Fastpitchwest Forum – Savala Rounders
2006 Savala Rounders Roster
Brett Baker,Matt Barnes, Ken Crawford, Lanell Culver, Lou Enriquez, Erik Geierman, Carlos Gonzalez, Mike Hemperly, Donald Jewett, Scott Leckers, Mitch Mendenhall, Tom Morton, John Simmers, Russ Snow, Mike Thomas, Marc Villalobos, Cary Weiler, and Don Younger.
Editor’s notes: Longtime Rounder manager Ron Kirby has retired, but Mitch Mendenhall will help continue the Rounder tradition. Mitch is the lone member of last year’s pitching staff to return, but will be joined by a trio of talented arms. Al Savala, one of the game’s generous benefactors, has come aboard as the team’s sponsor.
Big-time pitching additions of Cary Weiler, Russ Snow and Matt Barnes will enable the new-look Rounders to compete at the next level, as one of six teams to be bumped up in classification by the ASA. All three have thrown open ball, and know how to win. Veteran catchers Don Younger and Mike Hemperly will provide the team with a solid battery and leadership, while Michael “Spanky” Thomas will anchor the infield defense as the team’s onfield general, along with Mark Villalobos, giving the squad a Rodriguez-Jeter-type combo on the left side of the infield. All Americans Eric Geierman and Tom Morton return, as does impact player Linnell Culver and solid stick John Simers. Gerald Pyle has moved over to A-1 Tank, but the team (still) has tremendous power with Morton and Culver in the middle of the order. The longest running member of the team, Donald Jewett, whose versatile talents have been a key to the team’s success, is healthy again and back with the team. Leckers, Baker, Barnes, Crawford, Enriquez, Gonzales add some new faces and talent to the team, which will compete in the So Cal ASA A/B league, as well as a number of tournaments, including Pantera’s Valentine’s, Red Rock, Best of the West, and the ASA “B” Nationals in September.