League Champions - 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1992
An Early Season Shasta College Baseball Team Picture for 2009
Zach Morgan now has a choice to make. Should he continue his education and collegiate baseball career or start his pro career a couple years early?
Morgan became the first Shasta College baseball player in eight years on Thursday to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. The Knights ace was picked in the 35th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 1,056th overall choice.
Knights head coach Brad Rupert said Burney's Travis Anderson was selected in the 25th round in 2001 by the Atlanta Braves.
Morgan was an all-conference pitcher as a freshman and signed a large scholarship with Sacramento State in April. The early signing gives him three years of eligibility to pitch for the Hornets.
Now the question is what he will do: Sign a contract with Arizona or continue with his original plans to head to Sac State?
"It would take a lot of money for him to not go to Sac State," Rupert said. "I was surprised Arizona picked him. Maybe they think they can get him to join them."
Morgan earned all-conference honors after producing a 7-6 season with a 4.26 ERA for Shasta College, which went to the playoffs for the first time in four years. He was effective in Golden Valley Conference play, going 6-3 with a 3.25 ERA and led the league in strikeouts in conference games.
But according to Rupert, what stood out about Morgan was his endurance. He was the team's workhorse as a freshman, tossing 1072?3 innings, at least 40 more than any other Knights pitcher this season. He also had six of Shasta's seven complete games in 2009.
Despite the high workload, he had good control with 89 strikeouts against 36 walks on the season.
There was a possibility that Morgan could have been selected, but he was pleasantly surprised when Rupert called him Thursday morning to tell him that the Diamondbacks had nabbed him.
"His direct words were, ‘Somebody must have liked me enough to draft me,' " Rupert recalled.
Morgan also is only 19, so he still has very much of an upside. He has a slight build at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, but Rupert said his father is at least 6-4 and a former head coach at Grants Pass High School in Oregon, where Morgan played high school ball.
He reaches the upper 80s with his fastball and Rupert guessed that, as he fills out, he could reach into low 90s.
"They love his curveball and his arm is what scouts would call loose," Rupert said. "He's durable and already has good control at a young age."
It remains to be seen which route Morgan will take. Since he signed with a four-year school, if he bypasses signing with the Diamondbacks this year, he won't be eligible to draft again until his junior year.
"I'm excited for Zach," Rupert said. "To me, he's a perfect example of JC baseball. He's a kid that comes out of high school that no one pays attentions to. He works hard and it paid off."
Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
ALL GVC KNIGHT
(5/27/09-Jeffrey Jen) Two years ago, Kurt Lee was a smallish second baseman on the Enterprise High School baseball team. After two successful junior college seasons, including this past one at Shasta College, Lee signed Tuesday with the University of Iowa on a partial baseball scholarship. "It's been a long journey for me," Lee said. "It hasn't been easy, but it has been worth it. Now I can fulfill a dream and play baseball at a level where I want to be at." Lee was a unanimous All-Golden Valley Conference selection at shortstop in 2009. He helped the Knights finish second in the GVC and attain the program's first playoff bid in four years. Batting leadoff, Lee led Shasta with a .379 batting average, 41 runs scored, 24 walks and 17 steals while hitting a homer and driving in 31 runs. "It ended up being a great year," Lee said. "A lot of people were surprised because of our poor preseason, but we always had the talent to turn things around. It was a matter of putting things toether." It took awhile for Lee's talent to emerge. He was a 5-foot-7 second baseman at Enterprise, but said he's grown three inches since his prep days. At Enterprise, Lee had a big junior season in 2006 in posting a .388 average with 15 RBI. His batting average fell to .278 as a senior, though he still had a team-high 16 RBI. He chose to attend Lassen College, another JC in the Golden Valley Conference, because of a desire to get out of Redding after growing up in town. He alternated between shortstop and second base in his freshman season, hitting .288 with 10 RBI in 28 games. "I grew up a lot at Lassen," Lee said. "Physically, I've grown up but a large part of it was mental. I had to figure things out for myself." Last summer, he went up to Washington to play shortstop during summer ball. But a change in coaches at Lassen caused Lee to re-think returning there. Instead he called Knights head coach Brad Rupert about returning to Redding. It turned out be a great move for both parties involved. Lee got to play everyday and Rupert filled his hole at shortstop and atop the batting order. "He stepped up this year," Rupert said. "He could hit and set the table. That was someone that Iowa was looking for. Someone to bat leadoff and steal bases." Lee was looking at UC San Diego, a Division II program, and Georgetown, a D-I program in the Big East Conference, as his options. But Iowa came along late and got wind of Lee through Rupert. The Hawkeyes sent scouts to Shasta's playoff game, a 6-5 loss in 10 innings at Chabot. Lee went out for a recruiting trip this weekend and was offered a place in the Hawkeyes program which he immediately accepted. "They offered a better financial package," Lee said. "They are a part of the Big Ten Conference. They have good facilities and academics and basically had the level of commitment in athletics that I was looking for." The Hawkeyes struggled this season, going 16-35 but return a couple of all-conference players. Lee is expected to come in and compete for a starting spot at shortstop right away and possibly hit at the top of the order. Iowa's colors are black and gold, the same colors at Enterprise High School. So Lee will be donning familiar colors, just at a higher level. A level where he always wanted to be. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
SIMON VILLALVAZO HITS TWO BOMBS
(4/5/09-Hayward) The Knight's Simon Vallalvazo did what he could to keep the Knights postseason hopes alive. Villalvazo hit a ninth inning three run homerun, his second of the game, to pull the Knights even with Chabot 5-5. Chabot was able to plate a run in the tenth inning off reliever Brandon Ottenwalter to beat the Knights 6-5 in the Northern California California Community College play in game at Chabot College in Hayward. Zach Morgan went seven innings for the Knights who finish the season 22-22.
EARNS BERTH IN CALIFORNIA STATE PLAY-OFFS
(4/30/09) The Shasta College baseball team earned the No. 17 seed for the Northern California playoffs Sunday. The Knights qualified for the 18-team bracket by finishing second in the Golden Valley Conference. Shasta (22-21) gets into a play-in game Tuesday at No. 16 Chabot (25-16), which finished third in the Golden Gate Division of the Coast Conference. The winner of that game gets into a best-of-three series with No. 1 Ohlone (35-9) or No. 2 Merced (35-8) this weekend. GVC champion Feather River (40-3) earned the No. 3 seed and opens against No. 14 Sacramento (25-17) in a best-of-three series this weekend.
MISS CHANCE TO SECURE STATE PLAY-OFF BERTH
4/29/09-Shasta College-Jeffrey Jen) Teams that are close to wrapping up a playoff spot or playing in their final regular-season home game usually come out with intensity. Not so with the Shasta College baseball team and that cost the Knights on Wednesday. Lassen College came in and took advantage of a lackluster Shasta effort in an 8-5 victory, preventing the Knights from clinching one of 18 Northern California playoff spots - at least for one more day. Shasta seemingly had everything going its way in its race with Butte for second place in the Golden Valley Conference and the postseason spot that goes with it. The Knights are a game in front of the Roadrunners and own the season series tiebreaker (4-2), giving them a theoretical two-game advantage with three games left. Butte is facing league-leading Feather River and Shasta draws struggling Lassen. To top it off, Shasta (18-10 GVC, 21-20) sent its ace Zach Morgan onto the mound in its final regular-season home game. But Morgan didn't have a typical outing, the Knights defense struggled behind him and the Shasta bats took too long to get going. The result wasn't a pretty one. Lassen (8-20 GVC, 8-22) jumped out to a 6-0 lead by the fourth inning and Shasta never could quite catch up to the Cougars. "They thought they could show up and just get a win today," Knights head coach Brad Rupert said about his team. "There was a lack of intensity and nothing went well. Offensively, defensively, pitching, you name it." Afterwards, Rupert made his team run 2 1/2 miles, though he did run it with them, and gave them some stern post-game words heading into today's road doubleheader against Lassen in Susanville for the final two games in the regular season. "I'm disappointed in how we came out with no excitement," Rupert said. "I'm not sure why. Maybe in their minds, the playoff spot was already sewn up, but it isn't."
