Next stop for CSUEB baseball...Japan

• May 23, 2013 5:00am

This August, the Cal State East Bay baseball team will be traveling to Japan for a week of friendly competition with the Fukuoka Institute of Technology (FIT). The trip will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Pioneer players to engage culturally with other student-athletes and compete on the international stage.

"This team is a special, tight-knit group of players, so it's great that they'll be able to take this trip to Japan together," said Pioneer head coach Bob Ralston. "They'll get to experience a different culture, different language, and different style of baseball. I think going abroad will be a great experience for these young men and their growth as student-athletes."

CSUEB is coming off one of its best baseball seasons ever. The Pioneers went 32-18, matching the school record for wins. They were 23-6 at home, reached a peak of No. 22 in the national rankings, and placed fifth in the CCAA, the program's best finish since joining the conference. Eight players were selected to the All-CCAA teams, which was also a record. Among numerous stellar individual performances, junior pitcher Sean Becker was named CCAA Co-Newcomer of the Year and second-team All-West Region, and senior third baseman Kyle Zozaya was voted CSUEB's Male Athlete of the Year for 2012-13.  

"Our upcoming trip to Japan will give our players the opportunity to get a different perspective on the world and where they fit in it," added associate head coach and former MLB player Darren Lewis. "It may be the only chance for some of our players to take a trip out of the United States, and they will never forget it. This journey will be a fantastic way for the players to culminate an extremely successful 2013 season!"

Cal State East Bay is accepting gifts in order to relieve some of the cost off the players for this unique cultural experience. Please make an online donation.

Thanks for your support and go Pioneers!

SC/KL