11 Bulldogs make baseball all-league teams
Ramona High School baseball coach Dean Welch said that winning a league championship requires a team effort, and that such team effort requires performances from the individuals on the team.
The Bulldogs, whose 13-2 record in Valley League play earned them the league championship, placed 11 players on all-league teams.
“I think it speaks to how well they came together as a group to win the championship,” Welch said. “Everybody had to do their part.”
Valley League baseball coaches selected the all-league teams. Ramona senior Gage Canning was chosen the league’s player of the year, and Ramona senior Blake Workman shared league pitcher of the year honors with Fallbrook senior Andy White.
Joining Canning and Workman on the first team were senior John Mackay and junior Zach Sherman.
“They did a tremendous job, and it’s nice to see them get recognized for their effort,” Welch said of the four first-team players. “They put up some ridiculous numbers.”
The all-league second team included juniors Todd Roberts, Dejan Lee and Dylan Spacke and sophomore Cameron Rowles. Juniors Carl Bunday and Tyler Dick and sophomore Adrian Collazo were honorable mention selections.
“It’s great to get Bulldogs all over the all-league team. It’s great for our school and our community,” Welch said.
Canning, an outfielder, was the Valley League’s player of the year for the second consecutive season.
“He produced offensively a great deal, and we’ve got kind of accustomed to seeing that from him,” Welch said.
In 2015 Canning batted .433 with 30 hits in 98 at-bats. His hits included 16 doubles, four triples and three home runs to give him a .773 slugging percentage. Canning scored 30 runs while driving in 25, and he stole eight bases.
If he is not drafted by a major league team, Canning will play college baseball at Arizona State University next year.
“Around league other coaches say that they’re glad to see him go,” Welch said.
Ramona’s overall record was 17-13. Workman had a 6-5 record in 13 pitching appearances, although with a 1.43 earned run average and an opposing batting average of .229. In 68-1/3 innings he allowed 64 hits and 19 walks while striking out 73 opponents.
Only one of the 307 batters he faced homered off him, and 18 of the 32 runs he allowed were unearned due to fielding errors. Workman also picked off 12 base runners during the season.
“It’s good to see the progress that he made,” Welch said. “To see him move right into that senior leadership role on the mound played a huge role in our success.”
Last year the Bulldogs’ starting rotation included 2014 seniors Kyle Wilson and C.J. Broussard as well as Workman, and Spacke was a relief pitcher. The graduations of Wilson and Broussard made Workman the Bulldogs’ pitching ace this year.
“He also got it done at the plate,” Welch said.
Workman played in the outfield and at first base when he wasn’t pitching.He batted .380 with 15 runs scored, 22 runs batted in, six doubles, and two home runs.
If Workman isn’t drafted, he will pitch for Cal State Fullerton next year.
Mackay, whose college options are still to be determined if he is not chosen in the draft, was the Bulldogs’ catcher. His .424 batting average was the result of 36 hits in 85 at-bats, and 14 walks drawn contributed to a .500 on-base percentage. Ten doubles and three home runs gave him a slugging percentage of .647. Mackay scored 22 times and had 26 runs batted in.
Sherman started three games on the mound but was primarily a first baseman and third baseman. His 41 hits in 101 at-bats produced a .406 batting average, and his .663 slugging percentage reflects 17 doubles and three home runs. Sherman scored 24 runs and drove in 33.
“Sherman put up some eye-popping numbers and Mackay was great,” Welch said.
Roberts played third base and first base and batted .303. Lee, a second baseman, had a .381 batting average. Rowles, the Bulldogs’ shortstop, hit .307.
On the mound Spacke, who also played outfield, was 5-3 with a 2.81 earned run average in nine appearances and struck out 39 batters in 37 1/3 innings.
Bunday, an outfielder, had a .313 batting average. Collazo batted .364 and played outfield, second base, and shortstop. Dick had a 2-1 record and one save in 13 appearances and posted a 2.08 earned run average. In 33-2/3 innings he struck out 36 opponents while walking only five.
The all-league selections mean that Ramona is expected to return eight all-league players for 2016.
“We definitely should have a competitive team next season,” Welch said. “Those seniors will be missed, and I feel fortunate for what they’ve accomplished and what they’ve helped this program be able to do. I’m proud to see them move on.”