There were few bright spots on the day, though one of them was Feather River's 8-0 victory over Butte. That outcome maintained Shasta's virtual two-game advantage with two games left and cut the Knights' magic number from two to one. The Knights can still lock up a trip to the playoffs with either a split today in Susanville or one Butte loss in the Roadrunners' home doubleheader with Feather River today. However, that would be small comfort to Shasta considering the dismal Wednesday effort.
Morgan has pitched well of late, but never quite found his rhythm against the Cougars. Lassen got a run on him thanks to a double steal in the top of the second inning. It was Morgan's own throwing error after fielding a sacrifice bunt that yielded two more runs in top of the third. To add insult to injury, Morgan struck out Cameron Babin, but the ball went by the catcher for a passed ball allowing another run to score in that inning. The lead then grew to 6-0 in the fourth inning when Lassen rapped out five straight singles with Jason Alcasas and Velarde driving in runs on their hits. Morgan was gone after that inning, having allowed eight hits and six runs - two earned - while striking out five and walking two in four innings of work. Bryce Mallory came in and allowed two more runs in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Velarde and an RBI bunt single from Tommy O'Brien. Finally, sophomore Brandon Ottenwalter came in and tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Offensively, Shasta was too slow to get going. The Knights eventually finished with 11 hits against Lassen starter Ryan Shepherd, who went the nine-inning distance. Problem was, they couldn't string together any big innings. "We can't come out flat like that," Knights shortstop Kurt Lee said. "We came in expecting to ride our starter to a win, but we have to support him offensively regardless. We didn't pound the ball like we are capable of doing." First baseman Steve Bryant finally led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a triple to deep right-center field. Nate Jackson then walked, but Ben Mielke grounded into the 6-4-3 double play. Bryant scored, but that was all the Knights could get from a first-and-third, no-out situation. Jake Savicki kncoked in a run with a double to right-center the next inning and scored on Jared Robinette's RBI single to cut the gap to 6-3. But Lassen made it 8-3 in the sixth inning. Bryant singled in a run in the seventh and Shasta threatened to have more with runners on first and third with one out. But Shepherd retired the next two batters. The Knights added one more in the eighth and that was it. Lee finished 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Savicki and Bryant were both 2-for-5. "We've got to understand that if we play hard and show to play, usually we'll win," Lee said. "We need to play these next two games like it is the last ones of our season, which they actually are." Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
TRIPLE & GRAND SLAM
(4/24/09-Eureka) Zach Morgan struck out five and allowed two runs over seven innings as the Knights beat the Corsairs, 10-5. Jake Savicki tripled and hit a grand slam, while Jared Robinette and Simon Villalvazo drove in two runs apiece for Shasta (16-9 GVC, 19-19).
WIN SEASON SERIES OVER BUTTE 4-2
(4/18/09-Oroville) Shasta College won the season series over Butte in Oroville thanks to a 7-6 victory in the second game that took 11 innings to complete. Ben Mielke's solo home run in the top of the 11th was the game-winner for the Knights and gave them a 4-2 season series edge over the Roadrunners, which will prove crucial in the Golden Valley Conference standings. Both teams are now 15-9 in the GVC. Simon Villalvazo, a Red Bluff High alum, smacked a two-run homer for Shasta (18-19 overall) in the sixth inning and finished 3-for-5 with the homer and an RBI double. The Knights also got two hits apiece from Kurt Lee, Jake Savicki, Mielke and Nate Jackson. Brandon Ottenwalter earned the relief victory. Butte shut the Knights down in the first game with a one-hitter, 9-1. Shasta's lone hit was a Lee home run in the third.
SHOWDOWN SATURDAY IN OROVILLE
(4/15/09-Shasta College) Facing their most important game of the season to date, the Knights were going to ride starter Zach Morgan as long as they could. Turns out, Morgan went the entire nine-inning distance and the Shasta College baseball team beat rival Butte 6-3 on Wednesday to draw even with the Roadrunners in the Golden Valley Conference standings. Butte entered the game one game in front of the Knights (14-8 GVC, 17-18) for second place in the standings, well behind Feather River, which has only one league loss (to Shasta) on the season. The top two teams earn automatic berths into the postseason. Equally as important for Shasta, the Knights hold a 3-1 lead over the Roadrunners (14-8 GVC, 23-13) in the head-to-head series with only Saturday's noon doubleheader in Oroville left. Wednesday's victory allows Shasta a chance to win the season series with a split on Saturday. "If we won today, we don't have to worry about getting two on Saturday," Knights shortstop Kurt Lee said. Shasta jumped out early, scoring three runs in the first inning and two more in the second to stake its No. 1 starter to a 5-0 lead. "We got guys on," Knights head coach Brad Rupert said. "We executed our offense and advanced runners with bunts." It would be a lead that Morgan, a freshman from Grants Pass, Ore., was more than capable of holding. A week after signing a 90-percent scholarship to attend Sacramento State next season, Morgan cruised through the early innings. "We went more with the change-up compared to the last time I faced them," Morgan said. "The key was to battle and get back ahead of the hitters if I got behind early." Butte finally got him for two runs in the sixth inning and another in the seventh, but Rupert showed faith in staying with Morgan. "He felt good," Rupert said. "He's got one of those resilient arms. We don't put much of a pitch count on him." The freshman responded with consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the eighth and ninth to close out the Roadrunners after 128 pitches. "Usually between 100-140 pitches, I'm pretty good," Morgan said. "I don't put much strain on my arm and I make sure I'm ready on the day I pitch." Morgan finished with seven hits allowed, five strikeouts and no walks. He got all the support he needed early on. Lee led off the bottom of the first inning with an infield single. Jake Savicki then got on due to a Butte fielding error. Jared Robinette's single loaded the bases before Steve Bryant went up the middle for a two-run single. Butte starter Jeremy Kautz got the next two outs before Shasta second baseman Mitchell Barsotti then singled down the left field line. Robinette scored, but Bryant was tagged out at home plate. Still, Shasta led 3-0 and built on that the next inning. Knights catcher Simon Villalvazo was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Savicki got on when the Butte catcher Adam Brubaker interfered with his swing. That brought up sophomore third baseman Robinette and he lined a shot right past Butte first baseman Kyle Dahlgren for a two-run double. Kautz settled down by the third inning and the Knights struggled to get hits after that. "When you are striking the ball well, you don't worry about a couple of dry innings," Lee said. "Especially when we have Zach on the mound." Morgan scattered two hits over the first five innings before Butte's 1-2 hitters, Jeff Machen and Cody Brown, got on with one-out singles in the top of the sixth. Foothill product Jake Gill belted a two-run double past Savicki in center field. But Morgan got out of the inning without further damage. Shasta got one of the runs back when Kurt Lee hit a line drive that went off Dahlgren's glove and diverted into foul territory in deep right for an RBI triple. Morgan allowed another run in the seventh inning, but no more. Robinette went 3-for-4 with a double for Shasta, while Lee was 2-for-5. Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
SHASTA HOSTS BUTTE ON WEDNESDAY, 4/15
(4/13/09-Redding) The Shasta College baseball team beat American River 6-2 on Monday. The Knights scored four times in the third inning in a non-conference game. Jared Robinette went 2-for-3 and hit a two-run double in the third inning. Nate Jackson added a two-run single in the third. Jake Savicki was 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Ben Mielke also went 2-for-4 at the plate for Shasta (16-18). Brandon Koch picked up the win despite walking five batters over five innings. He allowed one run and three hits. Ben Severe pitched the final four innings, allowing a run and three hits. Shasta hosts Butte in a key Golden Valley Conference game at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Roadrunners lead the Knights by one game in the league standings for second place in the GVC. The top two league teams earn automatic berths into the Northern California playoffs.
