Napkins are for more than smearing the BBQ sauce you spilled on your Christmas sweater. Napkins are also portable note pads collecting the comings and goings in 49er-ville. That’s our job, so here we go after a hiatus for a short trip (Doc says I will be sore for another month….).

Former Dirtbag Vance Worley has a new address after the Phillies traded him to the Minnesota Twins. That note is our segue into the Christmas card sent by LBSU baseball coach, Troy Buckley. The skipper will breathe deeply until he reassembles his 2013 edition with a round of galas that begin January 24th with the popular leadoff dinner at the Grand. Brandon Hyde, who has earned is MLB spurs in the dugout and now a roving exec with the lovable Chicago Cubs.

January 25, or post hangover, the alumni gold tournament gets shot-gunned at Recreation Park just a three-wood away from Blair Field where on the 26th, the alumni games will be played. The actual season begins in the baseball tough SEC on February 15 at Vanderbilt. The home opener isn’t a cakewalk either, that would be Andy Lopez bringing his always talented Arizona Wildcats to Blair on February 18. Now breathe.

Now the good news you are seeking does not come from basketball. The Gentlemen, as expected, got worked on the road at Syracuse and Ohio State. The ladies snatched defeat from the jaws of victory leading by 12 against Santa Clara before a offensive rebound and bucket at the buzzer resulted in a 68-67 loss Sunday afternoon. It was the 49ers’ second loss of the season that occurred at the buzzer. The Beach fell in similar fashion to Iona back on Nov. 11.

LBSU is now back to 4-4 and take finals this week before they try again on Saturday when Jody’s gals go south for another contest against a West Coast Conference opponent. Tip off 2PM at the University of San Diego. Coach Wynn was upset that here team committed 20 turnovers and allowed 21 offensive rebounds. “Offensive rebounding was the story of the game,” 49er head coach Jody Wynn said. “I’m very disappointed with our focus in the last four minutes of the game. I think we allowed way too many second-chance points and had too many turnovers.” For the men’s team, no close calls. Waxed solidly at Syracuse the Beach was pretty tired after they moved on to Columbus and a dunking clinic by Buckeye Deshaun Thomas (18 points, including a 3-pointer during an 11-point run in the first half) as part of an 89-55 TV loss Saturday morning.

The best of the Beach on Saturday was senior James Ennis (double-digit scoring streak is now up to 14 games). Thursday’s leading scorer was Dan Jennings (also in double-figures for Long Beach) but the cavalry is on the way when a couple of transfers become eligible at the end of the semester. Long Beach State returns to the Pyramid for its next game, a well deserved breather vs. BYU-Hawaii at 4PM on Saturday.

The quotable Mr. Monson has this post game analysis. “Let me give you all of our excuses.” “We probably have bitten off a little bit too much this week,” he said. “This is a true preseason for us. We’re obviously just trying to get better right now. Last year’s team was fighting in these games for an at-large bid. This team is not ready for that. It’s a work in progress, and we have a long ways to go.”

BITS AND PIECES—Soccer senior forward Nadia Link and senior defender Alex Balcer have been named to the 2012 NCAA Division I All-West Region team as announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America…Link continued to add to her long list of accolades as she received first-team All-West Region honors for the second year in a row. The Walnut, Calif., native is also a two-time NSCAA All-American, two-time Big West Offensive Player of the Year and three-time first-team all-conference selection.

Balcer garnered second-team All-West Region recognition for the second consecutive season. In 2012, Balcer anchored a back line that registered six shutouts and 1.15 goals against average. The Tucson, Ariz., native also totaled a career-best three goals. During Balcer’s four years as a starting center back, the 49ers compiled 28 shutouts and an impressive 1.09 goals against.

Back to the diamond, Long Beach State baseball listed six new commitments for the 2014 season…The Dirtbags signed two pitchers and four position players in the fall period. “This recruiting class fills our specific needs as we continue to add the necessary players to compete in our conference and also on the national stage for collegiate baseball,” said Buckley. “Jesse Zepeda and Shawn Gilbert worked hard in putting this class together to ensure that these players will be able to contribute and succeed here at Long Beach State.”

Two of the new arms have some experience, junior college pitchers. Christian Belleque made nine appearances out of the bullpen as a freshman at Fresno State, and will spend the 2013 season pitching for Fresno City College after going 6-1 with a 1.82 era in the Alaska Summer League.

“Christian is a highly competitive right-handed pitcher that has four weapons, leading to above-average pitchability,” said Buckley. “He has a repetitive delivery that will lend itself to consistency and present stuff with his pitches that will translate into starting fiber.”

Cameron Pongs made five appearances for San Diego State as freshman after graduating from Chino Hills HS, and will pitch for Mt. SAC this season as a sophomore. “Cameron is an athletic, physical lefty that has above average arm speed and a tremendous upside,” noted Buckley. “He is a good fit for us, in that he has the stuff to win now as well as good projection for the future.”

The high school ranks provided the four position players–two outfielders in Jason Martin and Tristan Mercadel, catcher Daniel Jackson and one infielder in Garrett Hampson. Martin played in the Area Code Games, a scouting event for high schoolers held annually in Long Beach, and was named to the Perfect Game World Wood Bat All-Tourney team. The MVP of the CBCA South Team, Martin led Orange Lutheran in hits as a junior and had the most stolen bases in the Trinity League.

The other outfielder is Tristan Mercadel. Playing for Patriot High School last season out of Riverside, Mercadel earned first-team All-Sunkist League selection after hitting .449 and being a perfect 12-12 on in stolen base attempts. Mercadel will spend his senior season playing with Riverside Poly.

“Tristan is an athletic outfielder that fits well into our program both offensively and defensively as a left-hander,” said Buckley. “He is a solid defender and has an understanding and foundation of the short game, yet also has a swing with rhythm and bat speed that will lend itself to being productive at the plate.”

Behind the plate, the 49ers will add Daniel Jackson, who hit .311 with the Danville Hoots over the summer in Connie Mack Baseball, leading the team in doubles. Jackson was also a second-team all-league selection at Amador Valley HS.

“We are excited to add DJ as a catcher to our program,” said Buckley. “He is a physical right-handed hitter with solid catch-throw skills to go along with a tremendous work ethic. Offensively, he has a repeatable, on-line swing that should lend itself to being a middle of the order type hitter as his career matures.”

In the infield, the Dirtbags welcome Garrett Hampson, an all-league selection from Reno, Nev. Hampson hit .569 over the summer with 53 RBI for his American Legion team, and .395 with four home runs and 36 RBI for Reno High School.

“Garrett is a very exciting and dynamic infielder that comes to us from a tradition-rich program at Reno High School,” stated Buckley. “He possesses outstanding, usable speed and plays the game at a high level with his legs, bat and glove. He will be very versatile and make an immediate impact in his first year. A tremendous instinctual player in all areas of the game, he adds the winning element of being a fierce competitor.” We like fierce.—DR. DAN