The Lassen Cougar

Issue date: 5/15/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ugo Perrier Cougar baseball closes out the season with a home double-header

Despite losing more than twice as many games as it won, LCC's freshmen-laden baseball team ended its season on a positive note winning two of three games from the second place Shasta College Knights. Another bright note for the Cougars is that they had the Golden Valley Conference's leading hitter, Zack Garcia, who was named to the all-GVC first team.
The freshman shortstop from Stockton batted .452 that was 44 points higher than runner-up Niko Saladis of Feather River College. Cougar outfielder Daveron Ross placed 12th among the league's hitters at .328 and right behind him was outfielder Tommy O'Brien at .327. Ross received all-league honorable mention.
Cort Cortez, who took over the Cougar reins before the season started when Carl Johnson was placed on personal leave, said "We were a very young team with jus six sophomores among our 28 players and we really lacked pitching depth." The Cougars also came up short in the power department with just three home runs, two by Garcia, the other by Ross. Garcia also led the Cougars in walks with 22, total bases (84), triples (5), doubles (16) and runs scored (35). He was second to Ross in RBI with 30 (Ross had 31). C. J. Velarde led the team in sacrifice bunts with 8 and Cameron Babin in steals with six.
Feather River compiled an outstanding 29-1 conference mark and was 40-3 overall going into the regional playoffs. Then came Shasta's 19-11 (22-21), Butte's 17-13 (26-18), Siskiyous' 9-21 (12-28), Lassen's 9-21 (9-23) and Redwoods' 7-23 (8-32). Teams had less pre-league games this season due to the weather and 30-game conference schedule.
As a team, LCC scored 207 runs while giving up 362 and allowing 173 walks, foes 105.
The only sophomores on the Cougar roster this year were catcher Phil Diaz, infielder Jason Alcasas, outfielder Brett Workman and pitchers Jake Morford, Jared Braaten and Blake Nahlen. Nahlen along with infielders Marcus Mesa, Mike Hardy and pitcher Sparky Lively were the only former Lassen High players on the roster.
Results of games played prior to March 25 were published on The Cougar's website.
On March 25, LCC hosted Shasta and let one get away. The Cougars 3-1 going into the top of the ninth inning when the Knights scored seven runs to win 8-3. Garcia, O"Brien and Ross each had a single and double in a losing cause.

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