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Baseball CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Catching Up With The Roadrunner Baseball Team

With just 2009 season crossing the halfway mark last week, CSUB baseball team members Jonathan Montoya (Fr., RHP), Mickey Jannis (Jr., RHP), Erik Draxton (JR., RHP) and Martin Medina (Fr., INF/RHP) sat down to answer a series of questions about the first part of their inaugural season, and what they are looking forward to during the second half of play.

Halfway through the season, how do you feel you have progressed as an individual and as a team?
MONTOYA: Individually I feel I have progressed and learned so much. As for the team, I feel we are still learning to become a winning team. We are a team that knows how to fight back, but we haven't learned how to just flat out win yet.
JANNIS: Individually I feel I have become more consistent and have been able to go deeper into games, throwing 153 pitches in a recent game. As a team we feel that we are playing a lot better. Every day we are improving.

Most memorable moment so far this season.
MONTOYA: Pitching the first complete game against Fresno State.
JANNIS: Martin Medina finishing off our first win.
MEDINA: Beating Fresno State.

Most memorable moment off the field so far this season.
MONTOYA: Trip to Venice with the guys.
JANNIS: The roadtrips.
DRAXTON: Going to Venice Beach.
MEDINA: Watching J-Rod dancing to techno.

Best roadtrip thus far.
MONTOYA: Fresno State because of the complete game.
JANNIS: Fresno State because we beat the defending College World Series champions.
DRAXTON: Fresno State weekend because we came together as a team.

Best roadtrip roommate.
MONTOYA: Nick Shannon.
DRAXTON: I got lucky and have two good roommates...JJ Henry and Eric Sanchez.
MEDINA: Korie Walkley.

Roadtrip you are most looking forward too during the second half of the season.
MONTOYA: Nebraska.
JANNIS: Reno, because I am from there so I will have a lot of friends and family at the games.
DRAXTON: Nebraska.
MEDINA: Missouri.

Team you are most looking forward to competing against during the second half of the season.
MONTOYA: Nebraska.
JANNIS: University of Nevada, Reno.
DRAXTON: Nebraska because of the stadium and the atmosphere. I love that feeling.
MEDINA: UCLA.

Area of your game you feel has improved the most.
MONTOYA: Fielding my position.
JANNIS: The command of my change-up. It's something I have worked on in the summer and fall and it has worked really well for me this season.
DRAXTON: My mental and physical sides are both progressing in relation to each other.
MEDINA: Locking in on every single pitch.

Area of your game you are most focused on improving during the remainder of the season.
MONTOYA: First-pitch strikes and making hitters try to hit MY pitch.
JANNIS: Just being more consistent with all of my pitches, which is getting better with every start.
DRAXTON: I need to work on my consistency and aggressiveness.

Best Coach Kernen moment.
MONTOYA: The Jimmy Conners act.
JANNIS: All his different quotes he has like, “Oops!”
DRAXTON: “You guys are right there on the edge of the cliff. NOW JUMP!!” (Ninth inning in our 4-3 win over Fresno State)

Biggest difference you've noticed between high school and college competition.
MONTOYA: College teams capitalize on mistakes every time.
MEDINA: Nothing is given at the college Division I level.

Describe the feeling of pitching a complete-game victory over defending national champs Fresno State.
MONTOYA: Have you ever had 2,000 fans, few cheering for you and most rooting for you to fail? It was the greatest feeling in my life. My heart was racing at a million miles per hour during the last pitch of the game. As soon as the last pitch hit J-Rod's glove I felt like God just raised me up and sat me on cloud nine. I didn't even know what to do with myself or how to react. One of my best friends told me, “You have to beat the best to be the best.” Well, I have beaten one of the best so that shows I have what it takes to play with the best.

You've pitched and played first base and third base. Which is your favorite position and why?
MEDINA: All of them. As long as I'm playing I don't care where I am.

Which of those positions is the most challenging? Why?
MEDINA: Third base because I never know when a ball will be hit to me. I have to expect it every pitch.

You are currently leading the team in doubles, home runs and RBIs. What goes through your mind when you step up to the plate?
MEDINA: If it's white and moving, I'm hitting it.

Explain the evolution for you in terms of transitioning from a closer/reliever to a starter.
JANNIS: The toughest part for me was getting my stamina to throw longer into games and developing my change up. I feel I have done that so far. I like starting better than closing and look forward to continuing to get better this season and into my senior year.
DRAXTON: I am working on having my ninth-inning closer attitude present during the entire game. Every inning needs to be like that ninth.

How is your preparation for each game different now as a starter?
JANNIS: It has changed a lot because you have more time to get ready before the game, rather than during the game as a closer. I start about one hour before the game with stretching and long toss before heading to the bullpen to start throwing off the mound.
DRAXTON: I have a more formatted warm-up and routine, but the attitude and approach stays the same ? do what it takes to win!

How does it feel to know you will forever go down in CSUB history as having earned the program's first ever win?
DRAXTON: It feels great. That is why I chose this program, to be the start of something that is going to be great when everyone buys in.

On an off-day during the season, what are you most likely doing?
MONTOYA: Going to class, study hall, doing laundry and just hanging out with the boys.
JANNIS: Sleep in, sit back and relax at my apartment.
DRAXTON: Sleeping in, eating a good breakfast, working out, going to school.
MEDINA: Homework.

Favorite pregame meal.
MONTOYA: Denny's even though they took two hours to prepare my breakfast.
JANNIS: I have to have a healthy breakfast so I like to have three scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, turkey sausage, toast and a glass of orange juice.
DRAXTON: Beef brisket.
MEDINA: Protein bar.

With the MLB season getting underway last week, which team are you hoping will win the World Series?
MONTOYA: Angels.
JANNIS: New York Yankees.
DRAXTON: Boston Red Sox.
MEDINA: Not the Yankees.


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Players Mentioned

Erik Draxton

#37 Erik Draxton

RHP
6' 4"
Junior
JJ Henry

#26 JJ Henry

3B
5' 10"
Junior
Mickey Jannis

#55 Mickey Jannis

RHP
5' 10"
Junior
Martin Medina

#30 Martin Medina

RHP/INF
5' 10"
Freshman
Jonathan Montoya

#19 Jonathan Montoya

LHP
5' 6"
Freshman
Eric Sanchez

#2 Eric Sanchez

SS/2B
5' 11"
Freshman
Nick Shannon

#9 Nick Shannon

RHP/INF
5' 11"
Junior
Korie Walkley

#8 Korie Walkley

RHP/INF
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Erik Draxton

#37 Erik Draxton

6' 4"
Junior
RHP
JJ Henry

#26 JJ Henry

5' 10"
Junior
3B
Mickey Jannis

#55 Mickey Jannis

5' 10"
Junior
RHP
Martin Medina

#30 Martin Medina

5' 10"
Freshman
RHP/INF
Jonathan Montoya

#19 Jonathan Montoya

5' 6"
Freshman
LHP
Eric Sanchez

#2 Eric Sanchez

5' 11"
Freshman
SS/2B
Nick Shannon

#9 Nick Shannon

5' 11"
Junior
RHP/INF
Korie Walkley

#8 Korie Walkley

5' 9"
Freshman
RHP/INF
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