The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

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The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

Baseball team compete behind new coach

The City College baseball team will rely upon pitching and defense to win games this season after a record setting year in terms of home runs and batting averages.

Opening day starter Colby Morse leads a strong pitching staff which also features San Jose City College transfer Jacob Dexter and Kylin Turnbull, who returns after a promising freshman year.

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“We expect to be in the playoffs, we expect to compete for a conference title,” said new head coach Ryan Thompson.

“We pitch and play defense with the best of them,” he said adding, “we’re going to be there in the end.”

On the offensive end, sophomore catcher Tommy White is expected to carry the load on a team comprised of many unproven hitters.

White hit a .424 average last season, a mark that sits as second best in school history.

Now he’s transitioning from left field back to catcher this season after recovering from Tommy John surgery to repair torn ligaments in his elbow.

Before the procedure, White was limited in his defensive play.

“We all know he can hit,” said Thompson, “He needs to stabilize himself defensively and when he does so, he will be one of the best players in the state.”

One obstacle that White and all hitters will have to adjust to this year is the introduction of new, safer metal bats to college baseball.

But the price for safety is steep.

The so-called “sweet spot” on the bat has shrunk from 22 to just five inches, causing coaches and players alike to predict much lower offensive numbers nationwide.

This will also be Thompson’s first season as head coach.

“I always knew I’d be back, it feels great,” said the Dos Pueblos High alumni. “It’s a fun place to be and we’ve got a great group of guys here.”

Thompson was an assistant coach at Cuesta College for five years before accepting his first head-coaching job at Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego.

In just three years, Thompson turned a “bottom of the barrel” program into a powerhouse, leading them to their first league title in school history.

Under Thomson’s coaching, Scripps Ranch also had more players drafted into the major leagues than any other high school in the state last year.

City College opened up the season with a three-game series against Cabrillo College, losing all three to open the season 0-3.

The Vaqueros also hosted their annual “Leadoff Dinner” on Saturday. The team relies heavily upon the money received from donations and fundraisers like these to support their program.

“If we raise $2,000 we’re happy,” said head coach Ryan Thompson, “If we raise $7,000 we’re (ecstatic).”

Thompson also emphasized that the importance of the event not only lies in raising money, but also in becoming familiar with the players and their families.

The Vaqueros will travel to Sylmar on Tuesday before returning home on Saturday to face Saddleback in pursuit of their first win of the season. 

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