2008 Season Outlook
After a very successful 2007 season and a State Elite 8 appearance, the Wolverines will again set lofty goals. Sierra competes in the Powerful Big 8 Conference. The conference consists of eight perennial state playoff teams: American River, Cosumnes River, Diablo Valley, Modesto, Sacramento, San Joaquin Delta, Santa Rosa and Sierra. In 2007, five of the seven teams in the Big 7 Conference (prior to Modesto joining the conference in ‘08) made the playoffs. In the first round, ALL 5 teams won a best of three series and advanced to the Super Regional playoffs.
With only four of their nine starters returning, the coaching staff will seek leadership from their small number of sophomores on the 2008 team. The pitching staff will also be tested as only five of the 12 pitchers from the ’07 team will return. They will be led by 9 game winner and 1st team All Conference pitcher, Tyler Graham. Graham signed a National Letter of Intent out of high school to attend 2006 & 2007 College World Series Champion Oregon State University, but decided to return to Sierra College last spring. Graham was a workhorse down the stretch in ’07 and along with David Dinelli (6th Round Draft pick by the Houston Astros) carried the Wolverines to the Elite 8. Other sophomores who will be counted on to provide quality innings are Josh Crockett, Brian Garber and Cameron Ray. Incoming freshman expected to contribute are Jesse Garcia, Jeremy Cole, Seth Miller, Dustin Stoddard, Scott Tully, McKenzie White, Ben Zemmelman and red-shirt freshman Brandon DeLeo. Rounding out the pitching staff will be Mitch Holscher, Chris Johnson and Justin Buban.
Expected to lead the offense will be rightfielder Logan Lotti, who as a Freshman in 2007, hit .322 with 6 HR and 33 RBI before breaking his ankle during practice with 15 games remaining in the season. In the fall of 2007, Lotti signed a National Letter of Intent to play next season at two-time defending National Champion Oregon State University. Other proven hitters include returners, 1B Ryan Stevens, SS/2B Kyle Richardson, OF Brian Wright, Chris Cottingham and 2007 playoff surprise 3B Sky Valenzuela. Other sophomores with experience who should contribute in ’08 are outfielders Justin Mezzanares and Ryan Knox. Key freshman recruits are centerfielder Kyle Saukko (drafted in June by the Colorado Rockies), his high school teammate Derek Eid and two solid shortstops Keith Jennette and Lorenzo White. Red-shirt freshmen Alex Anicich and Tyler Dewitt (Drafted in June ’06 by the Cincinnati Reds) will compete for playing time. Behind the plate will be the steady returnee, Chris Cottingham and two freshmen, Jesse Olson and Taylor Kirkman.
Coach Willson doesn’t like to make predictions, but he will predict that the 2008 Sierra College baseball team will be very prepared and compete at a very high level each pitch of the season!
