BSB | Newest Gaels Begin Baseball Career In Moraga
9/13/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MORAGA, Calif. -- With the start of conditioning and individual workouts, the Saint Mary's baseball team is beginning to take shape for the 2014 season.
After the hiring of new head coach Eric Valenzuela this summer, the Gaels have also welcomed several new faces to the roster as they begin preparations for the new season.
Here is a bit about each of the newest Gaels on the diamond.
SS/RHP Trevor Abrams (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney HS)
6-foot-3, 205-pound infielder/pitcher earned second team All-Metro honors from the Sacramento Bee as a senior. Hit .469, drove in 41 runs and scored 32 times in his final year at Whitney. Also stole 17 bases and finished with a .909 fielding percentage. Helped Whitney finish 28-3 overall and 14-1 in the Capital League.
RHP Ian Barwick (Irvine, Calif./Laney College)
Prepped at University High in Irvine, Calif before playing two seasons at Laney College. 6-foot, 195-pounder went 5-2 as a freshman with a 3.08 ERA. Followed that up with a sophomore season that saw him go 1-6 with a 3.73 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched. Will add depth to the SMC pitching staff in 2014.
RHP Dominic Bastone (Mission Viejo, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS)
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-hander competed in the always-tough Trinity League in Southern California for a JSerra team that went 10-16 overall and 5-10 in Trinity play. Worked in relief for most of his senior season, and will compete for innings with the Gaels.
RHP Vince Braman (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta HS)
2-time All-Southwestern League academic selection made 13 appearances as a senior for Vista Murrieta, compiling a 3.44 ERA in 20.1 innings pitched. 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander will vie for time on the mound with the Gaels.
RHP Corbin Burnes (Bakersfield, Calif./Centennial HS)
Another new arm to come to Moraga compiled impressive numbers in his final season at Centennial. Went 9-4 with a 2.23 ERA in 22 appearances, tossing 100.1 innings and striking out 90. Also had three saves. Named co-MVP of the Southwest Yosemite League as a senior. Three-time academic honoree at Centennial.
1B Austin Fitzpatrick (Vallejo, Calif./St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS)
6-foot-4, 180-pound first baseman also pitched for the Bruins in 2013, throwing a no-hitter in a win over Kennedy-Richmond. Was an honorable mention All-Tri Counties League Rock Division selection as a senior after hitting .290 for the season. Pitched 21.1 innings, compiling a 3-1 record and 2.30 ERA.
OF Dalton Frize (Orange, Calif./Orange Lutheran HS)
5-foot-10, 160-pound outfielder committed to Saint Mary's after hitting .310 in his junior season at Orange Lutheran. As a senior helped Orange Lutheran go 19-8 overall and 10-5 in the Trinity League. Will compete for playing time in the outfield with the Gaels.
LHP Cody Kruip (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada HS)
Southpaw stands 5-foot-10, 170 pounds and comes to Moraga after earning Most Valuable Pitcher honors in the Suburban League as a senior at La Mirada. Went 7-4 with a 2.14 ERA in his senior season and was equally important at the plate with a .330 batting average.
LHP Brad Nease (Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay HS)
6-foot-1, 185-pound lefty returns to the Gaels after a year away from the team. Has 11 career appearances for Saint Mary's, including seven as a sophomore in 2012. Carries a 4.85 career ERA as a Gael with him into the 2013 season and will provide another left-handed option on the staff.
RHP Cameron Neff (Salinas, Calif./Palma HS)
6-foot-3, 205-pound pitcher was named Monterey County MVP by the Monterey Herald in 2013. As a senior at Palma, he hit .442 as the Chieftains' cleanup hitter and went 10-2 with a 1.29 ERA and 95 strikeouts. Helped lead Palma to its first Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division title since 2004.
C Nate Nolan (Reno, Nev./Damonte Ranch HS)
2013 Louisville Slugger High School All-American first team selection comes to Moraga at 6-foot, 200 pounds. Enjoyed a great senior season on the heels of a standout junior year in which he hit .389 with eight home runs. Named Division I North Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, and was named a 2013 All-North Division I selection at catcher by the Reno Gazette-Journal.
OF Alec Pittsenbarger (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge HS)
Second-team All-Sunset League performer as a senior comes to Saint Mary's after hitting .416 as a senior at Shadow Ridge High School. 6-foot, 170-pounder drove in 25 runs and scored 40 in his final high school season. Also stole nine bases and hit three home runs.
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