NOLAN MORGAN STRONG IN GAME TWO
(4/11/09-Redding) Shasta 3-3, Siskiyous 5-1. The Knights got a split with the Eagles. Ben Mielke was 2-for-3 for Shasta in the first game. "We couldn't get anything going offensively," Knights head coach Brad Rupert said. Shane Cadaret got the loss. In the second game, Nolan Morgan went 8 2/3 innings with two hits allowed and four strikeouts. However, he got a no-decision. Shasta scored two in the top of the 10th inning. David Simmons got on due to an error and stole second. Simon Villalvazo walked and Mitchell Barsotti had an RBI single. Kurt Lee then hit a grounder that was thrown away to allow another Shasta run to come across. Villalvazo was 2-for-3 while Barsotti was 2-for-4. Zach Morgan got the victory for Shasta (13-8 Golden Valley Conference, 15-18).
FRC DROPS SHASTA 10-1 & 9-6
(4/5/09-Quincy) The Golden Eagles bounced back from their first Golden Valley Conference loss of the season Friday by sweeping the visiting Knights. Kurt Lee went 3-for-4, while Shane Cadaret got the loss in the first game. The loss broke a nine-game winning streak for Shasta. Lee was 2-for-2 in the second game, while Ben Mielke went 2-for-4 for the Knights (12-6 Golden Valley Conference, 14-16). Shasta travels to Siskiyous at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
MORGAN WITH COMPLETE GAME AND CANDELARIA WITH TWO BOMBS
(4/3/09-Quincy) The Knights handed the Golden Eagles their first conference loss of the season as Zach Morgan struck out seven in a complete game victory. Steven Candelaria supplied the offense, going 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI. Jake Savicki was 2-for-5 with a triple, Steve Bryant was 2-for-5 with a homer. Jared Robinette, Nate Jackson, and Ben Mielke all had two hits for Shasta (12-4 Golden Valley Conference, 14-14). The Knights have now won 12 of its last 13 games while Feather River falls to 14-1 in the GVC and 25-3 overall. Shasta plays at Feather River in a doubleheader at noon today, 4/4/09.
OFFENSE IN HIGH GEAR!
(3/28/09-Shasta College) When things are going well, it's easy to shrug off a couple of early-game mistakes. The Shasta College baseball team needed a couple of innings to warm up. But once the Knights did, their winning streak kept going. Steven Candelaria homered twice and Shasta rolled past Lassen 13-6 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at home. Mitchell Barsotti then fueled the Knights' 13-8 victory in the nightcap with a first-inning grand slam. The Knights (11-4 Golden Valley Conference, 13-14) had a rough first two innings in the field Saturday. Starting pitcher Nolan Morgan plunked three batters and his defense committed three errors. Jared Robinette had an RBI double in the first inning and Candelaria belted a two-run homer to left-center field off Lassen starter Ryan Shepherd, but the Knights still found themselves down 4-3 heading into the bottom of the second. However, this is a team that entered the day winners of six straight games and nine of their past 10. With winning comes a belief that things eventually will turn out well. Instead of getting jittery, Shasta remained composed and confident. "The attitude is that everyone is just doing their job and having fun," said Candelaria, who entered having hit one homer all season. "We lit a fire in each other and are trusting each other more." Morgan settled down and retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced. He left after six innings having allowed two hits and four runs - two earned - to go along with two walks and three strikeouts. "Today had a lot to do with my leg kick," said Morgan, who improved his record to 4-1 on the season. "It was too high and it forced me to speed things up on my throw. It was a matter of focus. Things weren't working, so I tried to get the ball in play and let my defense help me out." More importantly, the Knights were up 7-4 when he left. Shasta chipped away at Lassen's pitching, knocking out Shepherd in the second inning after tying the game 4-4 on Nate Jackson's RBI groundout. Jared Braaten came in for the Cougars (5-9 GVC, 5-11) and went the next 3 1/3 innings. He allowed a two-out RBI single by second baseman Mitchell Barsotti in the bottom of the third, giving he Knights a 5-4 lead. Candelaria then made it 6-4 when he belted a 1-1 Braaten offering beyond the left field fence. "The guys are feeling it," Morgan said. "At the minimum, as a pitcher, you have confidence that your team can score runs. Our defense is playing better and if you allow runs, you have the confidence that your batters will pick you up." The Knights gradually built up the lead, scoring in every inning except the fourth. Jackson hit a fly ball to left leading off the bottom of the sixth. Lassen left fielder Brett Workman lost the ball in the sun and the ball fell behind him for a double. Jackson then went to third on Kurt Lee's groundout to second before scoring on Jake Savicki's sacrifice fly to center. Up 7-4 heading into the seventh, Knights head coach Brad Rupert brought in sophomore Brandon Ottenwalter. Lassen's No. 9 hitter, third baseman Brett Wickizer, promptly greeted him with a triple to deep left-center. Two batters later, Cougars second baseman CJ Velarde singled to right for an RBI to make it 7-5. However, Velarde eventually was gunned down by Shasta catcher Cody McCary at third base ending the inning. Shasta got the run back in the bottom of the seventh when Ben Mielke doubled down the left field line leading off, then scored on Jackson's two-out double, also down the left field line. "When things are going good, that's what happens," Rupert said. "The ball starts to fall into holes." After getting a run in this inning and another one in the next inning, the Knights finally blew the game open in the eighth. Savicki hit a sharp grounder past Lassen shortstop Zack Garcia for a triple. Robinette was hit by a pitch before Bryant hit a towering fly ball to left that scored Savicki and moved Robinette to second. Candelaria walked before Mielke blooped an RBI single into shallow right to make it 10-5. Barsotti then hit another shot down the left field line for a two-run triple before scoring on McCary's groundout. That made it 13-5 and the Knights had effectively turned a potentially dangerous game into a comfortable win. "One of the things I liked was that we executed throughout that game," Rupert said. "We hit behind runners to move them over, we bunted runners over, we hit sacrifice flies to get runners home when we needed to." Barsotti went 3-for-3 with a double and a triple and three RBI. Mielke went 2-for-5 while Jackson was 2-for-5 with two doubles. Of Shasta's 11 hits in the game, nine went for extra bases. The offense stayed hot in the second game as Barsotti went 2-for-4 with his slam. Bryant went 4-for-5 with two-run shot in the eighth to put Shasta up 11-8 at that point. Robinette went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Savicki was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI while Simon Villavazo was 2-for- 5 with an RBI. Shane Cadaret got the win after pitching three innings of relief, while Ben Severe got the save. Now winners of eight in a row and 11 of its past 12, Shasta travels to GVC-leading Feather River. Shasta is eager to show it's not the same team as when the squads met last time in a Feather River three-game sweep in late February.
