Pacific Baseball: Sprague Adds Six For 2011 Baseball Season During Early NLI Signing Period
Casillas, a 6-3 220-pound sophomore, will join the Tigers after transferring from Palomar Junior College where he served as a first baseman. Casillas served his first season at Palomar JC alongside current Pacific pitcher Matt Carvutto.
During the 2009 season, Alfonso dominated the junior college ranks and walked away with multiple accolades highlighted by All-America honors. After leading the team with a stellar .442 batting average, 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 35 RBI to lead the way for his .775 slugging percentage in just his freshman campaign, Casillas was named First Team All-State as well as First Team All-Pacific Coast Conference. His recognition soared from Palomar JC also, where he earned the Silver Slugger Award given to the team's top hitter. Alfonso's name has been littered across the Comets' all-time single season lists, including the ninth hitter in Palomar history to reach 35 RBI in one season. Behind Casillas's power numbers, the Comets finished 36-13-1 overall and dominated the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) with a 19-6 record and a PCC title to move on into the finals of the Super Regional. At the conclusion of the season, the Comets were ranked No. 11 in the nation.
Prior to his collegiate experience, Alfonso lettered for two seasons at Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif., where he graduated in 2007. During his senior year at Vista Murrieta, Casillas hit .359 with a .481 OBP and a significant .578 slugging percentage. He capped off his freshman campaign tallying 23 hits and accounted for 14 of the Broncos' runs. Alfonso helped his squad to a 28-4 overall finish after going undefeated, 12-0, in the Southwestern League. As a junior in his first year on the varsity squad, Casillas went .375 at the plate and posted similar numbers to precede his senior season, as he recorded a .471 on base percentage and a .554 slugging percentage.
A 6-1, 180-pound senior from Granite Bay High School in Granite Bay, Calif., Drongesen will give Pacific a depth of options in the field as he has experience at second, third base, shortstop and catcher.
Riley finished his junior season, and first varsity year, helping the Grizzlies to a 21-11 record capped off by a 14-4 finish in the Sierra Foothill League. That season Drongesen lit up the opposition with a phenomenal .455 batting average, .500 OBP and a potent .818 slugging percentage. His complimented his offensive numbers with a perfect glove, recording a 1.000 fielding percentage in the field. Last season, the Grizzlies made a run for the Division II championships and closed out the year as runners-up to local rivals Rocklin High School in the championship round.
A two-year varsity starter at Brighton High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, Essig is a 5-10, 170-pound outfielder in his senior season.
At Brighton HS, Brian's talent was regionally recognized as the team captain when he earned all-region first team for his performance on the diamond. At Brighton Essig took home the Brighton HS Slugger Award upon the conclusion of the 2009 season for leading the team in batting average with a .462. As a senior, Essig drove in 25 runs, tallied 13 extra-base hits and posted a .672 slugging percentage. The outfielder also compiled a .885 fielding percentage in his senior season.
Taasaas is a 6-2, 185-pound catcher from Franklin High School in Elk Grove, Calif., and has earned varsity letters in each of his three years at Franklin HS. As one the Wildcats' tri-captain in his junior season, Jason hit .377 in 27 games with Franklin HS during the 2008-09 season along with a .505 OBP, .464 slugging percentage and a .988 fielding percentage as a catcher. For his efforts, Taasaas was named First Team All-Delta Valley League. As a junior, he was also asked to represent Northern California as a part of the Area Code team in the second Rawlings NorCal World Series.
During Taasaas's sophomore season he also enjoyed a successful campaign both at the plate and behind it, hitting .226 with 14 hits and a .994 fielding percentage that included 162 putouts.
A 6-2, 195-pound LHP who splits time at first base, Lockwood currently plays for Broomfield High School in Broomfield, Colo.
During Lockwood's junior season, he was named a 4A All-State pitcher by the Denver Post and also claimed First Team All-Northern League honors after striking out 12 of 16 batters faced in the five-inning district championship game that earned Broomfield a No. 1 seed. In that game Lockwood helped the Eagles preserve a 13-0 victory that was called early due to the mercy rule. In 2009, Broomfield HS finished 21-3 with a 21-game winning streak after dropping the season-opener, before falling in the double-elimination state championship tournament. The Eagles claimed the league and district titles in 2009 to advance into the state tournament with the No. 1 seed.
Gomez is a 5-9, 165-pound shortstop and RHP who has earned three varsity letters at St. Francis Central Coast High School in Watsonville, Calif.
As a junior in 2009, Gomez tallied an extraordinary .567 batting average with 51 hits, including 19 extra-base hits. He also drove in 34 runs while accounting for 40 of the Sharks' runs himself. On the basepath, Curtis snagged 36 bases in 37 stealing attempts. From the mound he compiled a 4.57 ERA over the span of 23 innings pitched while striking out 19. His 1-2 record in seven appearances helped the Sharks to a 17-12-1 overall record last year. For his efforts at short, Gomez was named First Team All-Santa Cruz Coast League.
During Gomez's sophomore campaign over the 2008 season he tallied a .415 batting average complete with 27 hits that included six doubles and three home runs for a total of 28 RBI. That gave Curtis a .646 slugging percentage which helped him earn second team all-league accolades.
Pacific's six new recruits will look to make contributions to the team beginning in the 2011 season.