Posts Tagged ‘Pepperdine’

All-American Third Baseman ‘Chucks Bound

Monday, February 8th, 2010

(Wausau, WI)  -  High school All-American and Pepperdine third baseman Chris Amezquita has signed on for his first summer of Wisconsin Woodchucks baseball.  The La Mirada, California native, standing 6’2” 190 lbs, says he is “excited to be a part of the Woodchucks family and ready to have a great summer on the diamond. I will be sure to leave it all out on the field and [I am] very excited to have a great time with the ‘Chucks.”

  

“Amezquita is a great get for us, Aflac All-American, one season under Rick Vanderhook at UCLA; it says something about a kid when he transfers out of a place and they tell you good things about him,” said ‘Chucks skipper Guido Aspeitia.  “He’ll be athletic, solid, and fun to watch.”

  Amezquita, now a sophomore, played his first season of college ball with the UCLA Bruins.  Before transferring to Pepperdine University, Chris posted a .259 BA with an impressive .799 OPS in limited playing time with the Bruins.  Due to NCAA transfer regulations, Chris will be forced to sit out the 2010 season before taking the field with the Waves next year.     

 “It will be tough not to be able to play this season with my new team,” said Amezquita on sitting out this season.  “But I am committed to work even harder in what will be “my offseason.” I have worked really hard in our strength program waking up at 4:30 three times a week and [spending] countless hours on the field improving my game to get an upper hand on the 2010-11 season.”

  

As a junior at Servite High School, Chris earned AFLAC and Sporting News All-American honors in addition to breaking Ryan Garko’s school season record for doubles.  Before an injury-plagued senior campaign, Amezquita earned pre-season All-American honors from Louisville Slugger and Perfect Game.  Baseball America named him the 37th best prospect in the nation for the 2008 senior class.  Chris has also played for the Brewers, Dodgers, and Angels Elite teams, and competed for the Seattle Mariners scout team from 2006-08.

  

“Amezquita is a great defender who can play a variety of positions,” said Pepperdine head coach Steve Rodriguez.  “He can handle the bat very well, he can use all fields with power and we are excited to have him in our lineup next year.  He is a great kid with a solid attitude.”

  The Woodchucks 2010 home opener is on Thursday, June 3rd as they take on the Madison Mallards.  For group outing/ticket information contact the Woodchucks office at 715-845-5055 or visit the Woodchucks website at woodchucks.com.  

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Loggers Sign a Pair of College Teammates

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

LA CROSSE, WI – Brad Jesernig and Alex Najera will soon be spending a lot of time together as the La Crosse Loggers announced today the signing of the two pitchers out of Pepperdine University for the upcoming 2010 season.

Brad Jesernig (So. – Pepperdine) returns to Pepperdine University after posting a 6.94 ERA in seven relief apperances last season after being redshirted in his true freshman season. The 6-5 right handed hurler totaled 11 strikeouts and limited opposing batters to a .244 average while finishing 5 of the 7 games he appeared in.

Jesernig took some advice from this pitching coach at Pepperdine this past summer as he changed his delievery to a sidearm motion and actually added some heat to his fastball which was clocked at 92 mph. While pitching for the Saratoga Phillies of the New York Collegiate Baseball League this past summer, Jesernig, and his new sidearm motion, earned a 3.14 ERA in 15 appearances as a closer and held opposing batters to a .206 average. He was named to the all-league first team.

Along with Jesernig comes freshman left hander Alex Najera (Pepperdine) who will look to carry over his successful high school career to Pepperdine University this spring. Najera was a four-year letter winner at Canyon High School in Anaheim, California where he was named to the All-Century League team and received the school’s Comanche Award following his senior year where he posted an earned run average under 1.00 and hit .325.

Before joining the Loggers, the two hurlers will be trying to help the Waves of Pepperdine improve on their third place West Coast Conference finish of last year when the team finished 12-9 in conference play and 31-23 overall marking the teams 32nd straight 30-plus win season.

The 2010 Northwoods League schedule was released earlier this month which has the Loggers starting out the season with a home and home series against the Eau Claire Express with the first game being held at Copeland Park in La Crosse on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

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Stingers Sign First Players in Franchise History

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

(Willmar, MN) – The Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League have recently announced the signing of two Pepperdine University student athletes for the 2010 inaugural season. The Stingers have signed contracts with sophomore catcher Nate Johnson and freshman infielder Joe Sever (Sev-er).  Johnson and Sever mark the Stingers first two players in franchise history, and the remaining roster will be announced throughout the winter and spring. They will be joined by 28 other teammates as a Northwoods League franchise can carry 30 players with a 26-man active roster.  Johnson, a left-handed hitter from Camarillo, CA earned the role as a starter last season at Pepperdine and looks to make waves as a seasoned catcher this coming spring. As a freshman, he led all freshmen with five home runs during his rookie campaign and hit .242 and drove in 24 runs. Johnson is no stranger to summer collegiate baseball as he was named a Prospect League All-Star last summer for the Danville Dans, where he hit .256 in 43 games with 10 doubles, 24 runs, 4 home runs and 29 RBI.  Sever will also join the Stingers as a shortstop/2nd baseman. He is originally from San Jose, CA, where he was voted his high school Most Valuable Player following his senior year. He had a team leading .496 average with six home runs and 11 stolen bases. Sever is also the nephew of Super Bowl quarterback John Elway.  “Pepperdine has always had a very solid baseball program and have sent some of their best players into the league,” Stingers field manager Matt Hollod said. “Their players have had great success in the league and both of these guys will play a big role for us.”   The Stingers 2010 schedule will be released soon and will include a 70-game schedule in 75 days during the upcoming summer. Season tickets for the 2010 season are just $99 as a limited introductory rate.  Regular prices for season tickets are $149 for reserved seat backs and $169 for box seat season tickets. For more information regarding the roster and upcoming season, please call 320-222-2010 or visit www.WillmarStingers.com.

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