"Thats the last bad baseball we've played," Morgan said. "We're hitting our strike right now." Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
GREAT TEAM PLAY
(3/27/09-Jeffrey Jen Record Searchlight) From potentially horrendous to possibly playoff-bound. Such a drastic change of fortune for the Shasta College baseball team. At the end of February, the Knights sat at 2-13 and were coming off a weekend when the Knights were swept at home by Feather River by a combined score of 30-9. Now look where's Shasta at. The Knights are in sole possession of second place in the Golden Valley Conference, heading into Saturday's noon doubleheader with Lassen at home. The top two league spots get automatic berths into the postseason. Since the Feather River series, the Knights have won nine of their last 10 with the lone loss being a 5-4 defeat at third-place Butte on March 11. Shasta has come from behind on several occasions, the biggest was a comeback from 13-1 down to beat the Roadrunners at home on March 14. Knights coach Brad Rupert said that he intentionally put together a difficult pre-season and that contributed to Shasta's slow start out of the gate. "I've done it the other way," Rupert said about the team's scheduling. "But I think you get a false sense of who you are then. We want to make the playoffs and we're trying to figure out what we need to do to play at a higher level." Rupert also took some tough measures on Shasta (9-4 GVC, 11-14). "After the Feather River series, we analyzed what our problem was," Rupert said. "One that jumps out is our strikeouts. We weren't buying into the philosophy of being a good two-strike hitter." So now there are rules in place. If a player strikes out looking, he later runs a mile. After the team's third strikeout in a game, every one after that means the team runs a mile. The same rule applies to pitchers. After the third walk is allowed in a game, the next walk and everyone after means a mile run. "We struck out 11 times in a game against Feather River," Rupert said. "I emphasized to the team that could have been 11 times that we put the ball in play and gives ourselves a chance. Maybe the ball goes through for a hit or the other team commits an error." Of course, not all the changes have to do with the new rules. Changes were made in pitching, most notably bringing freshman Shane Cadaret (2-0, 1.52 ERA) from Foothill High School into the starting rotation. Cadaret is recovering from an elbow injury as a prep senior, so the Knights coaching staff was trying to bring him on slowly. Originally, he was the team's closer but Rupert said the Knights weren't in position to close out games. Freshman Zach Morgan (4-5, 4.11 ERA) also has improved as of late, giving Shasta a couple of reliable arms in the rotation. Some of the former starters were moved to the bullpen to shore that area up. Shasta has hit better led by sophomore shortstop Kurt Lee (.384, 17 RBI) and sophomore third baseman Jarod Robinette (.322, 21 RBI). Other players that have stepped up include Steven Candelaria (.300), first baseman Steve Bryant (five homers, 17 RBI) and Jake Savicki (16 RBI). Several bench players have also stepped up and come in with timely hits during the recent run. So now the question is how long the Knights can keep it going? After Saturday's home games, Shasta must go on the road for most of its remaining games.
SEVEN RUN NINTH
(3/25/09-Susanville) The Knights scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning for another comeback victory beating Lassen College 8-3. Shasta (9-3 GVC, 11-14 Overall) trailed 3-1 entering the ninth inning. The Knights put together a three run rally to take the lead and then finished off the Cougars with a Jake Savicki three run homer and a Steve Bryant solo shot. Zach Morgan went the distance for the win. The freshman scattered seven hits, struckout six Cougars and walked none. Bryant had a nice day at the plate going 2-4 with a double and a homer. Steve Candelaria also went 2-4 with a single and a double.
IMPROVE TO 8-4 IN GVC PLAY
(3/21/09-Shasta College-Games 2 & 3) The Knights swept the Corsairs to continue their torrid streak. The Knights won game one 8-7 & game two 10-9. The Knights are now 3-0 vs. College of the Redwoods this season. Shasta scored five runs in the eighth inning to rally for a win in the first game. Brandon Ottenwalter picked up the victory while Ben Mielke and Tyler Lake drove in runs. In the second game, Nolan Morgan got the win. Steve Bryant hit a three-run double, Jared Robinette went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Mitchell Barsotti hit a solo homer for Shasta (8-4 Golden Valley Conference, 10-14). (3/20/09-Shasta College-Game 1 of 3) Zach Morgan struck out six and scattered five hits and three runs as the Knights beat the Corsairs. Jake Savicki went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. Kurt Lee was 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored. Ben Mielke was 2-for-3 for Shasta (6-4 GVC, 8-14).
RALLY FROM 12 RUN DEFICIT TO WIN
(3/14/09-Shasta College-Jeffrey Jen) Talk about making a turnaround. The Shasta College baseball team overcome a 12-run deficit to shock rival Butte 14-13 in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. The Knights also won the first game 4-1, giving Shasta a sweep of the Roadrunners. After getting swept at home by Feather River last month, the Knights have won five of its past six, leaping back into the Golden Valley Conference race. The Knights have made more of a commitment to get the ball in play. "One of the big problems we've been having is we haven't been challenging other teams' hitters enough," Knights head coach Brad Rupert said. "We've been giving up too many walks. We want to make hitters put the ball in play more, cut down on those bases on balls." In the first game, Shane Cadaret and Brandon Ottenwalter combined to limit the Roadrunners (6-3 GVC, 15-8) to six hits. Cadaret got the win after going five innings, allowing three hits, three walks and one run. Ottenwalter then came in and pitched four scoreless innings of relief to pick up the save. Offensively, the Knights (5-4 GVC, 7-15) took advantage of four Butte errors to jump out to an early lead against Butte starter Jacob Lusty. "We talked about cutting down on our strikeouts," Rupert said. "We wanted to put the ball in play when we're at the plate, give us a chance to make something happen." Steven Candelaria had an RBI double in the first inning for a quick 1-0 Knights lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Jake Savicki got on because of a Butte error, stole second and came home on Steve Bryant's two-out RBI single. Cody McCary led off the next inning with a walk, advanced on a Butte error and came in on Ben Mielke's groundout to the shortstop. That made it 3-0 Shasta. Meanwhile, Cadaret avoided trouble against the Roadrunners lineup. The Foothill product got out of a jam in the second inning. Adam Brubaker, a freshman out of Fall River High School, hit a one-out double and Max Anderson added a single to put runners on second and third. But Cadaret induced Travis Beckley to pop out to second and then struck out Kevin Griffin to get out of the inning without any damage. In fact the only run Cadaret allowed was an RBI single in the top of the fifth by fellow Foothill product Jake Gill. Shasta got the run back in the bottom of the fifth when Jared Robinette hit an RBI single after Savicki got on because of another Butte error. Robinette and Bryant both went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Knights pounded out 11 hits in the game.Things did get dicey for Ottenwalter in the ninth inning. The sophomore loaded the bases on a couple of hits and a walk to Gill. However, the next Butte batter, Ryan Lauer, grounded up the middle. Knights second baseman Tyler Lake fielded the ball and stepped on second for a forceout, ending the game. "I don't want them to be pressing," Rupert said about his team. "I want them to have the mentality to go out and have fun." The second game nearly changed all the good vibes the Knights were feeling. The Roadrunners tagged Nolan Morgan for four runs in the first inning and kept going after that. After six innings, Butte was up 13-1 with the lone Shasta score coming on a solo homer by Bryant in the second inning. Then came the comeback. Mielke hit a three-run double to left to highlight a four-run seventh inning for Shasta. That was a prelude to the eighth inning. Mielke had another RBI single before Mitchell Barsotti hit a three-run triple to deep right field. Robinette added an RBI single with two outs and the bases loaded to cut Butte's lead to 13-10. That's when David Simmons stepped up to the plate and laced a two-run single to left. The throw home was late and Butte tried to get Cody McCary, who started the play on first, out at third base. But the throw went into left field and both McCary and Simmons scored to put Shasta up 14-13. Lee Bishop pitched a scoreless eighth to get the win and Bryce Mallory came on to deliver a 1-2-3 ninth for the save. Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
OUT HIT FRC BUT LOSE
