2009 CSUB Roadrunners baseball team
Encyclopedia
The 2009 CSUB Roadrunners baseball team represents California State University, Bakersfield
in the NCAA Division I baseball
season of 2009
. The 2009 season is the inaugural season for the Roadrunners in baseball, with CSUB beginning the transition from Division II to Division I in 2006, launching baseball in 2009, and completing the transition and eligible for the post season in 2011. A new stadium, Hardt Field
was built on the CSUB campus during the off-season and opened on opening day of the 2009 season.
The team is managed by Bill Kernen
who leads the team in its inaugural season.
In August, 2008, before the schedule for Cal State Bakersfield's inaugural baseball season was released, coach Bill Kernen confirmed that the Roadrunners would play six games against Fresno State
, the defending College World Series
champion. August 2008 also marked the groundbreaking of CSUB's Hardt Field, construction of which was completed in 28 weeks . The Roadrunners strength of schedule (SOS) was ranked an astounding 19th in the country.
, ranked #30 Collegiate Baseball poll, which resulted in a 10-0 loss.
The 2009 Season found the team getting off to a .500 start in their first 6 games, including victories over St. Louis and Utah. However, after getting off to a good start, the Roadrunners went 1-14 in the month of March. During the course of the month, the Roadrunners met several in-state opponents, including San Jose State
, St. Mary's, and USF. The 'Runners also cemented a rivalry with the nearby Cal Poly Mustangs down Highway 46. The 'Runners also met their valley rivals, the Fresno State Bulldogs
, winning one game of the three game series played in Beiden Field, and winning the first game of the homestand in a come from behind win, by a score of 17-12.
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California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield is a public university located in Bakersfield, California, United States which was founded in 1965. CSUB opened in 1970 on a campus, becoming the 19th school in the California State University system...
in the NCAA Division I baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
season of 2009
2009 NCAA Division I baseball season
The 2009 NCAA Division I baseball season began on February 20, 2009, and culminated with the 2009 College World Series, which was won by the LSU Tigers.-Preseason:Coming off an impressive 49–19 season, the LSU Tigers earned a preseason #1 ranking...
. The 2009 season is the inaugural season for the Roadrunners in baseball, with CSUB beginning the transition from Division II to Division I in 2006, launching baseball in 2009, and completing the transition and eligible for the post season in 2011. A new stadium, Hardt Field
Hardt Field
Hardt Field, also known in development as the Roadrunner Baseball Complex, is a baseball stadium in Bakersfield, California. It is the home field of the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners college baseball team...
was built on the CSUB campus during the off-season and opened on opening day of the 2009 season.
The team is managed by Bill Kernen
Bill Kernen
Bill Kernen is the current head coach of the California State University, Bakersfield baseball team. Prior to that position he was the head coach of the California State University, Northridge baseball team from 1989–1995, and the pitching coach for the California State University, Fullerton...
who leads the team in its inaugural season.
Pre-Season
In June 2006, CSUB president Horace Mitchell announced that CSUB would be moving to Division I, and entering a four-year reclassification process, which would require additional funds for the creation of a new baseball program.In August, 2008, before the schedule for Cal State Bakersfield's inaugural baseball season was released, coach Bill Kernen confirmed that the Roadrunners would play six games against Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs baseball
The Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team represents Fresno State University in NCAA Division I college baseball.Along with most other Fresno State athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Western Athletic Conference...
, the defending College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
champion. August 2008 also marked the groundbreaking of CSUB's Hardt Field, construction of which was completed in 28 weeks . The Roadrunners strength of schedule (SOS) was ranked an astounding 19th in the country.
Regular season
CSUB entered the 2009 Baseball season with a competitive schedule, competing against multiple teams ranked in the top 30 in Collegiate Baseball poll, along with the 2008 National Champion Fresno State Bulldogs. CSUB opened the season at home against the St. Louis Billikins, in a three game series which marked the first winning series for the Roadrunners, finishing 2-1 in the series. The second team faced by the Roadrunners was the UCSB GauchosUniversity of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
, ranked #30 Collegiate Baseball poll, which resulted in a 10-0 loss.
