Web dirtbagsbaseball.blogspot.com

Dirtbags Sign SF Bay Area's Tweedy

Tweedy decides Dirtbags are right fit for him
Long Beach State's successful baseball program attracts Ohlone star
By Steve R. Waterhouse, STAFF WRITER

FREMONT - A year ago Jason Tweedy suffered a dislocated ankle and missed the fall-ball baseball season at Ohlone College.

That after the shortstop was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 26th round of the amateur draft in June of 2004 out of Newark Memorial High.

"It was hard knowing I couldn't go out there," said Tweedy, who missed six months. "I knew if I was patient, it would work out."

He made his way back to the field this year, but it wasn't until midway through the season that he felt 100 percent.

On Thursday at Ohlone - with family, friends and former and current coaches surrounding him - Tweedy signed on the dotted line to continue his playing and educational careers at Long Beach State.

Tweedy will finish his sophomore year at Ohlone and plans to leave for Long Beach in August.

"The last few months have been hectic," Tweedy said. "This definitely takes the pressure off. I'm looking forward to this year."

Long Beach State, whose mascot is the 49ers, but the baseball team's common nickname is the Dirtbags, began to show interest in Tweedy last spring. He was also recruited by Fresno State, UNLV, Houston and Hawaii. But in the end, it was the school with the best reputation that won the battle.

"Once they showed interest, I was interested," Tweedy said.

In a press release, Tweedy said: "I'd like to play beyond college, and the best way to make that happen is to play great competition. At Long Beach, I'll be competing against great players in every practice, and we'll face great teams in every game."

Tweedy said he'll get the opportunity to battle for a starting position as soon as he arrives.

Tweedy, who throws right but bats left, was an All-Coast Conference infielder last year. He batted .314 with an on-base percentage of .393.

He led the team in hits (44), runs (26), RBIs (26) and doubles (11). His five home runs tied him for the team lead as Ohlone went 17-21 overall.

Long Beach State is one of the top baseball programs in the country. The Dirtbags have been in the College World Series four times in the past 17 years. They've won four CWS titles, been to 15 regionals and won seven Big West Conference crowns. They have 13 former players playing in the major leagues.

Tweedy joins a long list of Ohlone players to play for a Division I program. Since 2002, 31 former Renegades have moved on to a four-year college.

"Jason Tweedy is an exceptional player," coach Paul Moore said in a press release. "He's made an outstanding choice. Jason has turned down bigger offers to attend Long Beach State because he has higher goals and sees the Dirtbag program as a better way to reach those goals. It's attitudes like these which make Jason attractive to both players and coaches, which says a great deal about him as a person."

Playing shortstop at Long Beach could bring a lot of exposure for Tweedy. Oakland A's shortstop Bobby Crosby was a the 25th pick back in 2001 out of Long Beach. And last year, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was selected higher than any other Dirtbag in history when he was taken with the seventh overall pick by the Colorado Rockies.

Long Beach State finished 37-22 overall mark and a No.18 ranking in the Collegiate Baseball final poll last season.