February 3, 2011
Bulldog Baseball Ranked Fifth Headed into 2011 Season
After a successful 2010 season, the Allan Hancock College baseball team is starting off 2011 with their traditional tough schedule. The Bulldogs travel to Santa Ana College on Friday, Feb. 4 to play a two-game series against the Dons, ranked number one in the pre-season poll. Hancock is currently ranked fifth in the southern California Community College Baseball Coaches Association pre-season poll and 10th in the Pacific Division.
“We’re humbled and honored by our pre-season ranking, which is based on our performance last season” said Hancock head coach Chris Stevens.
Hancock finished their 2010 regular season with a 13-7 conference and 21-14 overall record. The Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the state playoffs, the Super Regional tournament, for the first time in 17 years.
Ten of the team’s players from that successful 2010 season are back, including five position player starters and four All-Conference selections.
“We have a good group of team leaders who have had the advantage of going through a pretty deep run into the playoffs,” Stevens said.
InfielderJ.P. Maestas (St. Joseph), a unanimous first team selection is one player to watch this season. Maestas had 35 hits and 22 runs in 2010. Also returning are second team All-Conference outfielder Chris Rivera (Righetti), who scored 22 runs last season and had eight stolen bases in ten attempts and All-Conference honorable mention Austin Nyman (Reno), who scored 26 runs last season with 14 RBI’s and nine stolen bases. Dalton Rouleau (Lompoc), a Gold Glove award winner at shortstop will also be returning this season and pitcher and second team All-Conference selection Cody Berryman (Lompoc ) is returning to the mound after a successful season with a 3-2 record and a 3.83 ERA.
The Bulldogs first home game will be held Friday Feb. 11 against Cañada College, followed by a doubleheader against San Francisco City College starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12.