Weekend Wrap-- Dotzler, Church, Shipman, Coe

DOTZLER GETS RECORD FEATURE

Allan Hancock College third baseman COREY DOTZLER (pictured) won a feature story Sunday in the Lompoc Record. More impressive yet was what coach Chris Stevens said about him. “He is probably the best defensive third baseman I've ever seen at a college game,” Stevens said. See the story below

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Church Still Impressing

RYAN CHURCH went 2-for-3 Sunday for the New York Mets and is now batting .326. That is the second highest average on the team. Whatever happened to all those complainers?

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Shipman Looking Good

In his first six innings with the Texas League Midland RockHounds ANDY SHIPMAN has given up two earned runs, seven hits, and has struck out five. He has walked none.

This is Ship’s second year with Midland, an Oakland affiliate at the AA level. Last year he went 4-7 with a 5.80 ERA in 28 games. He started off well. He allowed one hit in four scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win against Corpus Christi on April 23 and gave up two unearned runs on two hits and had a season-high eight strikeouts in a no-decision against Corpus Christi on May 4. He was named to the Texas League All-Star Game in July.

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In College

San Diego State’s upset victory over Hawaii in women’s water polo last week will remain as the Aztecs’ highlight for the week because on Saturday they were easily turned back by undefeated UCLA 17-5.

The Aztecs rebounded on Sunday defeating Cal State Northridge 15-8 as BECCA UR scored twice and HEATHER FENSKE had another stellar game in front of the cage, blocking her third penalty shot in the last three games and turning away a total of seven Northridge shot attempts. Entering the weekend Fenske had amassed 245 saves and Ur led the team in assists with 39.

In track and field middle distance runner MICHAEL COE said he would need to score points Saturday when his Cal Bears went up against rival Stanford. Coe was held out of the 1500 due to a strained Achilles tendon but he made his presence known in the 3000. He won it with a time of 8:14.45

At Chico State ROBERT NOONEY posted a total decathlon score of 6,020 at the Cal Berkeley Multi 10 days ago. Earlier he had put up a 6495.

Football running back VAI TAUA got five carries and battled for 57 yards (that’s better than 10 yards per carry!!) in the Nevada Reno Silver and Blue football game which marks the end of spring practice.

In softball JEN BROOKS is batting .234 with 12 RBI in her senior year at Charleston Southern. The Bucs lost five over the weekend and are now 16-33.

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The Dotzler Story, by Brad Memberto of the Lompoc Record.

“He's a tremendous kid - you know what you are going to get everyday,” said Hancock College baseball coach Chris Stevens about his third baseman Corey Dotzler.

“He works hard, he's respectful and he's the same person everyday - he gives you everything he's got.”

And the Bulldogs have gotten a lot out of the freshman from Lompoc High. Dotzler sat out last season after breaking his kneecap in the summer after his high school graduation, but he has worked hard to become an important member of the Hancock squad.


Dotzler has made a huge contribution after starting the school year playing catcher, a position he played for part of his junior year and all of his senior year at Lompoc. In the fall, he moved to third base and has made great strides at the position. Stevens has been impressed by Dotzler's fielding.

“He would be a quality catcher for any collegiate program, but he is probably the best defensive third baseman I've ever seen at a college game,” said Stevens. “I would be hard pressed to find anybody that's better than him defensively at the college level. “There may be guys as good as him, but I can't see anyone better.”

Not bad for a guy who grew up playing shortstop.

“From Babe Ruth up until my sophomore year I was a shortstop and played some third,” the mild-mannered Dotzler said. “Then from the end of my junior year and through my senior year I caught.”

Then after his yearlong break, Dotzler came to Hancock expecting to catch. “From what they were telling me I was going to catch,” he explained. “Then I'm not sure what happened. We brought in a third baseman and I think he quit. “They knew I played in the infield in my freshman and sophomore years, so they put me over there and flip-flopped me between third and catcher. Then, they just left me there.”

It is a defensive move that Stevens has been happy with all year.

“In talking with coach (Jim) Allen at Lompoc High, Corey had been a high school shortstop in his younger years,” said Stevens. “He really went to catcher in his senior year more out of necessity. Because of his athleticism he was able to adjust.“We brought him in at third and he's been lights out with his athletic ability.”

Dotzler likes where he is playing, even though it wasn't easy at first.

“It was a little tougher, the balls come a lot quicker, it gives you less time to react,” he said. “But it hasn't really been too bad.

“You don't have to have as much range as shortstop and you have to have a good arm. I like it better than shortstop.” While excelling on the field, Dotzler has struggled lately at the plate. While he is now batting .250 in the sixth spot after starting the year in the clean-up position, Dotzler is still knocking in runs. He is second on the team in RBIs with 25 and nearly a third of his 32 hits are for extra bases, with six doubles, a triple and three home runs.

“He comes up with runners in scoring position - and we talk about not being so concerned with what the average is,” explained Stevens, “but how are you as a run producer - either by scoring runs or driving them in. Really that is what it's all about.”

Stevens is not concerned about how many hits a player gets, but when he gets a hit.

“A lot of coaches, based on his average, might have taken him out of the lineup,” Stevens continued, “ but the way I see it, he's producing runs offensively and driving in guys.

“His average with runners in scoring position is above .300 and he's playing solid defense, so there is no reason to remove him from the lineup.”

Dotzler has noticed that things are different at Hancock then they were at Lompoc.

“At the college level you are more into the games, where high school was a little more laid back, where you just went out and played ball,” Dotzler said. “And the style of pitching is definitely better - it's faster.”

The length of the season has also had its effect on Dotzler. “It definitely takes a toll on me,” he said. “I think the high school kids - when they are coming in - don't quite realize how long of a year it is,” explained Stevens. “It's a long grind. It's a daily chore to go out there and do what these kids do. So there are definitely peaks and valleys.“I've said this repeatedly to recruits, it's a big transition going from high school to a community college - more so than going from a community college to a Division I level.” It's that length of the season that does take its toll.

“The length of it,” continued Stevens. “The amount of games going from seven innings, two or three days a week to nine innings, three or four days a week. You have to pace yourself in some respects and learn it's a marathon not a sprint.”

And Dotzler has been a great example of a high school player adjusting to the faster and longer pace.

“He is one of the most consistent and steady players that we have,” Stevens said. “He just doesn't have bad emotional days. I've never seen him down, but at the same time, I've never seen him really up.“ He's got a great demeanor for baseball with all the built-in failure it has. He just stays on an even keel.”

It's the steady play of Dotzler and several of his teammates that has helped the Bulldog program improve greatly. And the Hancock athletic department is happy to have a student-athlete like Dotzler - It's not all about just baseball.“My grades are doing well,” Dotzler explains. “I just need to keep it going so I can go somewhere after Hancock.”