Oct. 13, 2008
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State baseball team, under seventh-year head coach Tony Gwynn, began its official fall practice sessions on Monday, Oct. 13, as 37 rostered players reported for the first day of fall camp. Following that session, some 35 athletes took part in a walk-on tryout in an attempt to join the 2009 squad.
Coach Gwynn welcomes back 16 lettermen including Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Year and U.S. Olympic team member Stephen Strasburg (8-3, 1.57, consensus All-American) along with two of last year's top hitters in outfielders Brandon Decker (.325, 29 runs, 23 RBI) and Pat Colwell (.313, 9 2B, 45 runs, second-team all-MWC).
Also returning are eight pitchers (not including Strasburg) from a year ago led by junior lefty Nate Solow and closer Addison Reed. Other top veterans include, right-hander Jon Berger, who was the Most Valuable Pitcher for the Corvallis Knights this past summer, and outfielder Cory Vaughn, named the top prospect in the Northwoods League after playing summer ball for the La Crosse Loggers
Among this year's talented newcomers is a pair of local area athletes who were drafted last June but elected to join the Aztecs. That twosome includes infielder Ryan O'Sullivan (Valhalla HS, 10th round by San Francisco, and outfielder Brandon Meredith (Montgomery HS, 15th round by Tampa Bay).
For the first week of drills, the team will practice from 2:00-5:00 p.m. daily. The baseball program has scheduled its annual Scout Day for Friday, Nov. 1. Activities will include running, pitching and throwing drills followed by a short intrasquad scrimmage. The complete schedule for the day will be announced in the near future.
SDSU opens its season with at the MLB Youth Academy Tournament in Compton, Calif., where it will face Bethune-Cookman, Southern and University of San Diego during the weekend of Feb. 20-22. The home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24, when the Aztecs will face 2002 NCAA Super Regional participant Cal State Fullerton at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.