Dirtbags Baseball - Long Beach State 49ers

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Friday, November 11, 2005

Pierce College's Cabrera Commits To Long Beach State

From the L.A. Daily News:

Pierce College baseball player Willie Cabrera, a former Chatsworth High All-American, committed to Long Beach State. The second baseman/outfielder had a state-record 72 hits as a senior at Chatsworth, helping the Chancellors go undefeated en route to the 2004 City and national championship. He was the City Co-Player of the Year and Daily News Player of the Year that season.

Chatsworth HS was Baseball America's 2004 High School Team of the Year. Here's BA's comments on Willie Cabrera:

The one-sided affair was something Chatsworth was accustomed to. The Chancellors cruised to run-rule wins in 17 of their 35 games, outscoring their opposition 372-67. They batted .418 as a team and set a school record with 49 home runs.

It all began with senior second baseman Willie Cabrera, who held down the leadoff spot a year after a knee injury ended his junior season early. Cabrera led the team in average (.545) and runs (60) but more significantly provided the pivotal play Chatsworth needed to complete the season undefeated.

The Chancellors trailed Kennedy High of Granada Hills 7-1 in the semifinals of the sectional playoffs before Cabrera hit a solo homer to lead off the fourth inning. The home run sparked a rally, with Chatsworth scoring five times in the inning and plating four more in the fifth on its way to a 10-7 victory.

"It was one of the biggest hits of the season, if not the biggest," coach Tom Meusborn said. "Here was a guy chasing a record, we're trailing in that game and seven was the most we had given up all year. When Willie hit that home run, you just got the feeling, 'OK, here we go.' "

Cabrera's home run fueled Chatsworth's comeback and also broke the California record for hits in a season, topping current Rangers catcher Gerald Laird's mark of 68, set with La Quinta High in 1998. Cabrera's finished the season with 72 hits.

posted on 11/11/2005 by Jeff Agnew

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