Extreme Makeover

2008 Baseball Season Preview

That old baseball adage has never been more true than when spoken about the 2008 Westmont Warriors.  Of the 32 active players on this year’s roster, 18 are brand new to the program.  Deck was hired in December of 2006 to guide the Warrior Baseball program – too late to recruit for last season.  But he and his staff have worked tirelessly to put together a fine recruiting class this year.

"Across the board we are better," said head coach Scott Deck, "defensively, on the mound, at the plate.  It’s just a matter of putting those things together, staying healthy and playing at a higher level consistently"

"With so many new guys, it has been good to see how everyone has meshed together so quickly," said senior Anthony Martinez, an infielder and one of four team captains. "It didn’t take very much time at all to feel like one team.  We’ve come together as one unit really quick.  A lot of credit has to go to the coaches, making sure we are incorporating each other in everything we do, and to the players themselves, making an effort to be sure that it is one cohesive effort."

"We have a lot of new faces, but we have come together well and gelled as a team," agreed senior Cody Chapman, another team captain.  "I see this year being a big turnaround year.  We’ve had a couple of rough years in the past, but we have brought in a lot of talent, we have great team chemistry and I think this is the year that we start turning things around.  Coach Deck has done a really good job in recruiting guys and bringing us all together."

Since the beginning of school in September, the team has been hard at work to turn increased expectations into reality.

"This was definitely the most productive fall since I have been here," said Chapman. "Coach Deck pushed us all fall and it is definitely good to get that work.  In the past couple of years we might have been a step behind other teams coming into season.  I think this year we are definitely caught up and maybe even a step or two ahead of other teams."

"The expectation for us is to make the playoffs," said Deck.  "We haven’t done that since 1997.  The first step in getting to the next level is to compete for that playoff spot.  With limited numbers last year we were able to compete for the better part of most games.  Now we should be able to put it together, not leave pitchers out there for too long, make some adjustments and have a chance to win those games.  Instead of just lasting for five or six innings, now we can go into the ninth inning and have a chance to win."

As a source of inspiration and reminder, the team has taken on the motto, "Deserve to Win".

"I think it is fitting for where we are as a program," explained Deck. "We can’t be whining about what we don’t have, we need to go out and deserve to win. We are in this process of forming who we are.  Another one of our mottos is ‘Class, Character and Hustle’ which is on our practice plan every day.  If we are playing the game the right way and doing everything we can on the practice field, in the classroom and in the community, we are going to deserve to win and put ourselves in a position to win."

"It’s nice to see that in my senior year there is a really bright future," said Martinez. "It’s great to be a part of that change."

The leadership of the four team captains will be critical to that success.

"I want to be able to lead by example and help the other guys," said Martinez.  I want to be able to provide perspective from my experience and say, ‘this is what has happened in the past and we learned from it.  Let’s not let this happen again.  Let’s be able to move in this different direction.’"

"As a team captain, I want to be here for the new guys," said Chapman "Westmont is a strong academic school and can be a tough place to come into.  The guys need help outside of baseball and I just want to be there for the guys when they need someone to talk to – to be there on or off the field."

Pitchers

"We now have 14 pitchers on our pitching staff," said Deck.  "We had seven last year. As a whole, I think our pitching staff is very competitive.  We won’t have to leave a guy on the mound longer than he should be, like we have in the past.  We have a lot of options now."

One of those new options is junior right-hander Max Gutierrez, a transfer from Ventura College who serves as another of the team captains.

"Max will come in and be one of our main pitchers," said Deck. "He’s a big right-handed pitcher who throws very hard.  He is a competitor and has a very good mentality on the mound."

Returning to the bump for the Warriors is senior right-hander Jon White who posted a 7.31 ERA in 2007.  White led the team with 50 strikeouts while giving up only 27 walks in 60 innings of work.

"Jon is healthy and ready to go," reported Deck. "I can’t say enough about Whitey.  He’s a four-year guy with good academics.  His tough mental makeup and is ready to have a big year and get some wins."

Joining White and Gutierrez is senior Erik Gaustad who, though recruited as a pitcher, played at first base his first two seasons.  As a junior, Gaustad posted a 9.38 ERA in 47 innings of work.  As a hitter, Gaustad recorded a .313 batting average in 163 at bats and had 16 runs batted in.

"Erik has developed into one of our best pitchers," said Deck. "He has a ton of potential and has now had a full year to work on it.  Erik has a strong presence on the mound."

Sophomore Tim Crabbe, another right-hander, will also return to the mound for Westmont after notching a 3-5 record in his freshman season.  After posting a win against Pomona-Pitzer in his first collegiate game, Crabbe picked up two wins against The Master’s, both in relief. 

