June 21, 2007
RCC's Rojo moves up with coaching job at L.B. State
Michelle Gardner, Staff Writer
Riverside Community College associate baseball coach Andy Rojo has accepted an assistant coaching position at Long Beach State University.
Rojo, a 1996 graduate and former player at Cal Poly Pomona, helped direct the Tigers to a 37-18 record and a state championship.
Rojo, 33, also served as the Tigers full-time recruiting coordinator, with a large part of his emphasis being on the Inland Empire.
"I have enjoyed being at RCC but this is a great opportunity an I couldn't pass it up," said Rojo, a 1992 graduate of Etiwanda High School. "I will be going from one solid program to another."
Rojo said although a handful of contributors to RCC's state title team were drafted, none signed. Among the notables headed to four-year colleges are third baseman Matt Clark (Etiwanda) and first baseman Rene Escobar who are headed to Louisiana State.
Others headed to NCAA Division I programs are pitcher Reyes Dorado (Miller HS/Arizona State), infielder Anthony Morel (Los Osos HS/Arizona State), pitcher David Bumstead (Etiwanda/Fresno State), catcher Grant Johnson (Norco HS/Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) and outfielder Jeff Newman (ColonyHS/Cal State Fullerton).
Three players will be following Rojo to Long Beach. That trio includes Bobby Baker, pitcher Tyler Topp, pitcher Anthony Carrillo (Colton)
Rounding out the list is outfielder Eddie Quevedo (Cal Baptist).
CAL STATE SIGNEES
Cal State San Bernardino has announced its signing class in several sports.
Soccer standouts are junior forward Jeff Meyers (Alta LomaHS/Rio Hondo College) and senior forward Alberto Cabrera (Chaffey HS).
Cabrera was an All-CIF Southern Section selection while Meyers led Rio to back-to-back Foothill Conference titles in 2004 and 2005 before sitting out last season.
The women's water polo program will welcome Aimee Salcido (Los Osos HS), Jennifer Goetz (Whittier La Serna), Bryanna Burns (Rancho Buena Vista) Oliva Chavez (Upland/Chaffey College) and Gloria Esqueda (Santa Monica).
Goetz is out of the same high school that produced Coyotes All-American Freyja Berg.
Two locals will be joining the tennis program - Brittany Choate (Redlands East Valley) and Kara Jenkins (Granite Hills). Jenkins was 186-23 in four years while Choate earned All-Citrus Belt League honors for four years.
The Division II West Region golf team will welcome Blake Parker (Marantha HS), who has a nine-hole best of 31 and an 18-hole low of 69.
REDLANDS FINISHES STRONG
The University of Redlands placed 26th out of more than 300 Division III schools in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of America Director's Cup given for overall success in athletics.
The Bulldogs tallied 435.5 points and posted the best finish of the SCIAC schools. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was 52nd with 322.25 points while Pomona-Pitzer was 57th with 302.75.
This is the third highest finish for Redlands. Its best was a 16th in 2004-05 and it was 20th in 2005-06.
CHAFFEY PLAYER SIGNS
Chaffey pitcher Alex Caldera has decided on professional baseball over another two years in school. He had been headed to Cal State San Bernardino, but opted to sign with the Kansas City Royals who selected him in the June draft. He was the Foothill Conference Pitcher of the Year, going 9-1 with a 1.45 ERA
CITRUS NAMES COACH
Shin Jung has been named women's volleyball coach at Citrus College, replacing Tammy Knott-Silva. Jung had been an assistant in the program for to decades and also had been a mainstay in the San Gabriel Volleyball Club for the last 11 years.
NOTABLE
UC Riverside had 24 spring sport athletes earn Academic All-Big West honors. Locals on that list are sophomore baseball player Carl Uhl (Serrano) and sophomore track standout Danielle Evans (Diamond Ranch) ... Former Cal State pitcher Doug Brandt was named minor league pitcher of the month for May by the Angels. He is currently with the Angels' Midwest League affiliate in Cedar Rapids.