Anderson Bat National Classic
March 24-27, 2008
Press Release
The 2008 National Classic High School baseball tournament, sponsored by the Anderson Bat Company, promises to be one of the most competitive showcases in the 19-year history of the tournament. Included in this year’s field are three of Collegiate Baseball’s Top 10 and five of the Top 20 teams in their pre-season high school poll and seven pre-season All-Americans. Following is a capsule summary of this year’s teams.
St. John’s College Prep HS, Washington, DC
Heading the list in this year’s field is CB’s 2nd ranked Cadets. Led by 2007 AFLAC All-American pitcher Scott Silverstein (Virginia) and 2007 Rawlings All-American LJ Hoes (North Carolina), the Cadets return 6 starters and 6 pitchers in 2008, including 9 seniors who have signed scholarships to play college baseball. They finished 2007 with a record of 23-6 and will be making their second appearance in the National Classic.
Orange Lutheran HS, California
Orange Lutheran returns three Division I pitchers from their 2007 squad that finished with a record of 19-8 and heads into 2008 as CB’s 8th ranked team. Leading the way will be 3-year starter and AFLAC All-American, Gerrit Cole. Joining Gerrit on the mound will be 3-year starter Aaron Gates and 2-year starter Brandon Maurer. This will be Orange Lutheran’s first appearance in the National Classic.
Calvert Hall College HS, Maryland
Not only did Calvert Hall College HS go undefeated (33-0) in 2007, all three teams in the program went undefeated (75-0) as the Cardinals finished as USA Today’s 4th ranked team. CB’s pre-season #9 team returns 8 senior starters in 2008 including Baltimore Sun’s 2007 ‘Player of the Year’ P/3B Kevin Lingerman, along with pitcher Mike Dillon and junior shortstop Patrick Blair. The Cards will be shooting for their fourth consecutive MIAA “A” championship and are making their first appearance in the National Classic.
James River HS, Virginia
The defending Virginia State AAA Champions finished the 2007 season with an overall record of 26-2, ranked #8 by Baseball America. They enter the 2008 campaign as Collegiate Baseball’s 15th ranked team on the strength of eleven returning varsity players, led by All-State P/1B Austin Stadler (12-0) and
All-District P/DH, Daniel Marrs. Both are listed in Baseball America’s Top 100 players for 2008. This will be James River’s first trip to southern California.
Christian Brothers HS, Tennessee
The Purple Wave finished 2007 with a record of 40-8, including a state record 9th Tennessee State Championship. All position players except catcher return along with their top three pitchers. They will be led by pitcher Stephen Thompson (9-1) and outfielder Drew Martinez (.427, 28 RBI’s and 33 SB’s). Christian Brothers begins 2008 as CB’s #20 ranked team and will be making their 4th trip to the National Classic.
West Linn HS, Oregon
Seven starters including three All-State players return from the 2007 Oregon State 6A semi-finalist that finished with a record of 20-9. Heading the returnees will be P/If Kyle Kraus, junior shortstop Ryan Barnes (pre-season All-American) and outfielder Justin Monahan. This will be the first trip to the National Classic for the Lions.
Jupiter HS, Florida
The Warriors return starters at every position including five returning pitchers off a team that finished 2007 with a record of 21-6. AFLAC All-American P/1B Jack Armstrong (Vanderbilt) and outfielder Tyler Thompson (Florida) lead a team favored to win their district and contend for a state title. This is Jupiters first trip to California.
Vista Murrieta HS, California
The Broncos posted an overall record of 28-4 in 2007 on their way to a CIF Division II championship. Expectations are high in 2008 as seven starters and four pitchers return, led by All-State shortstop Derek Legg (Long Beach St.) and pitchers Brian Valenzuela (10-1, 1.23), Tyler Simmons (7-2) and Taylor Garrison (4-1, 1.44). This will be Vista’s first appearance in the National Classic.
Seminole Ridge HS, Florida
The Hawks will be making their first trip to the National Classic and expectations are very high in 2008. Led by senior shortstop, Peter Mooney (.406, 25 RBI’s) and outfielder Alain Lamontagne (.356, 18 RBI’s), sixteen returning players and seven pitchers with a combined ERA of 1.43 will lead the way as Seminole Ridge looks to improve on their 17-8 record from 2007.
Cottonwood HS, Utah
Cottonwood capped off a 24-3 season in 2007 with their 3rd consecutive Utah 4A state championship and a #9 ranking in the final Easton national poll. Returning in 2008 will be All-State 3B Kyle Beverly (Oregon St.), P/1B Kendall Mayer (8-0), outfielder Eric Doi (.346) and outfielder Austin Wadsworth (.420). The Colts were the Consolation champion in the 2007 National Classic and will be making their third trip to California.
Esperanza HS, California
Tournament co-host Esperanza finished 2007 with a record of 22-8, losing to eventual national champion Long Beach Wilson in the CIF Division I semi-finals,
5-4. Despite graduating eight starters, the Aztecs return a deep pitching staff in 2008, led by Jonathon Pettibone (USC), Tim Lu (Air Force) and junior
Dennis Holt. Offensively, the Aztecs look to 1B Derek Collins (5 HR’s) to anchor the attack. The Aztecs have previously won the National Classic in 1991, 1997 and 2005.
Aptos HS, California
The Mariners finished the 2007 season ranked #48 nationally with a record of 28-5, losing to Los Altos 6-5 in the CIF Central Section championship game. Aptos returns seven starters, led by SSCAL Most Valuable Player, P/SS Kevin Eichorn (Santa Clara). Also returning are pitchers Bobby Crocker (Cal-Poly SLO), Kyle Anderson (Cal Poly SLO) and 3B Andrew Biancardi (Santa Clara). They also formed the nucleus of the 2002 Little League championship team in Williamsport, PA. This will be their first trip to the National Classic.
Yucaipa HS, California
The Thunderbirds return seven starters, including three pitchers, from their 2007 team that finished with a 20-9 record. Leading the way will be Team USA member, junior Matt Davidson (9-2, 1.20; 6 HR, 30 RBI’s), pitcher Scott Snodgress (Stanford), and pitcher Adam Miller (BYU). This will be Yucaipa’s first appearance in the National Classic.
Crespi HS, California
The Celts are looking to improve on their 24-6 record in 2007 on the strength of twenty returning lettermen, including ten starters. All-CIF and league MVP, Jeremy Rodtriguez (.488), returns at catcher along with All-CIF infielders, Carlos Lopez (.420) and Sean Gilmartin (.345). Pitchers Tyler Johnson, Eric McSweeney, Ryan Hawthorne and Gilmartin accounted for 20 of Crespi’s wins last year. This will be Crespi’s second trip to the National Classic.
Bishop Amat HS, California
The 2008 Lancers return thirteen lettermen from a team that finished 2007 with a record of 27-4, including a CIF championship. Leading the way will be seniors Maverick Olivarez (UC Irvine) and Chris Eusebio (Loyola Marymount), along with All-CIF players Andrew Mistone and Jordan Fox. Bishop Amat won the National Classic in 2001 and 2002 on their way to back-to-back National Championships. This will be their fourth appearance.
El Dorado HS, California
The co-host Golden Hawks finished 2007 with a record of 20-8, losing to Mater Dei in the quarter-finals of the CIF Division I play-offs. Two, four-year varsity starters, Josh Canales (.338) and Brandon Ertle (.360), along with three-year starter, Ryan Remlinger (.398), will provide the nucleus for 2008. Senior pitcher, Mat Thomas (7-2), will lead a pitching staff with four returning lettermen.
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