"From last year to this year, Crabbe has matured as a pitcher and has gotten stronger," said Deck. "Between Crabbe and Gutierrez, we’ve had scouts coming during the whole off-season.  He is turning into a really good pitcher and I think by Tim’s senior year he could be drafted."

Posting a team low 6.93 ERA in 2007, junior right-hander Kellen Skersies will look to help Westmont keep their opponents off the scoreboard.  Skersies is also a team captain.

"Kellen will be one of our main pitchers this year," noted Deck. "He probably has one of the best mental make-ups on the staff.  He is throwing harder and is very effective.  He will probably start a lot of games at our place because of the bigger outfield.  He frustrates batters by making them hit the ball straight up in the air."

Three freshmen right-handers could also provide the Warriors with some important innings - Keith Johnson out of Seaside, Chris Plance from Notre Dame High School and Kyle Noe of St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria.

"Chris gave up one earned run in the fall in about 20 innings of work," reported Deck. "He is going to be very good.  He is very aggressive and his ball is deceptive. Keith has been a pleasant surprise. I knew he was good, but he has been better than we expected.  Kyle is a middle relief guy with a good fast ball. We are also working Kyle at catcher.  He may be catching for us behind Luke."

Three southpaw returnees will help the Warriors mix up their look on the mound – seniors Brandon Downs and John Evans, and junior Jon Sakoda.  Downs led the team with 24 appearances in 2007 and posted an ERA of 8.35 in 50 2/3 innings of work.

"Brandon can spot his pitches very well.  He works in and out and gets a lot of ground balls," said Deck. "We have moved Jon Sakoda back to over the top.  He has the second best arm on our team.  He is starting to open it up.  He could have a really good year. We will use John Evans in middle relief.  He is a situational type guy."

New to the staff are left-handers Ian Lawler from DeWitt, Iowa and Matt Moore from Oaks Christian High School. 

"Ian is a big left-handed pitcher," reported Deck. "He has been working through an arm injury and is about 90%.  In a couple of years he is going to be very good.  Matt is someone we are developing. He will be used as a situational pitcher this year.  He has a funky release that throws batters off."

Expected to serve as the team’s closer this year is Matt Boujikian who will play in the infield.

Catchers

Sophomore Luke Montzingo will resume his duties behind the dish this year.  Montzingo hit .223 in his freshman season and had 12 runs batted in.  He also led the team with nine steals.

"Luke Montzingo is our starting catcher," said Deck. "He has improved both at the plate and behind the plate.  With the pitching staff we have, we are going to be able to hold runners closer and that is going to give him a better opportunity to throw people out.  Luke runs well and is a very good hitter.  He has a year under his belt in which he had 148 at bats as a freshman.  Luke is a leader with integrity and character which is what you need behind the plate."

Backing up Montzingo will be sophomore Ryan Haddock and freshman Ryan Peacock of La Mirada. 

"Both are hardworking players that will do whatever you ask," said Deck. "With all the work we have to do now with 14 pitchers, they will really help us out.  They are very good reserve catchers."

Infielders

Martinez, who drove in 16 runs during his junior year, will be a staple in the infield for the Warriors this year.

"Anthony will start the season playing at shortstop but will probably settle in at second base," said Deck.  "Anthony had a great fall. He hit about .470 and didn’t have an error in 12 games.  He’s a natural second baseman but we will need him at shortstop for a little while. Robert De Leon is a transfer from Ventura JC.  He can flat out hit and plays a very consistent shortstop.  He’s recovering from an injury but will be our starting shortstop when he returns."

Third base is expected to be manned by freshman Jordan Bottenfield out of Valencia High School.

"Jordan was our top recruit coming into this season and has lived up to every expectation," said Deck. "You’d be hard pressed to find a better freshman in the conference.  We haven’t had a third baseman who can field that ball like him since I played at Westmont.  He can hit and execute and he knows the game well. It’s exciting to have a guy like him for the next four years."

Also competing for a starting spot in the infield will be senior Philip Valle who hit .364 in 151 at bats last season and drove in 18 RBIs.  Aided by two home runs, a triple and six doubles, Valle posted a team best .457 slugging percentage and a .459 on base percentage.

"Philip is coming back off a great season but missed the whole fall after studying in Spain," said Deck. "Once we get him back in the swing of things he could play several positions – second base, first base or left field.  If he is swinging the bat like he did last year, he is going to be in the line up.  He should have another good year."

