When we surf around the WWW, our journey is not without trials and travails. Bad enough that my West Virginia education and arthritic fingers allow the occasional malapropos and misspells, we also have the confusion with things that look, sound and taste like our local favorites.
For example, a net search for Long Beach, meaning the left coast, you might also get the Gulf Coast version of Long Beach, Mississippi or scarier yet, Long Beach, New York. And for things Forty-Niner, remember those East-Coast rooted 49ers at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
So imagine our distress when we found this item that included three of my favorite topics: baseball, 49ers and stadium improvements.
You recent historians will recall the high end renderings of what the new and improved Blair Field would look like with stadium improvements, hopefully being donated by grateful Dirtbags who have gone on fame and fortune in pro ball. I mean for goodness sake that Blair guy was a journalist and it is well known that an ink-stained wretch (outside of publishers) is as likely to have a loose million as the 49ers are to start swatting home runs out of the air field in Rec Park.
So back to this news item and the Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium, home to the Charlotte 49ers baseball team. In its article, “2013 College Baseball Ballpark Rankings,” Stadium Journey lists Hayes Stadium as the 14th-best NCAA Division I facility in the U.S. It is the top-ranked stadium in North Carolina. UNC Chapel Hill’s Boshamer Stadium was rated 20th nationally.
“It’s unpretentious first-class,” said season ticketholder Jay Halprin of UNCC’s venue. “It’s comfortable. There’s an air that makes you feel like you’re a part of the team.” The rankings were based on correspondents’ visits to 143 of the country’s top stadiums over the last two years. Rankings were determined by a variety of factors, including concessions, overall atmosphere, the neighborhood, fans, access, return on investment and a category named “extras” to consider each stadium’s unique qualities. Each category was ranked on a scale of one to five stars. Hayes Stadium, which seats 3,000 people, earned five stars for its concessions, return on investment, extras (including its souvenir stand and table of giveaways) and fans (but do they have Elvis Joe?).
Back to the present, you will find a lot of top prep stars dreaming of Blair field, but while they may bump into Troy Buckley and his posse unofficially, they will officially be in town for the MLB endorsed Area Code Games.
The W’s on this event are as follows:
- Who: Class of 2014, 2015 and 2016 high school baseball players
- What: Eight regional teams with the top players in the nation play in a week long tournament
- When: August 5 – August 10
- Where: Blair Field
- How much: The New Balance Area Code Baseball Games are free for ATHLETES to attend
The rosters will include the best players from around the nation competing at the highest level, while being evaluated at the highest level. This tournament serves as the beginning of a nine month interview process culminating with the Major League Baseball Draft the following June. The Post will offer rosters and game times when they are available.
Last of the Blair notes: the left field stands were politely packed on Tuesday morning for the memorial service of former Niner baseball coach, founder of the 49er summer camps, and distinguished professor at LBSU Bob Wuesthoff. His son-in-law Peter Smith (a former tennis coach at the Beach, and his kids joined all sorts of other luminaries in remembrances about #24). Special in the crowd was a delegation of young and old kids with 49er Camp Shirts and Bob’s lifetime friend and Baltimore Oriole Hall of Famer inductee Don Pries.
Good news on the career progression of last years Big West MVP James Ennis. The 49ers flashy swing man stood out for the Miami Heat in both Orlando and Las Vegas and averaged 12+ points per game this summer for the 2-time defending NBA Champions. His top effort was: a 25-point outburst against the Phoenix Suns in a nail-biting 91-89 loss. Da Truth also recorded nine rebounds and an assist, and he shot 8-of-17 from the field.
For the really big net set, word that Head Tennis Coach Jenny Hilt-Costello has signed six players who will join the defending Big West Champions for the upcoming 2013-14 tennis season. Coach speak: “In an odd recruiting year when we had so many positions to fill, we have signed an exceptional group of young ladies who will immediately improve our lineup,” said Hilt-Costello. “We have signed six talented players that are eager to be joining Beach Tennis. I am very excited about this group.”
The official report says: This recruiting class has an international flavor with newcomers from three European countries as well as Southern California. Two French players will be joining the team following in the footsteps of Assistant Coach and former Big West Player of the Year, Anais Dallara. Julie Gerard of Hem, France, has participated in 10 ITF women’s tournaments, and holds a -2/6 French rating. Also arriving in 2013-14 is Maeva Razakosoa, who has a French -15 rating and has been ranked as high as No. 652 in the ITF worldwide rankings. Hailing from Somerford Keynes, Laura Eales was the No. 1 ranked junior in the United Kingdom as recently as November of 2011, and holds a 4.1 rating in the Lawn Tennis Association, the governing body of British tennis. Eales is joined by another English player, Holly Reid out of Birmingham, England. Reid currently holds an LTA Rating of 5.1.
The 49ers will also welcome Gabriela Tilkeridisova from Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. While Tilkeridisova was nationally ranked No. 8 in the U18’s, she was also ranked as high as No. 33 in the women’s open category. The 49ers round out the 2013-14 class with Hayley Thompson from Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine. An early commit in November 2012, Thompson was ranked as the No. 74 recruit in her 2013 high school class and is currently ranked No. 239 by the USTA.
