From Fastpitchwest’s California Forum, courtesy of Ron Guzman:
Taylor Farms Athletics Team Report
ARRIVALS: C Jeff Twist(free agent from Painters), 2B/3B Russ Gozzola (free agent from Painters), IF/OF James Close (free agent), IF Lonnie Meeks (free agent), 3B/OF John Pruneda (free agent from Painters), 1B Eddie Martin (free agent from Painters), CF Shaun Mandolesi (free agent Painters), RHP Ron Mizener (free agent from Painters), RHP Rob Davis (free agent), RHP Dude Ibarra (free agent shockers), OF Jeff Coleman (trade from Painters). Manager Raymond Gomes (free agent).
RETURNING: 2B David Zuniga, RHP Joe Given, RHP Leland Grisby JR., C Dustin Carpreso, SS Pat Fuentes, IF Pete Martinez, 1B/OF Chris Bunch, OF Pat Ferierra, OF Ron Guzman.
DEPARTURES: IF Todd Giacalome (Free agent), CF Damian Ryan (free agent), RHP Randy Watt (free agent), RHP Leland Grisby SR. (free agent), C Brian Bruce (free agent), 1B David Cardoza (free agent), INF Richard Long (free agent), OF Brendon Hamea (free agent). Good Luck Gentlemen!
2006 Roster
C Jeff Twist
C Dustin Carpreso,
IF Russ Gozzola
IF David Zuniga
IF Lonnie Meeks
IF Pat Fuentes
IF Eddie Martin
IF Pete Martinez
IF/OF John Pruneda
IF/OF James Close
IF/OF Chris Bunch,
OF Shaun Mandolesi
OF Jeff Coleman
OF Pat Ferierra,
OF Ron Guzman.
RHP Ron Mizener
RHP Rob Davis
RHP Dude Ibarra
RHP Joe Given,
RHP Leland Grisby JR.,
General Manager: Ron Guzman
Manager: Raymond Gomes
Sponsor: Taylor Farms California, Inc.
Team Name: Taylor Farms Athletics
Team Colors: Navy Blue / Las Vegas Gold
Mascot: Bud Light Bottle
Editor’s Notes: Looks like a merger of a nucleus of last year’s Taylor Farms, which finished 3rd among 70 teams in the ASA “C” Nationals in Stockton, CA, and the California Painters, one of California’s top teams, which won last year’s Red Rock tournament with the additions of Canadian pitchers Dean Holoien and Wayne Wells. Addition of hard throwing Robbie Davis should kick things up a notch. Now that Taylor and many other top “C” teams have been moved to “B”, things opening up for the better throwers on the “B” pitchers list. Only question mark about pitching on this squad is who’ll get the ball. With 4 in the well, that’s a great card game going on in that bullpen. Last year’s Red Rock MVP, Jeff Twist a great addition to the squad, at the plate, and with great skills behind the dish. (Twist played in the San Francisco Giants system before coming to fastpitch.) Sledgehammer’s Rumor Central just released a pre-season Top 10 for California teams. After the two top open teams, Bombers, and Team Rainey, it looks like some great competition brewings between the next tier of ISC II/ASA B teams, spawned by the “bump up” rule. A-1 Tank and the Lumberkings are among those throwing their hat in the ring for spots in the ISC II Tournament of Champions in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Taylor Farms and the Rounders have added pitching that would appear to put them in the same class, with a number of other teams bumped from “C” to “B” (Raymar, Amigos, Black Sox, and more) looking to move up in the ‘hammer’s rankings. (See post above for first set of rankings)