San José State Spartans
The San Jose State Spartans is the name of the athletic teams representing San Jose State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division I level...
, St. Mary's, and USF. The 'Runners also cemented a rivalry with the nearby Cal Poly Mustangs down Highway 46. The 'Runners also met their valley rivals, the Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno State Bulldogs
The Fresno State Bulldogs represent California State University, Fresno in 19 NCAA Division I sports. The teams have been members of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1969...
, winning one game of the three game series played in Beiden Field, and winning the first game of the homestand in a come from behind win, by a score of 17-12.
Coaches
| Name | Title | First Season at CSUB | Alma Mater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Kernen Bill Kernen Bill Kernen is the current head coach of the California State University, Bakersfield baseball team. Prior to that position he was the head coach of the California State University, Northridge baseball team from 1989–1995, and the pitching coach for the California State University, Fullerton... |
Head Coach | 2008–Present | University of Redlands University of Redlands The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by... (1970) |
| Jody Robinson | Assistant Coach | 2008–Present | Cal State Fullerton (1981) |
| Dennis Machado | Assistant Coach | 2008–Present | Montana State-Bozeman Montana State University - Bozeman Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System... (2000) |
| Bill Gentry | Assistant Coach | 2008–2010 | Concordia University Concordia University Concordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction... (2002) |
Players (Inaugural Roster, 2009)
| Players | Number | Position | Bats/Throws | Hometown (Prev School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akiyama, Matthew | 22 | SS/2B | R/R | Torrance, Calif. (Bishop Montgomery HS) |
| Boren, Brandon | 3 | 2B/3B/SS | R/R | Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield College) (Stockdale HS) |
| Branske, Garrett | 15 | C/RHP | R/R | Chino, Calif. (Chino HS) |
| Draxton, Erik | 37 | RHP | R/R | Park City, Utah (Phoenix College) (Park City HS) |
| Escalera, Richard | 11 | 1B | L/L | Baldwin Park, Calif. (Mt. SAC) (South Hills HS) |
| Gaston, Mick | 10 | OF | R/R | Quartz Hill, Calif. (Quartz Hill HS) |
| Geisinger, Derek | 16 | 1B | L/R | Gilbert, Ariz. (Phoenix College) (Highland HS) |
| Henry, JJ | 26 | 3B/OF | R/R | Denver, Colo. (Phoenix College) (Cherry Creek HS) |
| Jannis, Mickey | 55 | RHP | S/R | Sparks, Nev. (Allan Hancock College) (Arroyo Grande HS) |
| Jones, Sam | 40 | LHP | R/L | Morro Bay, Calif. (Allan Hancock College) (Morro Bay HS) |
| Kudlock, Jason | 34 | RHP/OF | R/R | Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler-Gilbert CC) (Hamilton HS) |
| McIntyre, Ryan | 5 | OF | L/R | Henderson, Nev. (Coronado HS) |
| Medina, Martin | 30 | INF/P | R/R | Ventura, Calif. (Saint Bonaventure HS) |
| Messmore, Spenser | 28 | RHP | R/R | Granada Hills, Calif. (Alemany HS) |
| Mills, Joey | 1 | OF | R/R | Englewood, Colo. (Phoenix College) (Cherry Creek HS) |
| Montoya, Jonathan | 19 | LHP | L/L | Chino Hills, Calif. (Chino Hills HS) |
| Richardson, Kyle | 14 | SS | L/R | Sacramento, Calif. (Sierra JC) (Bella Vista HS) |
| Rodriguez, Jeremy | 7 | C | S/R | Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Crespi HS) |
| Eric Sanchez | 2 | INF | R/R | Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS) |
| Smith, Stuart | 25 | OF | L/R | Ventura, Calif. (Buena HS) |
| Valenzuela, Jacob | 12 | RHP | R/R | Bakersfield, Calif. (Garces HS) |
| Van Dam, Brandon | 18 | RHP | R/R | Lancaster, Calif. (Quartz Hill HS) |
| Walkley, Korie | 8 | RHP | R/R | Bakersfield, Calif. (Centennial HS) |
Schedule and results
| 2009 CSUB Roadrunners baseball game log | |
|---|---|
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