Junior David Stout and freshman Colten Christianson are among those who will compete for the starting position at first base.

"David is very good against right handed pitchers so he may get starts against right-handers.  He leads by example and has great character. Colton has a ton of potential.  He’s a lefty, has a great swing and knows the game.

"Mark Boujikian is from the College of the Sequoias," continued Deck. "He has a great arm and is a good fielder.  He will play first or second and could play at third as well.  He knows the game and is a leader.  He’s got a good bat with a lot of power and will hit in the middle of the order for us."

Rounding out the infielders is junior transfer Luke Yardy of Denair, California.

"Luke is a reserve infielder who can play any position but will play mainly at second and third," said Deck. "He’s scrappy and plays hard."

Outfielders

"The outfield is where we have the most depth," said Deck. "We had a really good outfield recruiting class."

The only returning outfielder is junior Derek Fugitt who posted a batting average of .271 last season while driving in 10 runs.

"Derek had a great fall with the highest batting average on the team around .490," reported Deck. "He played summer ball and got stronger.  Derek will compete for a starting position in left field."

Also tabbed as a potential starter in left is junior transfer Taylor Grace of Pueblo, Colorado. 

"Taylor Grace hit .340 for one of the best JC programs last year," noted Deck. "He could start at left field and is a potential leadoff or number three hitter. He works the count and makes contact well.  Taylor runs the bases well and is very good defensively."

Another potential starter is Brent Meschuk of Edison High School in Huntington Beach.

"Brent is going to be right in the mix for a starting spot in center or left," said Deck. "He runs very well and is a very good bunter.  He’s probably a guy we will use late in the game for defensive purposes because he can track down balls all over the place."

Likely to start in center field is Taylor Maddox from Hart High School in Santa Clarita.

"Taylor has lived up to all of our expectations," said Deck. "He was a starting centerfielder at Hart and he runs very well."

Freshman Terrell Wong of Burroughs High School in Burbank has been tabbed as the starting right fielder by Deck.

"Terrell has a cannon from the outfield," said Deck. "He runs extremely well, he’s a good defensive outfielder and he has good bat control."

Sophomore Charles Whitman and freshman Pete McCarthy will also take the field for the Warriors.

"Charles Whitman has a little bit of power in his bat," said Deck. "He can play right field or left field and can cover some ground.  He also has some speed. Pete is a first baseman and left fielder but is gravitating more to the outfield.  He’s a big freshman.  He can pinch hit and DH and he can play some outfield.  He has unbelievable power.  In three years, he could be hitting 10-15 homeruns."

Offense

The 2007 Warrior team recorded a .262 season batting average – a number in which Deck hopes to see a dramatic change.

"Our goal is to be at the .300 mark for team batting average," said Deck. "I want us to cut down strikeouts and put that ball in play.  If we do that, the team batting average will take care of itself."

Critical to meeting that goal will be Chapman who missed the first two-thirds of the season due to an injury but still ended up as Westmont’s batting average leader in 2007.

"Cody will be our designated hitter," said Deck. "In 15 games last years he hit .413.  He will probably hit in the three-hole for us."

"I can’t throw any more because of shoulder problems," said Chapman. "So I am hoping to come in and swing the bat as a designated hitter and pinch hit when they need me."

Deck, who values the small ball approach to the game, also hopes to see a dramatic increase on the base pads.  Last year, the Warriors stole only 24 bases.

"In terms of speed, the difference between last year and this year is night and day," said Deck. "We probably have six or seven guys with the potential to steal ten or more bases.  Speed makes a big difference and can help you win some baseball games."

Schedule

With the majority of the schedule taken up by conference games, the Warriors know that every game is critical. 

"Obviously, our league is about as good as it gets," said Deck. "Every game for us is our toughest game of the year and I love it.  Our guys are excited because we had a great off-season.  We were 12-0 in the off season.  They’re chomping at the bit to get going.

"Cal Baptist, Azusa, Point Loma and Biola are all going to be ranked high this year," continued Deck. "Fresno will be a surprise.  They have some guys from Lewis and Clark who transferred in and they are in good shape.  Fresno and Cal Baptist are opening new fields this year."

The Warriors non-conference season consists of two games with California Lutheran, two with UC Santa Barbara, one against Wesleyan (Conn.) and one against Occidental.  The anticipated season opening doubleheader with Cal State San Marcos was rained out and is not expected to be rescheduled.

"We have to play at our highest level every time out in order to win games," said Deck.  "If we can stay at a high level, we are going to have more success than last year and hopefully the following year we will win even more as winning becomes an expectation for the Warriors."