Teamwork • Members
of the 2004 Long Beach State Dirtbags
huddle together before a finals game
last spring. File photo
Dirtbags prepare for upcoming baseball season
By Ammie Grauten
Contributing Writer
Online Forty-Niner
Though baseball season does not start until spring, students can already be
seen sporting Dirtbag hats and shirts. The Long Beach State baseball team,
the Dirtbags, or as they are more formally known, the 49ers, are the pride
and joy of Long Beach State.
Finishing with a 37-22 record, the Dirtbags ended last season in the top 20
schools — No.18 in Collegiate Baseball and No.19 in Baseball America.
Nine players last season were drafted into professional leagues, including
two who were picked up in the first round of the draft.
The history of LBSU
baseball is impressive, with 25 former Dirtbags who have gone on to play in
the majors. Eleven are currently playing, including Jason Giambi of the New
York Yankees.
Head Coach Mike Weathers joined the Dirtbags in 2001 and has since produced
three Big West Pitchers of the Year. In 2003 he was named Big West Coach of
the Year. This season Assistant Coaches Tim McDonnell and Troy Buckley join
him.
This year’s Dirtbags have a lot of potential, with returning players
such as right-handed pitcher Jared Hughes, who played in the Cape Cod League,
a premier summer baseball league this summer.
Returning infielder Evan Longoria
also played in the Cape Cod League and was honored as the Paul Sorenti Most
Valuable Player. Other players coming back to the Dirtbags next season are
right-handed pitcher Matt Fitts, utility player Brandon Godfrey and outfielder
Sean Boatright.
There are also new recruits joining the Dirtbags this year worth keeping an
eye on, such as right-handed pitcher Vance Worley, left-handed pitcher Shane
Peterson, and big hitter and shortstop Danny Espinosa.
Also, from Hawaii, is
catcher Kip Masuda and, transferring from Santa Clara, is outfielder Robert
Perry. From Long Beach’s Millikan High School is right-handed pitcher
Kyle Bredenkamp, and from Lakewood High School and Golden West College is outfielder
Allen Wood.
“
We have 20 new players, the most in five years, and we will have a lot of work
to do on the field. It really depends on how quickly the guys mature,” Weathers
said.
The 2006 baseball season starts with three games against USC Feb. 3-5. Practice
started mid-September. Students are encouraged to go to the games and support
LBSU.
The first opportunity for them is at Blair Field in Long Beach. Ticket
prices range from $4 to $13 for the general public. Admission is free for CSULB
students with I.D.
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