alliston (1999-2002). Jamison is also a candidate for Stopper of the Year, as he has given up just two unearned runs on the season for a perfect 0.00 ERA. The 11 saves ranked 17th nationally as of the last reporting period. Tulowitzki Continues Strong Push: Despite missing six weeks of the season with a left hamate bone injury to his hand, All-American shortstop and two-time first team All-Big West Troy Tulowitzki (Sunnyvale) has not missed a beat, hitting safely in 23 of his last 28 games, batting a team-best .355 with a team-best seven homers and .603 slugging percentage. Team USA's starting shortstop in the summer of 2004, is looking to become just the six 49er in school-history to top 20 home runs (he has 19). Baseball America projects Tulowitzki to be one of the first five players picked, as he is listed as the college player with the best arm, the third-best college athlete and fourth-best defensive player. Longoria Hits Stride: Put him at third, then at short, and back at third, it does not matter where you put sophomore Evan Longoria, he produced, batting .316 with 31 runs, five homers and 28 RBIs. Longoria, a junior college shortstop, was projected to play third base to start the year, and was into the shortstop position for 18 games when Troy Tulowitzki went down. Despite all the movement, Longoria has made just seven errors all season and is one of only two players (Chuck Sindlinger is the other) to have over 100 assists on the season. He was named a second team just prior to the NCAA Regional. Just a Game of Catch and Throw: Junior catcher Chris Jones (Fresno), a junior college transfer that played in 10 games last year, not only emerged as the team's starting catcher this season. Though his average is down to .311 over 46 starts on the season, Jones has driven in 24 and produced a .990 fielding percentage from behind the dish. MLB.com Puts Out Projections: According to MLB.com's first draft projections, the Dirtbags could have two players drafted in the first round of the June Amateur Draft. According to MLB.com, All-American shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (Sunnyvale) has soared from a late top-10 pick to begin the year (Baseball America) to maybe the No. 3 pick by the Mariners. Baseball America also projects Tulowitzki to go to the Mariners, potentially giving The Beach three Dirtbags in the American League West (Bobby Crosby with the A's and Jeremy Reed with the Mariners). All-American lefthander Cesar Ramos (Pico Rivera) could go to the Padres as the No. 18 pick, as he has also watched his stock rise from a late first round pick to begin the year. National Player of the Year Jered Weaver, and the 12th overall pick in 2004, signed with the Angels prior to the start of the regionals. Good to the Last Drop: The Dirtbags are a remarkable 27-1 when leading after six innings, mostly because of the team's deep bullpen and long-lasting starters. LBSU starters have reached the seventh 26 times this season (going 17-4), while closer Neil Jamison (San Diego) and setup man Brian Anderson (Aliso Viejo) have combined for a 7-0 record and 13 saves. Versatility the Name of the Game: With injuries to start the year and the constant shuffling of the lineup, this team may be the most versatile in recent memory. Starting with Evan Lonogoria (third/shortstop) and Tito Cruz (third/catcher), and continuing with Danny Mocny (third/outfield) and most recently Scott Bradley (first base/outfield) and Cruz at first base, this team has a lot of options. This does not include backup catchers Jordan Struble and Tom Sarti, who have yet to start at receiver, but have both started in the outfield. Second and catcher have been the most stable positions, with Chuck Sindlinger starting 46 games at second and Chris Jones starting 37 games at catcher. Crosby Gives Back, Again: Oakland Athletics shortstop Bobby Crosby gave back yet again to his alma mater, donating the $20,000 he earned for winning the Rookie of the Year last season, back to The Beach. Crosby continued a tradition of recent Dirtbags in giving back to their program when he gave $10,000 of his signing bonus to LBSU following the 2001 draft. Crosby was one of six Dirtbags to start the season in the Majors. One of the Early Season's Top Games: The Dirtbags 1-0 win at Wichita State behind a four-hitter by Cesar Ramos was tabbed as one of the season's best games so far, according to Baseball America's mid-season report. More of Durham's picks can be found at their website at baseballamerica.com or by picking up a publication on news stands now. Mid-Season All-Americans: Baseball America tabbed two pitchers on the Dirtbag pitching staff as mid-season All-Americans, with closer Neil Jamison getting a first team nod and Cesar Ramos, one of the publication's National Players to Watch, earning a spot on the second team. |
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Evans, Cody (1-2)
L: Dan Frederick (5-6)
Batting:
2B: Josh Nestor 1
RBI: Ryan Cunningham 1 ; Josh Nestor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Scott Brown 1 ; Wayne Russo 1
SB: Scott Brown 1
CS: Dave Savard 1
HBP: Scott Brown 1
Batting:
2B: Jones, Chris 1 ; Hernandez, Jose 1
3B: Godfrey, Brandon 1
HR: Boatright, Sean 1 ; Hernandez, Jose 1
RBI: Boatright, Sean 1 ; Longoria, Evan 1 ; Jones, Chris 2 ; Struble, Jordan 1 ; Sindlinger, Chuck 1 ; Hernandez, Jose 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Boatright, Sean 1 ; Jacobsen, Cole 1 ; Tulowitzki, Troy 1 ; Longoria, Evan 2 ; Jones, Chris 1 ; Godfrey, Brandon 2 ; Struble, Jordan 2 ; Hernandez, Jose 1
SB: Longoria, Evan 1
HBP: Godfrey, Brandon 1