(2/27/09-Shasta College) Going against one of the top teams in Northern California, the Knights couldn't afford to make many mistakes. That's just what walks, passed balls and errors are in baseball. The Shasta College baseball team opened Golden Valley Conference play with a 10-7 loss to Feather River at home on Friday. The second game of Friday's doubleheader was suspended due to darkness in the top of seventh with the Golden Eagles up 7-0. The two teams will compete the game at 11 a.m. today, then play another game. The Knights (2-11) outhit the Golden Eagles (12-2), ranked seventh in Northern California, 11-6. But, between starter Zach Morgan and reliever Nolan Morgan, the Knights had 10 walks and two hit batters. Toss in three errors and Shasta gave Feather River far too many baserunners and extra outs. The game was tied 2-2 entering the sixth, but then the Golden Eagles struck for four runs in the inning. Feather River added four more in the eighth to lead 10-3. However, Feather's own relieving issues allowed Shasta a shot at an extended rally. The Knights scored four times in the bottom of the ninth, including three successive walks with the bases loaded. But Eagles reliever Jeffrey Fisher-Gasper struck out Shasta pinch-hitter Jesse Harer to end the game. "This is starting to become a frustrating season," Knights head coach Brad Rupert said. "We show signs of playing well, then we have one or two innings where we self-destruct." Zach Morgan, normally a pitcher with solid control, was wild throughout his start. He allowed seven walks and two hits while striking out three over 5 2/3 innings. Morgan opened the game by walking Eagles leadoff hitter Niko Saladis. Eventually, David Leid drove Saladis in with an RBI single. Shasta seized the lead in the third inning with two runs. Kurt Lee had an RBI single and Jake Savicki followed things up with a double down the third-base line to drive in Lee. However, Morgan led off the fourth inning by walking Leid, who came around to score on a groundout by Andrew Lujan. The score remained tied 2-2 until the top of the sixth when Ryan Giacomini belted a 2-2 pitch from Morgan over the centerfield fence for a solo homer with one out. Two batters later, Morgan walked Lujan and was done. "He was off," Rupert said. "He was overthrowing a bit. A passed ball and a wild pitch moved Lujan into scoring position and Randy Cruz singled off Nolan Morgan to make it 4-2. Saladis had an RBI single and yet another run came on a passed ball. Shasta had a chance to get back into it in the bottom of the sixth. Steven Candelaria singled in a run and the Knights had runners on first-and-third with no outs, down 6-3. But Feather River starter Scott Greene included a foul out, a short flyout to center and a strikeout in order to deal with that threat. The wheels started coming off in the eighth. Nolan Morgan retired the first two batters, but then hit a batter, walked another one and watched one come in on an RBI double by Andy Quiring. A Shasta infield error scored another one and yet another one drove in two more." Nate Jackson hit a one-out double to start a ninth-inning rally for the Knights. Savicki singled in a run before Jared Robinette fouled out. With two outs, Steve Bryant, Mitchell Barsotti and Andrew Lish all drew bases-loaded walks. But the hole was too deep for Shasta to climb out of. "The lesson they need to learn from this is that the game is never over until it is," Rupert said. Among the bright spots was the play of sophomore centerfielder Savicki, who had been off to a rough start batting .167 entering the weekend. However, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.
OUT HIT FRC BUT LOSE
(2/27/09-Shasta College) Going against one of the top teams in Northern California, the Knights couldn't afford to make many mistakes. That's just what walks, passed balls and errors are in baseball. The Shasta College baseball team opened Golden Valley Conference play with a 10-7 loss to Feather River at home on Friday. The second game of Friday's doubleheader was suspended due to darkness in the top of seventh with the Golden Eagles up 7-0. The two teams will compete the game at 11 a.m. today, then play another game. The Knights (2-11) outhit the Golden Eagles (12-2), ranked seventh in Northern California, 11-6. But, between starter Zach Morgan and reliever Nolan Morgan, the Knights had 10 walks and two hit batters. Toss in three errors and Shasta gave Feather River far too many baserunners and extra outs. The game was tied 2-2 entering the sixth, but then the Golden Eagles struck for four runs in the inning. Feather River added four more in the eighth to lead 10-3. However, Feather's own relieving issues allowed Shasta a shot at an extended rally. The Knights scored four times in the bottom of the ninth, including three successive walks with the bases loaded. But Eagles reliever Jeffrey Fisher-Gasper struck out Shasta pinch-hitter Jesse Harer to end the game. "This is starting to become a frustrating season," Knights head coach Brad Rupert said. "We show signs of playing well, then we have one or two innings where we self-destruct." Zach Morgan, normally a pitcher with solid control, was wild throughout his start. He allowed seven walks and two hits while striking out three over 5 2<0x2044>3 innings. Morgan opened the game by walking Eagles leadoff hitter Niko Saladis. Eventually, David Leid drove Saladis in with an RBI single. Shasta seized the lead in the third inning with two runs. Kurt Lee had an RBI single and Jake Savicki followed things up with a double down the third-base line to drive in Lee. However, Morgan led off the fourth inning by walking Leid, who came around to score on a groundout by Andrew Lujan. The score remained tied 2-2 until the top of the sixth when Ryan Giacomini belted a 2-2 pitch from Morgan over the centerfield fence for a solo homer with one out. Two batters later, Morgan walked Lujan and was done. "He was off," Rupert said. "He was overthrowing a bit. A passed ball and a wild pitch moved Lujan into scoring position and Randy Cruz singled off Nolan Morgan to make it 4-2. Saladis had an RBI single and yet another run came on a passed ball. Shasta had a chance to get back into it in the bottom of the sixth. Steven Candelaria singled in a run and the Knights had runners on first-and-third with no outs, down 6-3. But Feather River starter Scott Greene included a foul out, a short flyout to center and a strikeout in order to deal with that threat. The wheels started coming off in the eighth. Nolan Morgan retired the first two batters, but then hit a batter, walked another one and watched one come in on an RBI double by Andy Quiring. A Shasta infield error scored another one and yet another one drove in two more." Nate Jackson hit a one-out double to start a ninth-inning rally for the Knights. Savicki singled in a run before Jared Robinette fouled out. With two outs, Steve Bryant, Mitchell Barsotti and Andrew Lish all drew bases-loaded walks. But the hole was too deep for Shasta to climb out of. "The lesson they need to learn from this is that the game is never over until it is," Rupert said. Among the bright spots was the play of sophomore centerfielder Savicki, who had been off to a rough start batting .167 entering the weekend. However, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.
“There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The problem once baseball season starts; I change the order around a bit.”
Al Gallagher
Not just teaching the game of baseball, but teaching the game of life is the philosophy Coach Brad Rupert has followed for the last 12 years at Shasta College. “I teach the game to the best of my capabilities, but I also believe I have a responsibility to teach the game of life. You read in the paper every day about all the bad in the world. I think being around young adults during their time at Shasta College, you can have a positive influence on their decision making process as they become men. I want my guys to play baseball as long as possible, get a degree, get a job they love, find a wife, and enjoy fatherhood.” Over the years, there have been many success stories from the Shasta College Athletic department. When asked about them, Coach Rupert replied: “There have been a lot of kids that have gone on to play college baseball, join the military, or acquire a trade and are living a good life. One in particular stands out. Jay Johnson, from Oroville High School, played 2nd base for our 1998 play-off team. He is a kid that had to work his butt off to succeed at this game, but that hard work eventually landed him at Point Loma Nazarene University, where he was the starting 2nd baseman for two years. In 2005, he became Point Loma’s head coach. Jay is now an assistant coach at the University of San Diego. Jay is someone who had a plan when he first came into my office and it has been fun to watch him execute his plan pitch by pitch.”
2008 saw Kyle Masteller and Kyle Pfeiffer go to Div. II San Francisco State University. Nate Wallen is attending Central Washington University and Matt Lewis is at Div. I, University of California at Davis. Also in 2008, Corry Fredenburg joined the armed forces and qualified for Special Forces training.
This 2009 season brings some changes for Shasta College Baseball. Former player and Coach Pete Troyer accepted a coaching job at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. “Pete will be missed. He is truly a great coach and a good friend.” Rupert said. Former Knight and pitching Coach Evan White is still chasing his dream of playing professional baseball. “Evan gets to pitch in front of family and friends after being traded from Yuma to Chico in the off -season. I hope the best for Evan. He has a gift and I hope he catches a break and fulfills his dream,” Rupert said.
