{"id":11445,"date":"2011-06-03T16:47:46","date_gmt":"2011-06-03T23:47:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/?p=11445"},"modified":"2011-06-03T16:53:25","modified_gmt":"2011-06-03T23:53:25","slug":"2011-best-of-the-west-team-profile-california-as","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/?p=11445","title":{"rendered":"2011 Best of the West Team Profile – California A’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Eighth in a series of ten team profiles for the 2011 Best of the West Tournament, to be played June 4-5, 2011 at Elings Park in Santa Barbara, California.<\/em> Click here for schedule of games for the 2011 tournament.<\/a><\/p>\n

\nThe California A’s from Bakersfield, California are one of ten teams competing in this year’s 2011 Best of the West (BOTW) tournament. They’ll be competing in Pool A against the Those Guys, Liberty Fastpitch, Bakersfield Silverhawks and J&B Painting. <\/p>\n

The organization was founded in 1994. From 1994-2006 the team name was Taylor Farms; from 2007-2008 the California LumberKings, and from 2009-Present the California A’s.<\/p>\n

In 2006, the California Lumberkings became the first California team to compete in the ISC II Tournament of Champions. A year later, the Lumberkings returned, and advanced all the way to the finals. In 2008, the Lumberkings reached the top of the mountain, winning the ISC II Tournament of Champions, in Appleton, Wisconsin. <\/p>\n

In 2009, the team stepped up to the next level, to competing in the ISC World Tournament, at Moline, Illinois (where the tournament is to be held again this year). <\/p>\n

For 2011, the team has bolstered its already star studded lineup, adding former World Champion Lucas Mata from Argentina to go with Sean Whitten, one of the hardest throwers in the game. Travis Price joins the club to round out one of the deepest pitching staffs in the world. All three are members of their respective National teams, Mata for Argentina, Whitten for Canada and Price for Team USA.<\/p>\n

The A’s have won back-to-back Best of the West, going for a three-peat in 2011. They also won the Cal Classic in San Diego last year.<\/p>\n

Top Hitters include Derek Mayson, Keven Schellenberg, Todd Budke, Paul Rosebush, Blake Miller and Darren Box.<\/p>\n

The team’s goal for 2011 is to become ISC World Tournament Champions. They are ranked # 3 in the world in the recently released ISC World Tournament pre-season rankings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Roster for the 2011 California A’s <\/strong>
\nCalifornia A’s<\/strong>
\n(pitchers in bold)<\/p>\n

\n

PITCHERS
\nMata\tLucas\t42\tPitcher\t\t\t\tBuenos Aires, Argentina
\nWhitten\tSean\t23\tPitcher\t\t\t\tCalgary, Alberta
\nPrice\tTravis\t34\tPitcher\tCorona, CA <\/p>\n

CATCHERS
\nRosthenhausler\tBobby\t7\tCatcher\tN\t\t\tTucson, NV
\nTwist\tJeff\t32\tCatcher\tN\t\t\tBakersfield, Ca<\/p>\n

INF
\nMayson\tDerek\t9\tInf\t\t\t\tNorth Vancouver, BC
\nBudke\tTodd\t27\tDH\/Inf\t\t\t\tLancaster, Ca
\nMiller\tBlake\t\tInf\t\t\t\tEugene, Or
\nSchellenberg\tKevin\t4\tInf\t\t\t\tSquamish, BC
\nCastillo\tKevin\t3\tInf\t\t\t\tLong Beach, Ca\t<\/p>\n

OF
\nGardner\tCalem\t16\tOF\t\t\t\tSquamish, BC
\nRosebush\tPaul\t17\tOF\t\t\t\tBakersfield, Ca
\nTurner\tChase\t77\tOF\t\t\t\tSan Jose, Ca
\nBox\tDarren\t33\tOF\t\t\t\tEdmonton, Alberta
\nPorto\tJason\t8\tOF\t\t\t\tElk Grove, Ca<\/p>\n

UTIL
\nTan\tMarcus\t2\tUtility\t\t\t\tUnion City, Ca
\nVillanueva\tBryan\t14\tUtility\t\t\t\tUnion City, Ca\t<\/p>\n

STAFF
\nField manager Weldin\tDavid\t\t\t11\tBakersfield, CA
\nCoach\tGuzman\tRon\t\t\t29\tSalinas, Ca
\nCoach\tHicks\tGreg\t\t\t6\tBakersfield, CA\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>
California A's catcher, Bob Rostenhausler (c), with Kevin Castillo (l) and Marcus Tan (r). Skipper Dave Weldin at far right. The A's are back-to-back champions from 2009 and 2010 and will be among the teams to beat in the 2011 Best of the West Tournament.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\nTeams in the 2011 Best of the West Tournament<\/strong>
\n(Click links for other team profiles)<\/p>\n

\nPool A
\nCalifornia A\u2019s
\nLiberty Fastpitch
\nThose Guys
\nBakersfield Silverhawks<\/a><\/strong>
\nJ&B Painting<\/p>\n

Pool B
\nCal-State Builders<\/a>
\nPala Braves
\nMaccabi USA
\nItalian Athletic Club<\/a>
\nCR A1 Rockies\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Click the logo to view Maddy's Photos from last year's Best of the West Tournament.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n