Baseball players earn accolades
Nine Ramona Bulldog baseball players were honored on the 2010 All Valley League Baseball Team. Three Dawgs also made the prestigious Spring 2010 All North County Baseball Team.
Seniors Cody Willingham and Kyle Gray and sophomore Jackson Willeford were named to the first team.
Willingham is a returner to the squad and for the second consecutive year was the Valley League Pitcher of the Year. He had a 2.56 ERA in league action and won four Valley League games against no losses. He struck out 43 batters in 30.33 innings and was also named to the All North County team based on his season stats. He was 9-2 on the season with a North County high 114 strikeouts in 82.33 innings with a 2.13 ERA.
Gray had a monster season and made the All Valley League squad as an outfielder. He hit a blazing .488 in league play, three home runs, six doubles, 18 RBIs and stole two bases. He was named to the All North County second team.
Jackson Willeford made the team at shortstop. He hit .432 in league with four home runs, 10 RBIs and stole eight bases. He was named to the All North County second team and had seven home runs on the season.
Seniors Alex “Smiley” Willeford and Erik Ernst and sophomore Beau Sulser were also selected to the second team All Valley League.
Smiley Willeford was the catcher for the Bulldogs and was named the Most Valuable Player for 2010.
“Our pitchers had a great season and Smiley played a big part in their success,” said coach Dean Welch.
Willeford can also swing a bat. He hit .405 in league play with five RBIs. He stole one base.
Ernst made the squad as a pitcher. Ernst went 4-1 in league action with 25 strikeouts in 24 innings. He had a 3.36 ERA and an 8-3 record on the season.
Sulser made the team as a utility player. As a pitcher he went 1-1 with a 0.93 ERA in league play. He struck out 13 in 14 innings. When not on the mound, Sulser played third base and swung a mean bat. He hit .354 with one home run, six doubles and 15 RBIs. He stole one base.
Seniors Brady Wilson and James Nicholson and junior Blake Drake received honorable mention All Valley League.
Wilson made the squad for the third time. The second baseman hit .319 in league with four doubles and a triple and nine RBI. He led the league with six stolen bases.
Nicholson played first base and was used as a designated hitter. He hit .275 with one home run, two doubles and eight RBIs.
Drake manned center field for the Bulldogs and had a stellar defensive season. He hit .375 in league play with two home runs, a double and 10 RBIs. He stole three bases.
The All CIF team has yet to be named.
Eleven Bulldogs were selected to the Spring San Diego Union-Tribune All Academic Team. Only juniors and seniors are eligible for the team.
Seven seniors made the team. Shea Bailey (3.19), Gray (4.42), Ernst (3.73), Willingham (3.89), Wilson (3.66), Smiley Willeford (3.40) and Nicholson (3.17) not only pitched and hit the baseball; they also hit the books.
Juniors Jason Snodgrass (3.21), Casmir Mason (3.65), Zach Adamos (3.09) and Michael Scodellaro (3.41) made the All Academic squad.