The
Santa Maria Indians finalized their 2007 roster
right before the start of December, putting the
finishing touches on their pitching staff. This
year's team, similar to last year's, features
three players drafted by Major League Baseball
organizations. The breakdown position by position:
The 5'11 185 pound sophomore from Fallbrook was
a 19th round selection in the 2005 draft by the
Kansas City Royals. Chavez has signed on to play
for division one Indiana State University in 2008.
In 2006, Chavez was named to the 1st Team All-Pacific
Coast Conference Team after leading his team with
9 homeruns, posting a .302 batting average and
finishing second in the state with 56 RBI.
C/1B
Wes Dorrell – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo,
Fr
The 6'3 205 pound freshman comes to the Tribe
from Clovis High School in Fresno. Dorrell is
a left-handed power hitting catcher/first baseman
who was selected to play in last year's Area Code
games. Dorrell was also named Sophomore of the
Year in the Tri-River Athletic Conference in 2004
and led Clovis to a 19-11 record in 2005.
C/1B
Josh Meagher – Chico State University, Jr
The lone Santa Maria native
on the squad, the 6 foot 185 pound Chico State
junior figures to play first and catcher. Last
season for Cuesta College, Meagher batted .326
with 8 HR, 39 RBI, and a .518 slugging percentage.
Meagher played this last summer for the rival
SLO Blues.
Infielders:
1B
Jeremy Bamsey – Point Loma Nazarene University,
Jr
The Tribe's new first basemen
led the state in hitting last season at Chaffey
Community College with a .459 average. He also
led the state in RBI with 59 and tallied 9 home
runs with an unbelievable .758 slugging percentage.
The junior lefthander from Moreno Valley will
play this upcoming season for Point Loma Nazarene
University.
2B
Matt Angel – Bossier Parish Community College,
So
Second basemen Matt Angel
comes to the Indians from Shreveport, LA and Bossier
Parish Community College in Bossier City, LA.
The righthanded 5'10, 190 pound second basemen
has drawn interest from several division one schools
in the SEC.
2B
Evan Wells - Gonzaga University, So
Evan Wells returns to the
Tribe from Gonzaga University after a solid 2006
summer with the Indians. Wells batted .336 with
14 RBI and 12 stolen bases starting 37 of 40 games
for the 37-16 Indians. The sophomore from Olympia,
Washington posted a .985 fielding percentage as
the starting second basemen last year.
SS
Cory Morales - Northern Colorado University, Jr
Morales headlines another
class of returners from the 2006 Indians. Morales,
who played last season at Rio Hondo Community
College had a very productive 2006 summer as the
Tribe's starting third basemen. Cory batted .286
with 19 RBI and 9 stolen bases helping lead the
Indians to a 13th place finish at the NBC World
Series. Now at Northen Colorado University, Morales
was a 2006 Junior College All-Southern California
selection.
SS
Blake Crosby - Sacramento State University, So
Shortstop Blake Crosby comes
to the Tribe from division one Sacramento State
University. The 6'1, 185 pound sophomore from
Cypress played last season at Brigham Young University
batting .322 with 23 RBI and starting 43 games
at shortstop for the Cougars. He is also the younger
brother of 2004 Rookie of the Year and starting
shortsop for the Oakland A's, Bobby Crosby.
3B
Kris Haycock - Fresno City College, So
Haycock, a 6'1, 195 pound
sophomore from Tehachapi comes to the Tribe from
Fresno City College. Last season, Haycock batted
.357 with 2 HR, 20 RBI and 10 stolen bases for
the Rams.
Outfielders: OF
Will Campbell - Cochise College, So
The 6'1 185 pound righthanded
Campbell from Cochise College hails from Seligman,
AZ. Campbell, a sophomore was among the Arizona
Community College Athletic Conference leaders
in batting average (.359) and fourth in the league
with 35 stolen bases.
OF
Ben Caple - Palomar College, So
Ben Caple, a sophomore from
Palomar College has joined fellow Indian Zane
Chavez in signing a letter of intent to Indiana
State University in 2008. The sophomore outfielder
from Rancho Bernardo HS in San Diego was third
on the team in hitting with a .354 batting average
and was a 2006 All-Pacific Coast Conference Honorable
Mention. Caple is the younger brother of Boston
Red Sox farmhand and former University of San
Diego standout Tom Caple.
