Six Bulldog baseball players picked for 2012 All Palomar League team

By Bill Tamburrino

Six Ramona bulldog baseball players were selected to the All-Palomar League 2012 baseball team.

Three Bulldog seniors ended their careers as All-Palomar selections: Jackson Willeford, Beau Sulser and Harrison McGhee.

Willeford, who has made a verbal commitment to the University of Arizona, made the first team as a shortstop. Willeford led the team in hits, hitting, home runs, runs scored and runs batted in (RBI). The senior slugger stroked 39 hits while hitting .398. He scored 32 runs, drove in 28 runs and hit 11 home runs despite being pitched around most of the season. He also received a team high 23 bases on balls and was hit by three pitches. Willeford also led the team in stolen bases with 15. He led the team with a .516 on-base percentage and with a .806 slugging percentage.

“He had an outstanding career. He handled the pressure of having scouts at every game and being pitched around. He maintained his discipline at the plate and had a great year,” said Coach Dean Welch.

Sulser made the first team as a pitcher and third baseman and has committed to playing for Dartmouth University next season. Sulser hit .347 with 22 RBIs. He led the team with nine doubles and hit one home run. He had an on-base percentage of .459 and a slugging percentage of .469. He stole five bases.

Sulser was the work horse of the pitching staff. He went 7-5 with two saves and led the team in appearances with 18. He had a team low 2.60 ERA. He struck out 74 in 80.67 innings pitched.

“Beau was our go-to guy on the mound and he came through in the clutch at the plate. He made several teams pay for pitching around Jackson with key hits and RBI. He is a complete baseball player,” said Welch.

McGhee was selected to All-Palomar League second team as a pitcher. McGhee went 4-4 on the year with a 3.11 earned run average (ERA). He struck out a team high 85 in 69.67 innings. He held opponents to a .171 batting average.

“Harrison pitched consistently well and had some great outings. He gave us a chance to win every time he pitched. He deserved the all-league pick,” Welch said.

Sulser and McGhee both pitched no-hitters for the Bulldogs.

Rhett Williams, Kevin Hagan and Brandon Fitzpatrick all received honorable mention on 2012 All-Palomar baseball team.

Williams made the squad as a pitcher. He went 3-5 on the season with a 4.42 ERA. He had 21 strike-outs in 50.67 innings.

Hagan was a utility player for the Bulldogs. He played third base and outfield. He hit .292 with 12 RBIs, four doubles, a triple and a home run.

Fitzpatrick made the squad as an outfielder. He hit .264 with 12 RBIs and six doubles.

“Having six Bulldogs make the All-Palomar League team is quite an accomplishment. We played in the toughest league in the CIF and we played the toughest schedule since I have been coaching at RHS. All six represented themselves and Ramona High extremely well. It is a fantastic reward for our three seniors and nice recognition for Rhett, Kevin and Brandon going into next season. I am very proud of all of them,” said Welch.