Humboldt Crabs

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Humboldt Crabs
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League Independent (Northern California)
Location Arcata, California
Ballpark Arcata Ball Park
Year founded 1945 (1945)
Former league(s) Far West League, Tri State League, Horizon Air League
Former ballparks Albee Stadium
Colors Blue, Red and White
Mascot Dungenous Crab
Ownership Community Organization
Management Board of Directors
Coach Tyson Fisher

The Humboldt Crabs are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Arcata, California. Playing in every season since they were founded in 1945 by Lou Bonomini, later joined by Ned Barsuglia, the Crabs are the oldest continually-operated summer collegiate baseball team in American baseball.[1][2]

Brief Background

In the 70-year history of the Humboldt Crabs, over 300 players have continued on to play professional baseball, with over 60 former Crabs going all the way to the Major Leagues.[3] A few examples are Garth Iorg, Dane Iorg, and Wally Scott.[4][5] John Oldham, a Crabs pitcher in 1952-53, was the first to make it all the way, playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1956.[6] More recently, Leo Rosales, who pitched for the 2002 Crabs,[7] was called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.[8] 2003 Crabs infielder Brett Pill was called up to the San Francisco Giants in 2011, and was on the team's 2012 roster as a 1st baseman.[9][10]

Their best season, record-wise, was 1985 when the team won 46 consecutive games to start the season. Future Major Leaguers Mike Harkey, Eric Gunderson, Steve Olin, and Scott Chiamparino led a dominant pitching staff.

The Crabs play the majority of their games at home at the Arcata Ball Park,[11] owned by the City of Arcata.[12] The team is made up of college players from different NCAA programs throughout the U.S. The Humboldt Crabs are a non-profit baseball organization operated by a 14-member all-volunteer Board of Directors. Major rivals include the Redding Colt .45s, the Fontanetti's Athletics, and the Seattle Studs.[13]

In 2007, the team's 63rd consecutive season, the Crabs overall season record was 42 - 12;[14] in 2008, the Crabs drew an average of 874 fans to the ball park and went 35 - 13 for the season;[15] in 2009 the Crabs record was 48-11;[16] in their 66th season, 2010, the Crabs went 43 - 9.[17] Their 67th consecutive season began with the Annual Season Opening Dinner on June 3, 2011 (always the first Friday in June).[18] Regular-season play ended July 31, with post-season Tournament play August 5–7, 2011.

The Humboldt Crabs are a non-profit, community-oriented organization. Its mission is four-fold:

To promote family entertainment by providing high-quality summer collegiate baseball games to the public at a reasonable price; To provide talented collegiate-level baseball players with a positive summer baseball experience; To support youth sports programs (with an emphasis on baseball or softball) in the Humboldt County area with contributions of funding and/or equipment as funds permit in addition to annual baseball skills camps and clinics operated by Humboldt Crabs players and coachs; To preserve and build the tradition of Humboldt Crabs Baseball.

Far West League

The Crabs joined the Far West League (FWL), which had ten teams participating in the 2011 season. The five-team FWL North Division included the Humboldt Crabs, Nor Cal Pirates, Redding Colt .45s, Nevada Bullets (formerly Reno Aces), and Southern Oregon RiverDawgs. The five-team FWL South Division included the Atwater Aviators, Fontanetti's Athletics, Neptune Beach Pearl, California Glory, and Fresno Cardinals. The Crabs were part of the West Coast League/Tri-State[19] (which was associated with the West Coast League in the Pacific Northwest) then merged with the Pacific West Baseball League to form the FWL. (The California Seals were originally an eleventh team in the FWL but are on hiatus for the 2011 season.)

2011 League Champions

This inaugural year of the Far West League culminated with the top five League teams competing in a double-elimination Tournament, hosted by the Humboldt Crabs and played in the Arcata Ball Park, August 5–7. The Humboldt Crabs (21 - 6), with the best record in regular season league play, were the top-seeded team, but lost their first game to fourth-seed Fontanetti's Athletics, 1-0,[20] on August 5. To avoid being eliminated, the Crabs had to win four games in a row. On August 6, the Crabs shut out the Atwater Aviators, 2-0,[21] in an elimination game. On August 7 the Crabs won three games in one day, starting with Fontanetti's Athletics, 7-2,[22] (who had beaten the Crabs 2 of 3 games in regular-season play); then facing the Neptune Beach Pearl who had won 8 of their previous 9 games, and who were as yet undefeated in the Tournament. By winning four in a row, including 6-3[23] and 5-1[24] wins over the Pearl, the Crabs avoided elimination and won the tournament and the championship.[25]

The Humboldt Crabs finished the 2011 season with records of 40-13 overall, 25-7 in League/Conference play.[26]

The Humboldt Crabs rank #22 from among over 220 summer collegiate league teams in the nation for the week of August 9, 2011, by Perfect Game USA.[27]

The Far West League has since dispanded, but the Crabs were league champions all three years in its inception.

2011 Player Awards

Following the conclusion of the final Far West League Tournament game, Coaches Matt Nutter and Robin Guiver gave out the 2011 player awards as follows:[28]

  • Most Valuable Player: Ivory Thomas (CF)
  • Most Valuable Pitcher: Aaron West (RHP)
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Austin Prott (1B)
  • Offensive Player of the Year: David Del Grande (IF)
  • "Coaches Award" - Kevin Morsching/Scott Heinig Memorial Award: Jason Mahood (2B)

Organization

File:2010 june part 2 063 CROP.jpg
Humboldt Crabs Fan Appreciation Day 2010

Humboldt Crabs Baseball, Inc is a 501(c)(4) community-owned organization. A volunteer board of directors rely on the support of community members & sponsors to keep the Humboldt Crabs Baseball operation functioning.

