2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team

The 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team represented California State University, Fresno in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2008. They played their home games at Beiden Field in Fresno, California. The team was coached by Mike Batesole who was in his fifth season at Fresno State. Under Batesole, Fresno State has won three Western Athletic Conference Championships in a row, and he has a 172-134 record with the Bulldogs.

2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball
NCAA Champions
WAC Champions
WAC Tournament Champions
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
2008 record43-31 (21-11 WAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBeiden Field

In a Cinderella run through the postseason, the Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2008 College World Series finals to win its first NCAA Division I Championship in baseball. This led to their 3rd national championship in the NCAA organization, adding to their championships in Softball (1998) and Men's Track & Field (1964-Division II).

Schedule and results

Before the season occurred, Fresno State entered the season ranked in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper's Fabulous 40 for the third consecutive season, at #21.[1] Fresno State was also ranked #21 by the preseason magazine Baseball America.[2] Fresno State also was preseason pick of the WAC coaches as the favorite to win the 2008 season; additionally, seven players were selected to the Preseason All-WAC Team, including the preseason Player of the Year Steve Susdorf and Pitcher of the Year Clayton Allison[3]

2008 Fresno State Bulldogs Baseball Game Log
Regular Season
Postseason

Roster

Coaches
Name Title First Season at Fresno State Alma Mater
Mike Batesole[4] Head Coach 2003 Fullerton State University (1990)
Pat Waer[5] Assistant Coach 2006 Washington State University (1995)
Matt Curtis[6] Assistant Coach 2002 Fresno State University (1996)
Mike Mayne[7] Assistant Coach 2007 University of California—Riverside (1968)

Players
No. Players Position Year Ht/Wt Bats/Throws Hometown (Last School)
3 Eric Wetzel INF JR 6-1/180 R/R Chino, CA (Don Lugo HS)
4 Danny Grubb C JR 5-11/185 R/R Orange, CA (Orange Lutheran HS)
5 Trent Soares OF FR 6-0/180 L/R Fresno, CA (San Joaquin Memorial High School)
7 Nick Hom INF FR 6-0/180 R/R Benicia, CA (De La Salle HS)
9 Alan Ahmady INF SO 5-11/195 R/R Fresno, CA (Clovis West HS)
10 Jason Breckley RHP SR 6-1/220 R/R Moorpark, CA (Moorpark HS)
11 Todd Sandell INF SR 6-2/190 R/R Somis, CA (Camarillo HS)
14 Tanner Scheppers RHP JR 6-4/220 R/R Laguna Niguel, CA (Dana Hills HS)
15 Steve Detwiler OF SO 6-1/220 R/R Forest Knolls, CA (San Rafael HS)
16 Danny Muno INF FR 5-11/170 S/R Thousand Oaks, CA (Loyola HS)
19 Jordan Ribera INF FR 6-0/220 L/R Fresno, CA (Clovis West HS)
21 Justin Wilson LHP JR 6-3/210 L/L Clovis, CA (Buchanan HS)
24 Ryan Overland C SR 6-2/200 L/R Atascadero, CA (Atascadero HS)
25 Brandon Burke RHP SR 6-3/200 R/R San Diego, CA (Rancho Bernardo HS)
27 Steve Susdorf OF SR 6-1/195 L/L Newhall, CA (Hart HS)
29 Gavin Hedstrom OF JR 6-1/190 R/R Irvine, CA (Woodbridge HS)
30 Blake Amador OF SR 6-0/190 L/L Turlock, CA (Modesto JC/UNLV)
32 Tommy Mendonca INF SO 6-1/200 L/R Turlock, CA (Turlock HS)
33 Justin Miller RHP JR 6-5/195 R/R Bakersfield, CA (Bakersfield College)
34 Jake Johnson C FR 6-2/205 R/R La Mirada, CA (La Mirada HS)
37 Sean Bonesteele RHP SO 6-5/220 R/R Santa Ana, CA (Foothill HS)
38 Jake Floethe RHP FR 6-3/195 R/R Lafayette, CA (Acalanes HS)
40 Clayton Allison RHP SR 6-5/230 R/R Visalia, CA (College of the Sequoias)
42 Gene Escat RHP FR 6-5/190 R/R Hanford, CA (Hanford HS)
43 Kris Tomlinson LHP JR 6-0/180 L/L Visalia, CA (Golden West HS)
47 Holden Sprague RHP JR 6-2/210 R/R Fresno, CA (Bullard HS)
50 Jake Hower RHP SR 6-4/190 R/R Roseville, CA (American River CC)

Awards and honors
Player Award/Honor
Clayton Allison WAC Pitcher of the Week (April 16 - April 27)[8]
Alan Ahmady WAC Player of the Week and National Player of the Week (March 24 - March 30)
Steve Susdorf WAC Player of the Week (April 16 - April 27),[8] WAC Player of the Year 2008,[9] ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American[10]
Justin Wilson WAC Pitcher of the Week (May 7 - May 13)[11]
Mike Batesole NCBWA National Coach of the Year Award[12]

2008 Major League Baseball Draft

The following members of the 2008 Fresno State baseball team were drafted in the 2008 MLB Draft.

Player Position Overall MLB Team
Justin Wilson LHP 144 Pittsburgh Pirates
Erik Wetzel 2B 407 Colorado Rockies
Justin Miller RHP 483 Texas Rangers
Steven Susdorf OF 586 Philadelphia Phillies
Clayton Allison RHP 817 Los Angeles Dodgers

References
  1. "Fresno State Ranked 21st in Preseason Baseball Poll". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  2. Baseball America Preseason College Top 25
  3. "WAC Baseball Preseason Poll and All-WAC Team Announced". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  4. Player Bio: Mike Batesole @ GoBulldogs.com
  5. Pat Waer Bio @ GoBulldogs.com
  6. Pat Waer Bio @ GoBulldogs.com
  7. Mike Mayne Bio @ GoBulldogs.com
  8. "Fresno State Sweeps Player of the Week Awards". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  9. The College Baseball Blog | 2008 WAC All-Conference Teams Announced
  10. ESPN - Susdorf, Bulldogs thriving in role as underdogs on road to Omaha - College Sports
  11. "WAC Announces Baseball Players of the Week". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  12. Batesole Named National Coach of the Year
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