First-timers aplenty on 2009 baseball roster

Last month’s All-EYL selections set the precedent that Monache and Porterville were both rosters chock full of baseball talent worthy of recognition.

This year’s All-Orange Belt Team reaffirms that fact as six of the 12 named to the squad are Marauders or Panthers.

A handful of players stepped up for the Marauders, who finished league play winning five of their last six and earning a third-place, 8-4 tie with archrivalPorterville.

Senior Micah McCrillis and junior Nate Crocker, who each garnered first-team EYL honors, and senior Dylan Rogers, who was named to the second team, represent the three Marauders selected by The Recorder as some of the Orange Belt’s elite.

McCrillis’ strong bat and ability to chase down tough shots to the outfield were parlayed into an invite to the 2009 Tulare-Kings Counties All-Star Game. The power hitter, who led all batters in home runs (4), will be suiting up to play ball for Cuesta College this fall.

Rogers, who was also invited to the All-Star Game but did not play, was selected to the Orange Belt Team as an outfielder, though he finished the season sharing catching duties with Hayden Doyel. 

Rogers did everything Monache coach Anthony Gale asked of him, recording more than 20 each in hits, RBIs and runs.

Crocker held down the Marauders’ infield while batting a team-best .364.

Porterville’s trio of Phillip Carganilla, Daniel Rueger and Kevin Hulse anchored the top of the Panthers’ lineup that led to occasional outbursts of runs.

Porterville coach Mike Hill called Carganilla a “once-in-a-decade talent” with a flair for the big play. The shortstop teamed with Rueger to form one of the EYL’s stingiest infields that was showcased for several innings of the All-Star Game.

Hulse, one of two returners from last year’s All-Orange Belt squad, often performed cleanup duty in the Panthers’ lineup, batting .441 to go with 30 hits and 27 RBIs.

Lindsay’s Misa Villarreal, the other to return from last year’s Orange Belt roster, distinguished himself as the Cardinals’ leader on the mound and at the plate, winning ESL Co-MVP honors. 

Strathmore pitcher Gary Vail made his first appearance on the list as a junior, striking out nearly two batters per inning (132 batters in all).

Granite Hills’ Jason Tredway is the third hurler selected from the pitcher-heavy leagues, but his near 90-mph fastball is unrivaled in the eastern Central Valley. 

Grizzlies teammate Gabe Malandrini, though diminutive in stature, packed the most consistent at-bat in the Orange Belt, getting on base at a rate of .553.

All-Orange Belt Baseball Team ’09

Pitchers

    Misa Villarreal, Soph. - Lindsay ESL Co-MVP

2.16 ERA, 77.2 IP, 105 K’s/20 BBs. .329 BA, .398 OBP, 19 RBIs, 5 doubles, triple, 15 runs

The Cardinals’ do-it-all player set the pace on both defense, where he pitched an Orange Belt-high 77 innings and offense, where he batted in a team-high 19 runners

    Jason Tredway, Sr. - Granite Hills - Second-Team All-EYL

2.13 ERA, 133 K’s, 75 IP. .367 BA, .444 OBP, 9 RBIs, 2 doubles, triple, 18 runs

Granite’s ace and his near 90-mph fastball ranked among the state’s best in strikeouts despite facing bigger schools all season long

Gary Vail, Jr. - Strathmore First-Team All-ESL

2.32 ERA, 132 K’s/22 BBs, 72 IP

The Spartan’s assortment of offspeed pitches turned his job into child’s play against ESL competition. Owned the OB’s best strikeout-to-walk ratio 

Infield

    Gabe Malandrini, Sr. 1B - Granite Hills Second-Team All-EYL

.424 BA, .553 OBP, 3 RBIs, double, 2 triples, 20 runs

The plucky first baseman often spurred Granite’s string of runs as the leadoff hitter and led the Orange Belt in on-base percentage

    Daniel Rueger, Sr. 2B - Porterville First-Team All-EYL

.408 BA, .526 OBP, 10 RBIs, 5 doubles, triple, HR, 21 runs

One of Porterville’s most consistent players, the second baseman helped form perhaps the EYL’s most dangerous infield

    Nate Crocker, Jr. SS - Monache First-Team All-EYL

.364 BA, .490 OBP, 21 RBIs, 6 doubles, triple, 21 runs

Earned first-team EYL status as a member of the triumvirate that was Monache’s RBI machine, including Dylan Rogers (21) and Aaron Gray (26)

Phillip Carganilla, Sr. SS - Porterville Second-Team All-EYL

.418 BA, 495 OBP, 13 RBIs, 5 doubles, 3 triples, 3 HRs, 15 SBs, 26 runs

Plenty has been written about the Panther with the golden glove. The shortstop was a threat in nearly every aspect of the game

Outfield

    Micah McCrillis, Sr. - Monache First-Team All-EYL

.352 BA, .444 OBP, 16 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HRs, 22 runs

The towering power hitter belted an OB-high four home runs

    Adam Gamboa, Soph. - Lindsay First-Team All-ESL

.357 BA, .394 OBP, 6 RBIs, 2 doubles, HR, 23 SBs, 23 runs

The speedy, multi-sport athlete tormented opposing catchers with an Orange Belt-best 23 stolen bases

    Dylan Rogers, Sr. - Monache Second-Team All-EYL

.333 BA, .490 OBP, 21 RBIs, 8 doubles, triple, HR, 24 runs

Though he finished the season at catcher, Rogers gets the nod for his versatility as perhaps the most well-rounded Marauder on the roster

Catcher

    Kevin Hulse, Jr. - Porterville First-Team All-EYL

.441 BA, .547 OBP, 27 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 HRs, 15 runs

Porterville’s Mr. Clutch came through in several tight situations to keep Panther rallies alive. 

Utility Player

    Dakota Kirkman, Sr. - Exeter Second-Team All-CSL

.309 BA, .434 OBP, 15 RBIs, 7 doubles, 1 triple. 0.74 ERA, 38 IP, 42 K’s/25 BBs

Kirkman is best known for his control on the mound, but the Monarch shifted around the infield at third and shortstop, partially explaining his CSL first-team snub