President

Vikki Rossi

Coaching Staff[29]

  • Tyson Fisher, Manager
  • Eric Giacone, Head Coach
  • Andrew Ayers, Assistant Coach

Trainers: Nate Kees

2012 Team Roster[30]

2012 Humboldt Crabs Roster
Name Position School
Ty Afenir IF University of Washington
James Barragan P Cal State Bakersfield
Garth Bonomini UTL Monterey Peninsula College
Drew Bradshaw LHP San Jose University
Clay Cederquist IF Sacramento State
Jared Deacon C Cal State Fullerton
Ryan Dettman OF Oregon State
Riley Drongesen UTL University of the Pacific
Spencer Duggan IF Bellevue University
Gene Escat RHP Fresno State University
Evan Ewing RHP Seattle University
Jason Hampton RHP Sacramento State
Chad Kjemhus RHP University of Portland
Nick Latta IF Seattle University
Jimmy MacWilliam LHP University of Hawaii
Zack McCoy IF University of Portland
Tanner McIntyre RHP Virginia Tech
Johnny Melero LHP San Jose State University
Andrew Nelson P Santa Rosa Junior College
Austin Prott 1B Chico State University
Zack Reser P Oregon State
Ruben Rios Jr. RHP North Carolina Central University
Andrew Rodriguez OF San Jose State University
Kenny Smith P Gonzaga University
Will Soto IF Sacramento State
Kyle Swannack P Washington State University
Thomas Walker IF University of Oregon
Ryan Wiggins C University of Washington
Kurt Yinger RHP University of Portland
Bradley Zimmer OF University of San Francisco

2011 Team Roster[31]

John Austin👍, LHP; Andrew Ayers, IF; Kyle Cerrudo, C; Adam Clear, 3B/SS; Kyle Crawford, LHP; Jordan Davis, C; Chris DeBoo, RHP; David DelGrande, IF; Bryndon Ecklund, OF; Gene Escat, RHP; Paul Eshleman, C; Cody Gappa, IF/OF; Justin Higley, OF; Nick Latta, SS; Matt Lopez, IF/OF; Ryan Lucas, RHP; Jimmy MacWilliam, LHP; Jason Mahood, 2B; Peter Miller, RHP/IF; Brett Morgan, RHP/OF; Cedar Morgan, RHP; Zach Morgan, RHP; Dylan Morrow, RHP; Zach O'Hanen, RHP; Austin Prott, OF/1B; Victor Soto, RHP; Ivory Thomas, IF/OF; Joey Van Cleave, RHP; Casey Watkins, OF/C; Aaron West, RHP

Board of Directors[32]

Note: The Board of Directors change from year to year. Vikki Rossi Matt Filar, Ellen Barthman, Erik Fraser, Roger Lorenzetti, Tracy Mack, Carl Pellatz, Larry Zerlang, Bill Ruff, John Burke, Michelle Briggs

References

  1. ↑ Humboldt Crabs, About Us (Humboldt Crabs website)
  2. ↑ North Coast Journal - August 1, 2002: COVER STORY
  3. ↑ Humboldt Crabs 2010 Official Program, page 14
  4. ↑ All-Time North Coast Baseball Team
  5. ↑ Humboldt Crabswebsite News Archive: A Good Time Was Had by All
  6. ↑ SJSA 2008 Hall of Fame inductee biographies: John Oldham
  7. ↑ North Coast Journal August 2002 Cover Story
  8. ↑ Baseball-Reference: Leo Rosales
  9. ↑ [1]
  10. ↑ [2]
  11. ↑ Arcata Ball Park
  12. ↑ City of Arcata, Sports Fields
  13. ↑ Humboldt Steelheads
  14. ↑ Humboldt Crabs 2007 Season Statistics
  15. ↑ Humboldt Crabs 2008 Season Statistics
  16. ↑ Humboldt Crabs 2009 Season Statistics
  17. ↑ Humboldt Crabs 2010 Season Statistics
  18. ↑ Humboldt Crabs web site
  19. ↑ Crabs will join WCL Tri-State in 2009
  20. ↑ Fontanetti Athletics vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 05, 2011)
  21. ↑ Atwater Aviators vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 06, 2011)
  22. ↑ Fontanetti Athletics vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 07, 2011)
  23. ↑ Humboldt Crabs vs Neptune Beach Pearl (Aug 07, 2011, 2pm game)
  24. ↑ Humboldt Crabs vs Neptune Beach Pearl (Aug 07, 2011, 6pm game)
  25. ↑ Crabs are Best in the Far West
  26. ↑ Humboldt Crabs 2011 Season Statistics
  27. ↑ Perfect Game USA: Summer Collegiate Team Rankings 8/9/2011
  28. ↑ Handing Out the Hardware
  29. ↑ Humboldt Crabs 2011 Coaching Staff
  30. ↑ [3]
  31. ↑ Humboldt Crabs 2011 Roster
  32. ↑ Humboldt Crabs Board of Directors

External links

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