As part of a multi-year project to digitize Westmont Athletic records, Warrior men’s basketball rosters, athlete profiles, statistics, schedules and results reaching back to the early 1950s are now available online. Fans and alumni are able to access the men’s basketball history by visiting the Westmont Athletics web site.

The goal of the project, which was begun in the summer of 2005, is to preserve the Westmont Athletic archives in digital form and to make the archives available to Warrior fans. Westmont has a strong athletic tradition which is highly valued by today’s coaches, administrators and athletes. The purpose of the project is to honor that tradition and celebrate those who have made contributions to the Warrior legacy.

Westmont right-handed hurler Tim Crabbe was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the fourteenth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

“It’s exciting,” said Crabbe about the selection. “There are still a lot of questions. I have more years of (college) eligibility so I need to negotiate with the Reds tomorrow and over the weekend. I’ve got to look at every situation. I’ll talk it over with my parents and make a decision.”

After sitting out most of the 2008 season due to an injury, Crabbe struggled at the beginning of 2009 to get his form back. But as the season progressed, so did Crabbe’s performance on the mound. In the final start of his junior year, Crabbe turned in a complete game 4-2 victory against Azusa Pacific. The resident of Tucson, Arizona retired 19 consecutive batters while allowing one earned run on three hits.

With a fast ball consistently in the low to mid 90s, Crabbe attracted attention not only from the Reds, but also the Angles, Cardinals and Phillies. But it was the Reds that pulled the trigger with the 419th overall selection.

Westmont Athletic Director Dave Odell has announced the hiring of Robert Ruiz to serve as head coach of Westmont Baseball. Ruiz, who has served as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Azusa Pacific the past five years, is excited about the opportunity to lead the Warrior program.

“Westmont College is proven as a premier NAIA academic and athletic institution and it is an honor to join such a tradition,” said Ruiz.

Ruiz helped lead Azusa Pacific to some of its most successful years in program history. As hitting coach, Ruiz equipped the Cougars to post their best three-year totals in batting average (.344), hits (2,132), doubles (422), home runs (304), total bases (3,516), runs (1,653), RBIs (1,490) and slugging percentage (.567). Among Ruiz’ other duties at Azusa Pacific were infield coach, third base coach and recruiting coordinator.

About 200 people were treated to an inspiring message from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson on Sunday evening at Westmont Athletics Presidential Scholarship-Challenge dinner. The former NBA All-Star told stories from both his youth and his playing days and encouraged his audience to live lives of service to others.

The event, held at the Fess Parker DoubleTree Resort, is part of a two-day fundraiser whose purpose is to raise money for talented and deserving Westmont student-athletes. The event continues on Monday with a golf outing at Birnam Wood Country Club.

Johnson told participants of growing up in Sacramento, the son of a single mom. Raised with the help of his grandparents, Johnson recalled being awakened one night when he was six years old by his grandfather. After driving Johnson to the projects, his grandfather handed him a $20 bill, told him to go knock on the door of a particular apartment, and to give the money to the women who answered the door. The young Johnson did so and observed the tears of the women who received the money.

John Moore, head coach of Westmont Men’s Basketball, has announced the signing of Preston Branson of Dallas, Texas.

“Preston Branson is a winner,” said Moore. “Preston helped his team win a state championship with his ability to score at the basket and led his team through his tenacious competitive spirit. He is a left hander who has a scorer’s mentality and has a knack for getting into the crease of the defense and putting the ball through the net.”

Branson led Trinity Christian Academy of Addison to a state championship in Division V of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools playoffs. The 6-2 guard scored 37 points as TCA defeated Prestonwood Christian by a score of 64-50 in the title game. Branson posted a season average of 21.6 points while shooting 46.6% from the floor. He also averaged 3.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds.

A day after failing to complete a fair jump in the finals of the women’s long jump at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships, Kasey Kearin earned All-American honors with a fourth place finish in the triple jump.

“Kasey set a school record with a jump of 39’ 8.5” (12.10 meters),” said Westmont Head Coach Smelley, “All six of her jumps were in the Westmont all-time top-ten.”

Kearin’s jump was 22 inches better than her previous personal best.

[men’s results] [women’s results]

Eight Westmont Track and Field athletes competed on the first day of the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday in Edwardsville, Illinois with mixed results.

Lorin Milotta took the initial step in her quest to capture All-American honors by finishing first in the first heat of the 100 meter hurdles. Milotta’s time of 14.58 earned her a spot in tomorrow’s semifinals which will take place at 11:20 p.m. (PDT). The finals are scheduled for 2:25 p.m.

“Lorin had a slow start,” said Head Coach Russell Smelley, “but went away from the pack from hurdle seven on. She came prepared to compete at nationals.”

[men’s results] [women’s results]

Kevin Johnson, three-time NBA All-Star and mayor of Sacramento, will be the featured speaker at the 18th Annual Westmont Athletic President’s Scholarship Challenge. Johnson, who played 12 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, is one of only three NBA players to have averaged 20 or more points and 10 or more assists per game in three consecutive seasons. The others are Oscar Robertson and Isiah Thomas.

The two-day event begins on Sunday evening, May 31 with a dinner at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort featuring Johnson as the keynote speaker. On Monday, the President’s Scholarship Challenge participants will have an opportunity to show off their golf skills in a tournament on the fairways of the Birnam Wood Golf Course in Montecito.

The purpose of the President’s Scholarship Challenge is to raise crucial financial aid for talented and deserving Westmont student-athletes. For reservations or more information, please contact Jeff Azain by phone at 565-6107 or by email at jazain@westmont.edu.

In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Johnson has proven to be a remarkable community leader. A native of the Sacramento suburb of Oak Park, Johnson has helped to revitalize the inner-city community by serving as the founder and CEO of St. HOPE (Help our People Excel). Originally an after-school program aimed to help 12 young men, the program has grown to have a major economic and educational impact on the community.