Seven Surf Dawgs named all-stars

July 17, 2006 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
San Diego Surf Dawgs News Release


SAN DIEGO - Last season, the Golden Baseball League commemorated its inaugural All-Star team but this year the concept will be pushed forward as the GBL will present the First Annual All-Star Game tomorrow night in Chico. The North, comprised of Chico, Reno and Yuma, will face off against the South, comprised of Fullerton, Long Beach, and your San Diego Surf Dawgs. Other festivities include a home run hitting contest featuring the Long Beach Armada's Jose Canseco among other big hitters of the GBL.

The Surf Dawgs had seven members voted to the team, three pitchers and four position players. Starting pitcher Justin Ottman, reliever E.J. Shanks, and closer Josh Rummonds will represent the pitching staff while outfielders Seth Pietsch and Scott Goodman, second baseman Adam Mandel, and catcher Nick Guerra will represent the Dawgs in the field.

Seth Pietsch (Grants Pass, Ore.) is leading the Golden Baseball League in hitting with a .371 average. He is second in the league with a .452 on base percentage and his 59 hits are fourth in the GBL. This is the second year that Pietsch has been named to the GBL All-Star team. Pietsch is one of five Surf Dawgs who have played in at least 40 of the 43 games thus far (41).

Second baseman Adam Mandel started off the season with a hot bat and has continued to hit the ball with great success. Mandel's .337 batting average stands him fifth in the GBL and his 60 hits place him third in the GBL. Earlier this season Mandel also hit his first professional home run and he currently leads the team with seven stolen bases.

Last season's Rookie of the Year Nick Guerra makes the South All-Star team as a catcher. Guerra's 28 RBI are second on the team and he has been hovering around a .300 average all season (currently at .293). The versatile Guerra has spent most of his time behind the plate helping develop the Surf Dawgs pitching staff but has also spent time at third and at first.

Outfielder Scott Goodman, who was also named to last year's All-Star team, is in the midst of another solid season with San Diego. Goodman leads the team in home runs (10), RBI (40), and walks (28). His 10 home runs have him tied for second in the GBL with Reno's Marcus Jensen and Chico's Mike Mallory. Even better, Goodman is hitting .313, which places him tenth in the league.

Justin Ottman has been the best starting pitcher for the San Diego Surf Dawgs in the first half of the season. He is currently 3-2 with a 4.10 ERA in eight starts. The left-hander has only had one bad outing and if you throw that out Ottman is 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA. He has only thrown fewer than six innings once in his eight starts this season.

Middle reliever E.J. Shanks has been Terry Kennedy's go to guy to bridge the gap between his starting pitchers and closer Josh Rummonds. Shanks, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2004, is 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA and is holding opposing hitters to a .240 batting average. He has given up six runs in 29 and 2/3 innings along with less than a hit an inning (25). His 18 appearances lead the staff.

Josh Rummonds has been arguably one of the best closers in the GBL during the first half. Rummonds hasn't blown a save opportunity, converting on all eight opportunities and posts a paltry 1.02 ERA. He has allowed less than one hit per inning (13 in 17 and 2/3 innings) and has only walked eight while striking out 22.

Surf Dawgs manager Terry Kennedy will manage the Southern team with Fullerton's Gary Templeton and Long Beach's Darrell Evans as coaches. Reno's Les Lancaster will manage the North team with Yuma's Benny Castillo and Chico's Mark Parent as coaches. The Home Run Derby, sponsored by Easton Bats, will begin at 6 p.m. with the game following at 7:05 p.m.



Golden Baseball League Stories from July 17, 2006


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