The new talent will be helpful to the returning starters, Big West Freshman of the Year, Ebba Unden and All Big West Doubles honoree, Karolina Rozenberg.
Now on to the big money ladies work which these days is to be a Korean-bred lady golfer like Niner junior Chaewon Park recorded a 5-over par 77 in Monday’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Sectional Qualifying at the Glendora Country Club. Player speak: “I feel very lucky and thankful,” Park said. “I’ve been really working hard this summer and it seems things are starting to come together. It’s very rewarding to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and I’m looking forward to playing in Charleston.” Park was among 14 players from the Glendora sectional to advance to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, Aug. 5-11, at the Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, S.C.
Baseball prospect of note is Gage Canning….“Canning is a ‘five tool’ player who hits for average, hits with power, has speed, has an arm and can field his position,” said one local scout. “He is on everybody’s radar and he will have to decide between a major college scholarship and signing a professional contract his senior year.” During the 2013 spring season, Canning hit .406, scored 34 runs, drove in 41 runs, hit 14 doubles, three triples and blasted 9 home runs. He drew 13 walks and slugged an impressive .871 with an on base percentage of .478. He stole 10 bases and had a fielding average of .961.
Canning has yet to take a week off of baseball this summer. He played in the Junior Olympics in Arizona two weeks ago. He also had a tryout for the Area Code Games and is playing for the San Diego Dirtbags. One of the coaches on the Dirtbags is Neil Jamison who was an All American for the Long Beach State Dirtbags and coached the CIF champion.
In basketball news, the LBSU 2013 non-conference schedule added another marquee opponent when the 49ers will open the Puerto Rico Tip-Off by facing Michigan on Thursday, November 21 at 2PM PT. The game will be carried nationally on ESPN2, the only opening-round game of four to be played on ESPN2. With the add of Michigan on the schedule now means that the 49ers are guaranteed to face at least six NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago in the team’s non-conference schedule, and as many as eight depending on results at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Also bracketed on the 49ers side are Florida State and VCU; Long Beach State will play one of those two teams in the second day of competition in San Juan on Friday, November 22. The Beach starts the 2013-14 campaign on Saturday, November 9, when the 49ers host Hawaii Pacific in the team’s Homecoming game at the Walter Pyramid.
Back to the bases. Halfway through the summer, collegiate summer baseball leagues have announced their all-star teams, and the MLB Draft signing date has passed, as all four Dirtbags that were drafted have signed.
Shane Carle, Jeff McNeil, Jon Maciel and Juan Avila, the four players from the 2013 Dirtbags squad that were picked in the 2013 MLB Draft have all chosen to proceed with their professional careers, each signing with the club that drafted them. In the process, Carle, McNeil and Maciel will each pass up on a final year of eligibility, while Avila, a senior, will also immediately join the Miami Marlins organization, who drafted the third baseman in the 20th round. Carle was the first player drafted from the Dirtbags, selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round, while Jeff McNeil signed with the New York Mets after getting picked in the 12th round, and Jon Maciel was an 18th round pick of the Detroit Tigers. Maciel and Carle have both reported to the short-season New York-Penn League, while McNeil and Avila are each playing rookie ball.
Among recruits with Long Beach State ties, Jason Martin was the first player drafted, picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 8th Round, and the outfielder from Orange Lutheran elected to go to pro baseball. Also signing a professional contract was pitcher Matt Ball. Coming out of Bonita Vista HS, Ball was selected in the 11th round by the Chicago White Sox, and signed with the club.
The Dirtbags will welcome one top recruit that was drafted in 2014 however, as shortstop Garrett Hampson did not sign with the Washington Nationals. The No. 84 prospect in the draft as rated by Baseball America, Hampson will join the rest of the 2014 recruiting class on campus this fall.
In other news regarding current players, many members of Long Beach State’s team are having outstanding summers with their summer clubs. In the Northwoods League, the Dirtbags had two players make the All-Star team, as both outfielder Johnny Bekakis and pitcher Josh Frye garnered the honor. Bekakis is leading the La Crosse Loggers with 35 RBI, and has five home runs, while Frye has 53 strikeouts in eight starts for the Loggers.
Three Dirtbags also earned All-Star selections in the West Coast League, as pitchers Nick Sabo and Ty Provencher each were picked, as was shortstop Alex DeGoti. Senior pitcher Nick Rosetta is also having an outstanding summer, earning All-Star honors in the Texas Collegiate League after leading the league in ERA, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.48 ERA in five starts with 26 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Last add, summer is also sourvneier hunting time and kids flock to the Beach to collect cotton. I am hosting four groups of Chinese students and teachers who contribute to the economy (this week teachers Zhang and Liu and students Bie and Fan) who can conjugate English and shop with equal skill. Ah, sweet summer time.—DR. DAN
Photo Caption—LBSU head softball coach Kim Sowder models one of the tee shirts her campers covet. She’s photographed at the team’s favorite deli but to keep the paparazzo’s away we don’t tell you where.
{FG_GEOMAP [33.7789296,-118.13728520000001] FG_GEOMAP}