CUP O' JO: Sunday, March 1

The "pineapple express" has finally moved onshore bringing a bit of Hawaii to PTown.  Mahalo.  We need 9" of juice from this pineapple just to catch up to a normal year. Could happen.  A few years back, the first 6 weeks of the Little League season were completely rained out when the Express hulaed into NorCal. Talk about being a conflicted nature loving baseball fan. It takes a mighty big drought to celebrate ducks paddling where kids should be playing. Hate to say it, but we could use that kind of March Madness again. 

Today's Cup O' Jo will focus on PTown's up and comers...  a few of the college kids I follow.  If there's a player you'd like me to add to this list, just let me know. 

But first a quick glossing over of PTown Area Pros.

PTOWN AREA PROs

JONNY GOMES (OF, Cincinnati Reds Organization)
Jonny popped out to short and reached on a fielder's choice as the Reds' DH yesterday.  The Red Sox lost 16-5.  OF candidate Darnell McD*nald has had some shining moments in Spring Training.  McDonald is a Minor League contract player. And yes, there's a reason for the asterisk. 

Jonny didn't play in today's match against the Yankees. The Reds topped the Yanks 13-11 today as home run weather whisked 5 dingers over the fence. Minor league catcher Craig Tatum hit a grand slam and it was Nix and Hopper's turn to audition for the LF spot today. Nix got his first hit of spring training, a home run, and Hopper (.400) drew a walk and scored today.  Meanwhile, playing right field, Dickerson (.500) had another dazzling day, hitting a pair of home runs in a 3-for-3 day. Hmmm...

BRANDON MORROW (P, Seattle Mariners)
Brandon had a rough go in his first start of Spring Training.  Just couldn't find the zone. He pitched 1 1/3. Justin Thomas came on in relief with the bags loaded, got the Rangers' Ian Kinsler to ground into a double play and K'd Michael Young to keep Morrow's ERA out of the headlines  get the Mariners out of a jamb. No word on where Brandon is taking Justin for dinner tonight.  Matt Tuiasosopo is having a hot spring at the plate with a HR a double and an RBI single so far.  And Chris Woodward just hit his second dinger in two days. He had 3 in one game as a Bluejay in 2002.  If anyone follows Josh Hamilton, he left the game today in the 2nd inning with achilles tightness.  Uh oh.  Been there, done that.

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PTOWN's UP AND COMERS:

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DJ GENTILE (OF, Sophomore, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Casa Grande HS) BIO
DJ's season is off to a good start.  He's batting .333, slugging .400 and has a .389 OBP.  6RBIs in 5 games played.  Yesterday, he helped fuel the Mustang's 6th win in a row with an RBI single early in the game, a walk and a HBP later as Cal Poly topped Sac State.  The 6-1 record is the Mustangs' best start since 2001.  Cal Poly plays their next 8 on the road, beginning with 6-0 San Jose state and they travel to Texas for a non-conference tournament next weekend.  Study hard DJ.

SAM BANISTER (1B, Senior, University of Arizona Wildcats Softball, Petaluma HS) BIO 
Sam is off to a smokin' hot start batting .392, starting in all 16 games this season.  She has 3 doubles, 4 home runs and 17 RBIs and only one K.  She's "batting 1000" in the field as well. Go girl!  The Wildcats are 13-3 overall and have not yet begun Pac-10 conference play.

JOSH KRIST (Cal Poly Pomona, Petaluma High Grad)
Josh was named CCAA pitcher of the week after throwing a 3 hitter against Stanislaus in Pomona's only win of the series. He fanned 11. Wow!  Press release

Email me if there are other up and comers The Pearls should keep an eye on:  PTownBaseballMom@gmail.com