2009 welcomes Frank Bowne, who will be the pitching coach for the Knights. A Chico State graduate who pitched for the Cats, Bowne also coached Chico American Legion and was a long-time coach for Modesto Junior College. “Coach Bowne has contributed so much in such a short time,” said Rupert. Coach Bowne said this year’s pitchers are very talented and have worked very hard to improve their mechanics. However, they are still learning how to pitch at the college level. “One of the most important parts of having success is your ability to handle failure and concentrate on one pitch at a time,” Bowne said. The Knights will also have Ryan Baley coaching. “Ryan is an up-and-coming coach who will coach 1st base and help in all areas of the defensive side of the game,” Rupert said. Baley is a graduate of Tulelake High School, where he had a very successful baseball career. He led his team to two Evergreen League Championships, four consecutive playoff appearances, and won a Division IV North Section Championship his senior year. He was named the Evergreen League MVP his junior and senior year, and was named the Division IV MVP his senior year, he was first team all section all four years of his varsity baseball career. After graduating high school, he continued his baseball career with the Knights. He looks forward to this season and feels very privileged to be given this opportunity at such a young age.
Here is a look at the 2009 Shasta College Knights by position: Catching - Shasta College has been fortunate over the years to develop some of the best catching in Northern California . This year’s group brings in highly recruited Simon Villalvazo (Red Bluff). Simon will get the majority of innings behind the plate. “Simon is getting better at blocking and receiving the baseball. He already posses good arm strength. He is working hard to shorten his swing, which will make him the complete player some day,” said Rupert. Cody McCary (Anderson) was asked to move from 3rd base to catcher this fall. This big, 6’2, 245-pounder is still learning the position but posses a lot of power at the plate. “Once Cody gets the blocking and receiving down, his playing time will increase. It will be hard to keep that power out of the line-up,” explained Rupert.
Infield - 1st base should provide plenty of excitement for the Knights. Sophomore Brandon Ottenwalter (Maxwell), .267 10 RBI, 1-0 2.20 Era. This two-way player was hitting the ball very well before an arm injury caused him to miss a lot of playing time. “ Brandon is a good line-drive hitter who also seems to get outs on the mound. He will be an important part of this year’s success both offensively and on the mound,” said Rupert. Steve Bryant ( Glenwood , Illinois ) returns after injuring his knee in game four of the 2008 season. Steve is back after getting a medical redshirt. “This big 6’2, 235-lb young man has the ability to pull the ball with authority and drive the ball the other way when he needs to. His balance and eye-hand coordination make him very hard to pitch to. He is here to drive the baseball and let the other guys run around the bases. David Simmons (Pleasant Valley, Chico). This lone freshman at 1st will provide defense and the ability to hit from both sides of the plate. “David is a great student in the classroom and on the baseball field as well. Once this kid fills his 6’3 frame and gets stronger he will be a very good college baseball player,” said Rupert. 2nd base will have Tyler Lake (North Medford, Oregon) and Josh Surgeon (Crater, Oregon ) Lake played shortstop last year after Justin Sebesma had knee surgery. Lake was moved to 2nd base in the fall. “Tyler is always the first in the cage and has improved his swing tremendously,” explained Rupert. Freshman Josh Surgeon brings a little bit more power at the 2nd base position. “Josh can hit when he shows discipline at the plate. Once he commands the strike zone Josh will get a lot of extra base hits and drive in runs,” said Rupert. Playing Shortstop for the Knights will be Kurt Lee (Enterprise) “Kurt has speed, good throwing accuracy, and a quick bat. I fully expect this young man to have a great year and a bright future in College Baseball. He is one kid I am rooting for everyday. He has earned it,” said Rupert. At 3rd base there is a fierce battle for playing time. Sophomore Steven Candelaria (Piedra Vista, New Mexico) has experience and has worked very hard to improve his quickness. Candelaria has showed power at the plate at times. Jarod Robinette (Eagle, Idaho) a converted shortstop, has good range and good baseball instincts. Mitchell Barsotti (Maxwell) is the most athletic of the three. Barsotti has good gap-to-gap power and can really run. He is working very hard on his defense. “All three guys bring something different to the team. If all three are playing well that will make our team that much better,” said Rupert.
Outfield - Speed, power, arm strength and depth are all words to describe the Shasta College outfield. Third-year sophomore Ben Mielke (Arcada) will play left and hit toward the top of the order. “Ben is a guy that reminds me why I am in the coaching profession. I was very concerned when Ben first came to Shasta. He was not on the right track for success. He has improved his grades and is always playing hard. He provides a lot of excitement and enthusiasm every day during games and practice. I wish I had more of this kind of kid,” said Rupert. Sophomore Jake Savicki (Calvary Christian) has firmly planted his spikes in center field. With his speed, power, and arm strength, Savicki is one the most exciting players Shasta College has ever had. “Once this kid finds consistency in his game he has the ability to dominate on the baseball field,” Rupert said.
Andrew Lish (Red Bluff) redshirted last spring and used that time to practice every day on his game. “Andrew will do anything that is asked of him. He is a team guy. He gets the concept that it is not about the individual. He will always have my respect for that,” said Rupert. Nate Jackson (Sisters, Oregon) is a left-handed hitting outfielder with speed, strength, and a nice short swing. “Nate needs to play as much baseball as possible. Repetition will help this young man become a very good college baseball player,” Rupert said. Tommy Steele (Chico) has been in the program for three years. Steele works very hard in the classroom and on the baseball field. He will come off the bench and provide speed on the bases when called upon.
Pitching - With only two pitchers returning with college experience, the Knights will go through some growing pains. “We have a very tough pre-season schedule. I want to expose all our players, especially the pitchers, to the best players Junior College baseball has to offer. I firmly believe this will help them in conference and prepare them for the next level,” explained Rupert. John Greene (Anderson) is the veteran of the staff. Greene had some good outings out of the bull-pen last year, including a big start against Cosumnes River College in which he got the win. Greene also pitched very well in Alaska last summer and should compete for a starting role or be a valuable part of our bull-pen. Brandon Koch (Red Bluff) transferred from the University of Pacific. This right-hander will be one of the Knights’ starters in ‘09. “Brandon has an arsenal of nasty pitches. A good breaking ball, a change-up, and a fork ball that drops off the table. Once he straightens out his mechanics, this kid will be a good college pitcher,” said Bowne. Zach Morgan (Grants Pass, Oregon) is the son of a legendary, long-time coach at Grants Pass High School Stacy Morgan. Morgan has been groomed to be a ball player all his life. With an above average fast ball and curve ball, along with a plus change-up, Morgan will be the number one starter for the Knights and could go down as one of the best pitchers Shasta College has seen in a long time. Bryce Mallory (Weed). This right-hander will be asked to come out of the bull-pen for the Knights. “Bryce throws strikes and has the ability to get the opposing hitter to get on their front foot and induce a lot of ground balls and weak pop-ups,” said Bowne. Shane Cadaret (Foothill) is the son of former big-leaguer Greg Cadaret and was the Knights’ most prized recruit. “Shane has been exposed to a high level of baseball his entire life. He has the make-up and arm strength along with some good arm side sink. This makes him devastating to right-handed batters. This kid will play college baseball and possibly have a pro-career if he continues to develop,” said Rupert. Ben Severe (Durham) will compete for a starting job in 09. Arm injuries have slowed his development. “To me Ben is the key guy to our pitching staff. His composure, command, and will-to-win are much needed. We have not seen his capabilities yet. Once he is 100 percent, physically, we will have a very deep pitching staff,” explained Rupert. Jesse Harer (Modoc) Jesse is the Knights’ only left-handed pitcher. He has not been able to pitch because of an arm injury suffered last fall. “Jesse is a big strong kid. I can’t wait to start working with him. We will slowly bring him along,” said Bowne. Lee Bishop (Wheatland) this side-slinger gives you a different look out of the bull-pen. Once Lee has command of the strike zone and develops his slider, he will see a lot off innings out of the bull-pen. Nolan Morgan (Grants Pass, Oregon) After taking three years off, Nolan is now pursuing his other love. This big 6’5, right-hander will be one of the Knights’ starters this year. “I love being around this guy. He keeps getting better every time he pitches. Once we start league, he should be dialed in. His fastball is in the mid 80’s to go along with a secret pitch we call ‘the dark one’ that misses bats when it is on,” said Bowne.
