Pioneer Points
- April 25, 2013
The end of our spring sports schedule is drawing near as we enter the month of May, but Pioneer Athletics has some exciting events upcoming in the next few weeks, plus major changes ahead. We have lots to celebrate on the playing field, as the past month was filled with impressive accomplishments by our student-athletes.
Our baseball team is having its best season in years, and they’re right in the thick of the conference playoff race. Recently, the Pioneers won three out of four games against Cal State Dominguez Hills in their final home series of the year. Senior pitcher Matt Fontaine beat the Toros with a complete game in the opener. He then picked up another win in relief two days later in the series finale. The Tracy native was named CCAA Pitcher of the Week on Apr. 22 for his efforts.
Our women’s water polo team started April off right with three straight wins and an outstanding showing at the Bronco Invitational, hosted by Santa Clara University. With 14 goals each during the weekend of April 5 through 7, senior Claire Pierce and junior Sara Hudyn were named Co-Players of the Week by the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA).
The following week, East Bay took second place at the first annual CCAA Invitational in Fresno. They were edged out by 17th-ranked University of California, San Diego in the championship game by a score of 9-8. On Aprill 22, three members of the Pioneer water polo team were named to the WWPA All-Conference teams. Hudyn, who set a school record with 107 goals this season, earned first team honors. Pierce was selected to the second team and will graduate this year as CSUEB’s all-time leading scorer. Jennifer Lightbody was picked for the WWPA All-Freshman team.
The men’s and women’s golf teams are wrapping up successful seasons, with both hoping to earn bids to the NCAA Division II West Regionals the first weekend in May. Earlier this month, the men placed ninth out of 16 teams at the Regional Preview tournament in Dupont, Wash. Senior Chris Herzog finished in fourth place and was recognized as the CCAA Golfer of the Week on April 10, his second such honor of the season. The Pioneers, currently ranked No. 9 in the West Region, followed that up with a sixth-place finish at the CCAA Championships in Paso Robles. After the tournament, Herzog was named to the 2012-13 All-CCAA team.
We had big news in April as our longtime men’s basketball coach, Will Biggs, made his decision to retire after 16 seasons at Cal State East Bay. He is the winningest men’s basketball coach in Pioneer history with 223 career victories. I want to personally thank Will for all his hard work and dedication. He brought many outstanding student-athletes to our campus over the years and mentored them to become positive influences in our community. His career is certainly one to be celebrated, and the entire Athletic Department offers Will our congratulations and best wishes for retirement.
We’re just a couple weeks away from our 17th annual CSUEB Golf Classic and dinner. The event will take place on Monday, May 13 at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, a gorgeous course just up the hill from campus. The tournament supports the Richard and Susan Sherratt Athletic Scholarship. Even if you don’t wish to golf, please join us and enjoy the benefit dinner, which will feature both a silent auction and raffle.
That same weekend is the first annual Hayward Hills 5K at East Bay. On Saturday, May 11, Pioneer Athletics will host a 5K run/walk, as well as a free fun run for kids (ages 12 and under) through our beautiful campus. Afterwards there will be an expo with food and entertainment. Please join us for what promises to be a fun-filled day, help support the track and cross country teams and bring a distance race back to the City of Hayward.
Go Pioneers!