OF
Tyrese McDaniel - Sonoma State University, Jr
The Indians were happy to
welcome back the big bat and power potential of
Tyrese McDaniel for another summer in Santa Maria.
Last summer, Tyrese came to the Tribe from Fresno
City College and batted .257 with 2 HR and 28
RBI, splitting time in left and right field. McDaniel
went on a tear in the NBC Central Coast Tournament
in Santa Maria taking home MVP honors and will
play this spring at division two Sonoma State.
OF
Hunter Pace, University of Arizona, So
The sophomore outfielder
from Chandler, AZ is another one of the Indians
to have been drafted, in the 28th round (2005)
by the Washington Nationals. Pace saw limited
action last season as a freshman appearing in
only 20 games, but figures to be the starting
centerfielder for the Wildcats in 2007.
Pitchers: RHP
Brendan McDonald - Cochise College, So
The 6'3 righty from Victoria,
Australia comes to the Tribe from Cochise College
in Arizona. McDonald figures to be one of the
Indians primary righthanders this summer.
RHP
Alvaro Orosco - Sacramento State University
Coming to the Tribe is the Sacramento State Hornets
Friday night starter Alavaro Orozco, a junior
righthander from San Bruno. A transfer from Skyline
College, he was an All-American (first freshman
in program history), North Coast Conference pitcher
of the year and conference MVP. He led Skyline
to a 15-3 record and a conference championship
last season.
RHP
Jacob Smith - University of Hawaii, Fr
The freshman righthander
from the University of Hawaii comes to the Tribe
from Clovis. The 6'3 righthander lettered in 3
sports at Clovis High and was an All-District
and All-League representative.
RHP
Diego Soto - Cochise College, So
The 6 foot righthander from
Tucson, AZ comes to the Tribe from Cochise College
in Arizona. The sophomore went 6-1 last season
for Cochise
RHP
Micah Spencer - Modesto Junior College, So
The 6'2 righthander from
Modesto Junior College had a sensational season
last year earning 2006 Junior College All-America
Honors. Spencer is another one of the Indians
who has committed to play for Indiana State University
in 2008. Spencer started 11 games going 7-0 with
a 1.71 era and a 76/9 strikeout to walk ratio.
RHP
Holden Sprague - Fresno State University, So
The 6'1 215 pound righthander
from Fresno comes to the Tribe from Fresno State
University. Sprague appeared in 16 games last
season as a reliever, pitching in 26 innings,
striking out 23, and walking only 4.
LHP
TJ Statsny - Yavapai College, So
The southpaw Statsny return
to the Indians after a solid 2006 summer with
the Tribe. The native of Durango, CO went 1-1
with a 2.50 era in 7 starts for the Indians while
striking out 30 batters. The Indians are glad
to have the Yavapai Roughrider back for another
run this summer.
LHP
Kris Tomlinson - Fresno State University, So
The 6 foot southpaw from
Visalia comes to the Tribe from the Fresno State
Bulldogs. Tomlinson, a sophomore, pitched in only
3 games last season after coming to Fresno from
Golden West High School.
LHP
Rashad Tucker - Fresno State University, So
The lefthander from Oakland
is another FSU Bulldog to come to the Tribe this
summer . Tucker was a 2005 All-State selection
at Bishop O'Dowd High School. The 6'3 southpaw
only appeared in 2 games least season.
RHP
Sean Urena - Cal State Fullerton, Fr
Urena,
the Sunday starter for the defending Big West
Champion Cal State Fullerton Titans. The 6'2 righthander
from Rialto was a 3-time All-League member and
All-San Bernardino County his senior campaign.
RHP
Kyle Woodruff - Chico State University, Jr
Woodruff is the last of
the Indians to have been chosen in the Major League
Baseball Draft, selected in the 35th round in
2004 by the Houston Astros. The towering righthander
who is listed at 6'6 was a 2006 junior college
All-American at San Mateo College last year. Woodruff
was 11-1 with a 3.12 era last year throwing 5
complete games