A note from Coach Rupert: The 2009 season will bring 27 men together to play the greatest game of all. This game brings out every emotion imaginable and, at the end, no matter how many wins and loses we endure, the honor of being a part of a team and getting the opportunity to compete will be a moment in their lives that they will cherish forever. On behalf of my coaches and all the players, I would like to thank all the supportive people in the community, the parents, and the support staff at Shasta College for helping us create a positive environment for the 2009 Knights. So, please, come out and enjoy the blue sky and the green grass. We will provide the entertainment. “There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The problem once baseball season starts; I change the order around a bit.” Not just teaching the game of baseball, but teaching the game of life is the philosophy Coach Brad Rupert has followed for the last 12 years at Shasta College. “I teach the game to the best of my capabilities, but I also believe I have a responsibility to teach the game of life. You read in the paper every day about all the bad in the world. I think being around young adults during their time at Shasta College, you can have a positive influence on their decision making process as they become men. I want my guys to play baseball as long as possible, get a degree, get a job they love, find a wife, and enjoy fatherhood.” Over the years, there have been many success stories from the Shasta College Athletic department. When asked about them, Coach Rupert replied: “There have been a lot of kids that have gone on to play college baseball, join the military, or acquire a trade and are living a good life. One in particular stands out. Jay Johnson, from Oroville High School, played 2nd base for our 1998 play-off team. He is a kid that had to work his butt off to succeed at this game, but that hard work eventually landed him at Point Loma Nazarene University, where he was the starting 2nd baseman for two years. In 2005, he became Point Loma’s head coach. Jay is now an assistant coach at the University of San Diego. Jay is someone who had a plan when he first came into my office and it has been fun to watch him execute his plan pitch by pitch.” 2008 saw Kyle Masteller and Kyle Pfeiffer go to Div. II San Francisco State University. Nate Wallen is attending Central Washington University and Matt Lewis is at Div. I, University of California at Davis. Also in 2008, Corry Fredenburg joined the armed forces and qualified for Special Forces training. This 2009 season brings some changes for Shasta College Baseball. Former player and Coach Pete Troyer accepted a coaching job at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. “Pete will be missed. He is truly a great coach and a good friend.” Rupert said. Former Knight and pitching Coach Evan White is still chasing his dream of playing professional baseball. “Evan gets to pitch in front of family and friends after being traded from Yuma to Chico in the off -season. I hope the best for Evan. He has a gift and I hope he catches a break and fulfills his dream,” Rupert said. 2009 welcomes Frank Bowne, who will be the pitching coach for the Knights. A Chico State graduate who pitched for the Cats, Bowne also coached Chico American Legion and was a long-time coach for Modesto Junior College. “Coach Bowne has contributed so much in such a short time,” said Rupert. Coach Bowne said this year’s pitchers are very talented and have worked very hard to improve their mechanics. However, they are still learning how to pitch at the college level. “One of the most important parts of having success is your ability to handle failure and concentrate on one pitch at a time,” Bowne said. The Knights will also have Ryan Baley coaching. “Ryan is an up-and-coming coach who will coach 1st base and help in all areas of the defensive side of the game,” Rupert said. Baley is a graduate of Tulelake High School, where he had a very successful baseball career. He led his team to two Evergreen League Championships, four consecutive playoff appearances, and won a Division IV North Section Championship his senior year. He was named the Evergreen League MVP his junior and senior year, and was named the Division IV MVP his senior year, he was first team all section all four years of his varsity baseball career. After graduating high school, he continued his baseball career with the Knights. He looks forward to this season and feels very privileged to be given this opportunity at such a young age. Here is a look at the 2009 Shasta College Knights by position: Catching - Shasta College has been fortunate over the years to develop some of the best catching in Northern California . This year’s group brings in highly recruited Simon Villalvazo (Red Bluff). Simon will get the majority of innings behind the plate. “Simon is getting better at blocking and receiving the baseball. He already posses good arm strength. He is working hard to shorten his swing, which will make him the complete player some day,” said Rupert. Cody McCary (Anderson) was asked to move from 3rd base to catcher this fall. This big, 6’2, 245-pounder is still learning the position but posses a lot of power at the plate. “Once Cody gets the blocking and receiving down, his playing time will increase. It will be hard to keep that power out of the line-up,” explained Rupert. Infield - 1st base should provide plenty of excitement for the Knights. Sophomore Brandon Ottenwalter (Maxwell), .267 10 RBI, 1-0 2.20 Era. This two-way player was hitting the ball very well before an arm injury caused him to miss a lot of playing time. “ Brandon is a good line-drive hitter who also seems to get outs on the mound. He will be an important part of this year’s success both offensively and on the mound,” said Rupert. Steve Bryant ( Glenwood , Illinois ) returns after injuring his knee in game four of the 2008 season. Steve is back after getting a medical redshirt. “This big 6’2, 235-lb young man has the ability to pull the ball with authority and drive the ball the other way when he needs to. His balance and eye-hand coordination make him very hard to pitch to. He is here to drive the baseball and let the other guys run around the bases. David Simmons (Pleasant Valley, Chico). This lone freshman at 1st will provide defense and the ability to hit from both sides of the plate. “David is a great student in the classroom and on the baseball field as well. Once this kid fills his 6’3 frame and gets stronger he will be a very good college baseball player,” said Rupert. 2nd base will have Tyler Lake (North Medford, Oregon) and Josh Surgeon (Crater, Oregon ) Lake played shortstop last year after Justin Sebesma had knee surgery. Lake was moved to 2nd base in the fall. “Tyler is always the first in the cage and has improved his swing tremendously,” explained Rupert. Freshman Josh Surgeon brings a little bit more power at the 2nd base position. “Josh can hit when he shows discipline at the plate. Once he commands the strike zone Josh will get a lot of extra base hits and drive in runs,” said Rupert. Playing Shortstop for the Knights will be Kurt Lee (Enterprise) “Kurt has speed, good throwing accuracy, and a quick bat. I fully expect this young man to have a great year and a bright future in College Baseball. He is one kid I am rooting for everyday. He has earned it,” said Rupert. At 3rd base there is a fierce battle for playing time. Sophomore Steven Candelaria (Piedra Vista, New Mexico) has experience and has worked very hard to improve his quickness. Candelaria has showed power at the plate at times. Jarod Robinette (Eagle, Idaho) a converted shortstop, has good range and good baseball instincts. Mitchell Barsotti (Maxwell) is the most athletic of the three. Barsotti has good gap-to-gap power and can really run. He is working very hard on his defense. “All three guys bring something different to the team. If all three are playing well that will make our team that much better,” said Rupert. Outfield - Speed, power, arm strength and depth are all words to describe the Shasta College outfield. Third-year sophomore Ben Mielke (Arcada) will play left and hit toward the top of the order. “Ben is a guy that reminds me why I am in the coaching profession. I was very concerned when Ben first came to Shasta. He was not on the right track for success. He has improved his grades and is always playing hard. He provides a lot of excitement and enthusiasm every day during games and practice. I wish I had more of this kind of kid,” said Rupert. Sophomore Jake Savicki (Calvary Christian) has firmly planted his spikes in center field. With his speed, power, and arm strength, Savicki is one the most exciting players Shasta College has ever had. “Once this kid finds consistency in his game he has the ability to dominate on the baseball field,” Rupert said. Andrew Lish (Red Bluff) redshirted last spring and used that time to practice every day on his game. “Andrew will do anything that is asked of