Lisa Hosboyar/Daily Titan
The baseball team held a free youth clinic Nov. 19 at Goodwin Field. Boys from ages 13 and under attended with their family for a fun day of baseball and food. Baseball fans were later treated to an intrasquad scrimmage featuring the 2012 Titan team.
The clinic started at 9:30 a.m. as the Titans instructed their youngest fans on all aspects of the game. Kids showed up in baseball attire with their own hats, cleats and gloves for the workout. The four-time national champions gave lessons on hitting, fielding, pitching and more. Current players on the roster and coaches were available to the youth until 11 a.m.
Over 100 boys showed up to get lessons from the champions. After the clinic the Titans were happy to sign autographs on baseballs, team posters, T-shirts and more for the kids who were excited to get to interact with their favorite players. Families were also thankful for the opportunity for their kids to learn from college students, as they snapped photographs.
Families then enjoyed hot dogs and snacks with their kids as the Titans warmed up for their final scrimmage of the official workout period. The workout period began Oct. 7 and included a two-game fall series sweep of the 2011 College World Series qualifying Vanderbilt Commodores.
Carlos Lopez’s “Tricky Rickys” squad defeated Matt Orloff’s “Niners” 4-1 in the intrasquad scrimmage. The two juniors picked the teams for the workout. It began as Koby Gauna took the loss as he extended into an unexpected third inning of work in the bottom of the ninth. Freshman Matt Chapman singled to lead off the frame for the Tricky Rickys trailing 1-0, and then scooted to third on an executed hit. Velazquez tied it with a soft liner to left for the third straight single. Gauna ended his outing by hitting junior Anthony Hutting to load the bases.
Sophomore Chad Wallach stepped in against reliever Michael Lorenzen and singled to left on the right-hander’s first offering for the game winner. The game continued in the bottom of the ninth, allowing all four of Gauna’s base runners to score since it was only a scrimmage. Keegan Dale had a run-scoring groundout, according to FullertonTitans.com.
The Niners did not have a hit through the first three innings but made points in the top of the fourth inning. Austin Kingsolver had a triple to the right against starting pitcher Dylan Floro. Floro scattered three hits over four innings and battled the Niners’ Granhamm Wiest for the first third of the game and this tandem will likely be part of the starting rotation come this spring. Lopez and Chapman had two hits out of a total seven to lead the way for the Rickys. Lorenzen had two of the Niners six hits.
Head Coach Rick Vanderhook recently announced that 11 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period to have plans to become a Titan for the 2012-13 season.
Free schedule posters, sponsorship information and information on ticketing was on hand for the kids as well as their parents. Feb. 11 will be the next exhibition game against alumni at Goodwin Field. The first official game is at Florida Feb. 17.
For more information on tickets for the upcoming 2012 season, contact the CSUF Athletic Ticket office at (657) 278-CSUF or visit the “tickets” tab on FullertonTitans.com.