FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
FRESNO, Calif. – The temperatures have dropped and the leaves are changing colors, both signs that fall is upon us. With the changing of the seasons comes the beginning of fall practices for the Fresno State baseball team. Fall ball practices and scrimmages officially started on Oct. 2.
"We had a great first week of practice which included our first two scrimmages," said head coach Mike Batesole. "We have some very interesting battles for playing time in full swing. We have had several top 25 recruiting classes, but our 2009 class was our best. We have added to that an excellent 2010 class and don’t forget, we have a few veterans remaining from our 2008 National Championship team. This has made our scrimmages exciting as the battle to be in the opening day lineup has begun."
Last season the Bulldogs finished third in the WAC and went on to win their fourth consecutive WAC Tournament Title. The `Dogs earned their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, they were the fourth seed in the toughest regional in the country at UC Irvine. They faced UC Irvine and San Diego State.
With the loss to San Diego State and the season at an end, the Bulldogs said good bye to one of the most decorated senior classes in program history. In their four years at Fresno State, Gavin Hedstrom, Holden Sprague and Danny Grubbfinished each season at an NCAA Regional. They won four WAC League and Tournament Titles. The three seniors helped win the program’s first National Championship and left the program with an overall record of 162-108.
Fresno State also said good bye to one of the best third baseman to come through the program. Tom Mendonca rewrote the record books in his final year as a Bulldog. He was named an All-American by five different publications, named WAC Player of the Year and was drafted in the second round by the Texas Rangers.
The Bulldogs had four players earn first-team All-WAC honors. Muno, Sprague, Dusty Robinson and Mendonca were voted by the WAC coaches. Batesole has coached 27 first-team All-WAC players. Robinson became the latest No. 27 to earn All-American honors. He was named freshman All-American by four publications.
Fresno State had three players taken in the 2009 Major League Draft, Mendonca to the Rangers in the second round, Alan Ahmady to the Cardinals in the 11th round and Sprague to the Marlins in the 28th round. Batesole has had 64 former players move on to the next level.
The Bulldogs kick off the 2010 season in February.