him. He is a team guy. He gets the concept that it is not about the individual. He will always have my respect for that,” said Rupert. Nate Jackson (Sisters, Oregon) is a left-handed hitting outfielder with speed, strength, and a nice short swing. “Nate needs to play as much baseball as possible. Repetition will help this young man become a very good college baseball player,” Rupert said. Tommy Steele (Chico) has been in the program for three years. Steele works very hard in the classroom and on the baseball field. He will come off the bench and provide speed on the bases when called upon. Pitching - With only two pitchers returning with college experience, the Knights will go through some growing pains. “We have a very tough pre-season schedule. I want to expose all our players, especially the pitchers, to the best players Junior College baseball has to offer. I firmly believe this will help them in conference and prepare them for the next level,” explained Rupert. John Greene (Anderson) is the veteran of the staff. Greene had some good outings out of the bull-pen last year, including a big start against Cosumnes River College in which he got the win. Greene also pitched very well in Alaska last summer and should compete for a starting role or be a valuable part of our bull-pen. Brandon Koch (Red Bluff) transferred from the University of Pacific. This right-hander will be one of the Knights’ starters in ‘09. “Brandon has an arsenal of nasty pitches. A good breaking ball, a change-up, and a fork ball that drops off the table. Once he straightens out his mechanics, this kid will be a good college pitcher,” said Bowne. Zach Morgan (Grants Pass, Oregon) is the son of a legendary, long-time coach at Grants Pass High School Stacy Morgan. Morgan has been groomed to be a ball player all his life. With an above average fast ball and curve ball, along with a plus change-up, Morgan will be the number one starter for the Knights and could go down as one of the best pitchers Shasta College has seen in a long time. Bryce Mallory (Weed). This right-hander will be asked to come out of the bull-pen for the Knights. “Bryce throws strikes and has the ability to get the opposing hitter to get on their front foot and induce a lot of ground balls and weak pop-ups,” said Bowne. Shane Cadaret (Foothill) is the son of former big-leaguer Greg Cadaret and was the Knights’ most prized recruit. “Shane has been exposed to a high level of baseball his entire life. He has the make-up and arm strength along with some good arm side sink. This makes him devastating to right-handed batters. This kid will play college baseball and possibly have a pro-career if he continues to develop,” said Rupert. Ben Severe (Durham) will compete for a starting job in 09. Arm injuries have slowed his development. “To me Ben is the key guy to our pitching staff. His composure, command, and will-to-win are much needed. We have not seen his capabilities yet. Once he is 100 percent, physically, we will have a very deep pitching staff,” explained Rupert. Jesse Harer (Modoc) Jesse is the Knights’ only left-handed pitcher. He has not been able to pitch because of an arm injury suffered last fall. “Jesse is a big strong kid. I can’t wait to start working with him. We will slowly bring him along,” said Bowne. Lee Bishop (Wheatland) this side-slinger gives you a different look out of the bull-pen. Once Lee has command of the strike zone and develops his slider, he will see a lot off innings out of the bull-pen. Nolan Morgan (Grants Pass, Oregon) After taking three years off, Nolan is now pursuing his other love. This big 6’5, right-hander will be one of the Knights’ starters this year. “I love being around this guy. He keeps getting better every time he pitches. Once we start league, he should be dialed in. His fastball is in the mid 80’s to go along with a secret pitch we call ‘the dark one’ that misses bats when it is on,” said Bowne. A note from Coach Rupert: The 2009 season will bring 27 men together to play the greatest game of all. This game brings out every emotion imaginable and, at the end, no matter how many wins and loses we endure, the honor of being a part of a team and getting the opportunity to compete will be a moment in their lives that they will cherish forever. On behalf of my coaches and all the players, I would like to thank all the supportive people in the community, the parents, and the support staff at Shasta College for helping us create a positive environment for the 2009 Knights. So, please, come out and enjoy the blue sky and the green grass. We will provide the entertainment.
BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR 2009
(1/26/09-Jeffrey Jen) At first glance, the Knights baseball team appears to be young with a lot of holes to fill. But Brad Rupert thinks he has a mature squad. "On paper, we look like we have a young team with a lot of freshmen," said Rupert, who is entering his ninth year leading the Shasta College baseball program. "But we're not. We have some guys who went elsewhere and redshirted and now they've come back." Rupert will get a chance to see how his revamped Knights baseball team looks when Shasta hosts Cosumnes River at 2 p.m. Tuesday for its season opener. There are plenty of new faces dotting the Shasta College roster that lost most of its pitching and hitting from an 18-22 season in 2008, including a fourth-place 13-12 finish in the Golden Valley Conference. Shasta started 2008 poorly before rebounding to fight for a possible playoff berth once GVC play rolled around. But injuries caused a late slump to doom those chances. "We haven't been there in a few years and I'd like to get back," Rupert said about the playoffs. "I have a good feeling about this group." The top returnee is sophomore centerfielder Jake Savicki who hit .305 with two homers and led Shasta with 30 RBI and 10 stolen bases last season. "We need him to have a big year," Rupert said. "He's the most athletic kid I've had here at Shasta and he's going to be filling the No. 3 slot for us in the batting order." Another sophomore, Ben Mielke, is in left field. The right field spot will be competed for by redshirt freshman Andrew Lish out of Red Bluff, sophomore Zach Gibbins, who played at Simpson University last season, and freshman Nate Jackson from Oregon. Steven Candelaria never blossomed at third base last year, struggling to a .213 average with nine RBI. Rupert expects him to be much improved. He'll also be pushed by Jarod Robinette, a transfer from Treasure Valley JC in Idaho, and freshman Mitchell Barsotti out of Maxwell. Over at first base, the top candidates are sophomore Brandon Ottenwalter (.267, 10 RBI) and Steven Bryant, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder who suffered a knee injury early in 2008. Freshman Josh Surgeon out of Crater, Ore., has impressed with surprising power for a second baseman. Rupert is considering him for the cleanup spot. Surgeon will be backed up by sophomore Tyler Lake. Kurt Lee, an Enterprise product who hit .288 at Lassen College last year, returns to Redding and is penciled in as the starting day shortstop. Lee and Mielke are expected to provide top-of-the-order speed to the Knights lineup. Freshman Simon Villalvazo out of Red Bluff is the top candidate at catcher. Rupert likes depth at catcher so redshirt freshman Cody McCary from Anderson and Gibbins are also in the mix at backstop. Rupert is high on several arms on the Shasta rotation this year. "In the past, we've had one or two real good pitchers and then it drops off dramatically after that," Rupert said. "This year, we could have as many as six guys who could be legitimate starters." Tuesday's likely starter is freshman Zach Morgan, a coach's son from Grants Pass, Ore. Brandon Koch, a Red Bluff product who went to the University of the Pacific and then Feather River last season, is in line to be the No. 2 starter. Nolan Morgan, another Grants Pass product, went on a Christian mission for three years so his freshman status is misleading. The 21-year-old is expected to battle for the No. 3 starting spot with sophomore John Greene (1-1, 6.94 ERA). Greene and Ottenwalter (1-0, 2.20 ERA) will be key pitchers from the bullpen along with Bryce Mallory, a redshirt at Siskiyous last season. The two X-factors on the pitching staff is freshman Shane Cadaret out of Foothill High School and Ben Severe from Durham. Cadaret battled an elbow injury last season, so Rupert and his staff is being careful with him. He's start the season as Shasta's closer. But if his arm holds up, he could break into the starting rotation. Severe was a possible No. 1 starter for Shasta in 2008 before shoulder injuries sidelined him for the season. Like Cadaret, he will be brought along slowly but has the stuff to be a starter as well. Rupert doesn't go for easy scheduling and 2009 is no different. Cosumnes River is a tough foe who is ranked 25th in the state in a preseason poll by the American Baseball Coaches Association and ninth in Northern California by the state poll.