Dirtbags
end season in Palo Alto
By Oscar Gardner
Summer
On-line Forty-Niner
After
a stellar season, 6th ranked Cal State Long
Beach had the daunting task of facing a
superb 3rd ranked Stanford Cardinal, which
had won sixteen out of their last seventeen
games. As the previous four years have shown
the task was too insurmountable for the
Dirtbags, as they were defeated 5-1 on Friday
and 4-2 in their final game of the season
on Saturday in Palo Alto.
“I told them how proud of them I was, I
told them to remember what they had accomplished,
the Big West title, high ranking most of
the season, and hosting the school’s first
ever regional at Blair Field,” said head
coach Mike Weathers. “I told them to look
around, this would be the last time you
will be on the same team together, and realize
what is here,” said Weathers.
“We had a tremendous year, I’m very proud
of our coaches and players, they hit their
stride this year,” said Bill Shumard, Athletic
Director.
In Friday’s game Cardinal pitcher John Hudgins
(11-3) threw an impressive seven hit six
struck-out complete game, to pick up the
win in the opening game of the series. Danny
Putnam provided power for the Cardinal batting
2 for 4 including a homerun (14) in the
eighth, off Neil Jamison, to give them a
three run cushion going into the top of
the ninth.
Dirtbag Abe Alvarez (11-2) also pitched
well, despite picking up the loss. He hurled
seven strong innings striking out 5 and
only giving up 2 runs, only 1 of which was
earned. Catcher Todd Jennings tied a fourteen-year-old
school record, held by Todd Guggiana, of
twenty-seven consecutive games with a bass
knock in the first inning. Troy Tolowitzki
accounted for the only RBI of the game in
the sixth inning, with a double knocking
in Jennings. Untimely at bats hurt the Dirtbags,
as they left 8 men on base while 6 of those
were in scoring position.
Saturday’s game held more of the same theme
with the duo of Quentin and Putnam providing
most of the punch for the Cardinal. Quentin
was locked in going 4 for 5, both scoring
and knocking in a run, while Putnam went
2 for 4 bringing two runs across the plate.
Cardinal pitcher Mark Romanczuck (12-0)
pitched 8.1 of tough baseball giving up
10 hits but only surrendering 2 earned runs.
Closer Matt Manship picked up his ninth
save of the season.
The usual stingy 49er defense allowed three
unearned runs behind ace Jered Weaver (14-4).
Weaver gave up 4 runs, but only 1 was earned,
pitched 6.2 innings striking out 5 and allowing
8 hits. Carlos Muniz relieved Weaver and
struck out 5 in limited work.
Jennings passed Guggiana, as the all-time
consecutive hits, with 28. Adam Heether
supplied the only homerun (6) of the weekend
for the Dirtbags, going 2 for 4 with 2 runs
batted in and 1 run scored.
With Weaver’s fifth strikeout he tied Long
Beach’s single season strike out record
of 144, set in 1995 by Scott Rivette.
“We had a great year and I am looking forward
to next season,” said Shumard.
Weathers is uncertain of the make-up of
next years team due to the Major League
Draft. He said with the draft, the players
selected from Long Beach and players that
were recruited will have to negotiate with
their teams and see if they will come back
to school or go to the professional ranks.
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