Former Baler Brian Haggett still has two more years of
eligibility, and he plans on spending it a little closer to home.
After redshirting last year at Sacramento State, the 2008 graduate
of San Benito High signed a letter of intent last month to transfer
to Cal State Monterey Bay next season, where he will be reunited on
the diamond with fellow Baler and current Otters shortstop Ronnie
Fhurong.
HOLLISTER
Former Baler Brian Haggett still has two more years of eligibility, and he plans on spending it a little closer to home.
After redshirting last year at Sacramento State, the 2008 graduate of San Benito High signed a letter of intent last month to transfer to Cal State Monterey Bay next season, where he will be reunited on the diamond with fellow Baler and current Otters shortstop Ronnie Fhurong.
Follow Free Lance Sports on Twitter.
With Haggett expected to be competing for a spot at first base, CSUMB could continue to turn around its baseball program with a Hollister-heavy infield.
“I talked with him and he said how much he liked it there,” Haggett said of Fhurong, who started 47 of 49 games for the Otters this past season and had 165 assists.
Under first-year manager Walt White, who previously coached at Sonoma State University, the Otters compiled a 21-28 overall record this past season, 18-22 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, and set a program record for wins.
“He told me how much of a turnaround it’s been, and how much he’s been enjoying it,” Haggett said of Fhurong and the Otters.
The proximity from CSUMB to Hollister didn’t hurt, either.
“That was one of the nice things,” Haggett added. “That played a role in it.”
A two-time All-Golden Gate Conference selection, Haggett competed for two years at West Valley College in Saratoga, where he batted .401 (61 of 152) for the Vikings during his sophomore season. His 61 total hits that year was ninth in the CCAA.
Transferring to Sac State last year, though, Haggett was hit with the injury bug. He pulled his hamstring in the summer months prior to the season, then got chickenpox and was sent home.
“Let’s hope I don’t get that again,” Haggett said. “I had the [booster] shot when I was 9 or 10, but I guess it wore off.”
Being away from the team didn’t necessarily help, though.
“It was a struggle after that,” said Haggett, who redshirted his junior year instead, and still has two more years of athletic eligibility now at CSUMB.
Haggett is part of a 16-player recruiting class at CSUMB, nine of whom signed on last month.
“Brian fills a huge need for us as a left-handed hitting first baseman,” White said in a statement. “We expect him to come in and contribute immediately and hit in the middle of our lineup. He is a good athlete and has an advanced feel for the game. He is also a very good student and has a championship demeanor. He is exactly what we are looking for in our student-athletes.
J.C. Clayton, BYU
There has been no sophomore slump for former Baler J.C. Clayton.
The San Benito High graduate of 2009 led the BYU Cougars at the plate this past season, batting a team-high .384 (63 of 164) with 27 RBI and 35 runs scored.
The Cougars, meanwhile, compiled a 38-16 overall record and went 11-2 in the Mountain West to claim their third straight conference championship. On Monday, it was announced the team qualified to its seventh straight NCAA tournament.
BYU squared off against Auburn in the Seattle Regional on Thursday, although that game took place after The Weekend Pinnacle’s press time. BYU is expected to play Washington or Portland State on Friday.
Clayton was named Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West Conference last season.
Justin Andrade/Spencer Brann, UC Davis
Former Balers Justin Andrade and Spencer Brann are both currently competing for the UC Davis baseball team.
Andrade, a 2007 graduate of San Benito High, is second on the team with a .316 (30 of 95) batting average, with 11 RBI and 13 runs scored, while Brann, a 2010 graduate of SBHS, is getting periodic time behind the plate as a freshman.
D.J. Slaton, San Jose State
Hollister resident and Palma graduate D.J. Slaton is currently competing for the San Jose State baseball team.
A pitcher, Slaton is 1-0 on the season with a 5.32 earned-run average. In 22 innings tossed, the Palma graduate of 2010 has allowed 13 earned runs on 19 hits.
The Spartans are currently 32-21 overall, 10-10 in the Western Athletic Conference. They will host Nevada for four games this weekend.
Elena Fata, UNLV
After sitting out with an injury last season, former Baler Elena Fata returned this year as a redshirt sophomore and batted .269 (18 of 67) for the UNLV Rebels softball team.
The 2008 graduate of San Benito High School played in just 26 games for the Rebels, but compiled 49 assists in the field. UNLV went 27-18 overall, 9-5 in the Mountain West, and finished runner-up to BYU in the league standings.
Brandon Drogemuller, Lewis
Former Baler Brandon Drogemuller collected his fifth career national honor at the NCAA Division II National Championships in March when he finished eighth in the 1650 freestyle (15:36.61), and as a result earned All-American status.
Earlier at nationals, Drogemuller, a 2009 graduate of San Benito High, finished 14th in the 500 freestyle (4:33.91) and 12th in the 1000 freestyle (9:26.85) to earn All-American Honorable Mention accolades.
