Ports to honor area baseball, softball stars
"We're very excited to celebrate the accomplishments of Tyler and Cheryl, two terrific athletes," said Danielle Alt, Ports community relations manager. "The Ports are proud to continue to support and recognize outstanding members of the Stockton community."
Tyler Eppler, a senior at Bear Creek High School, will be honored as the top baseball player in the Greater Stockton area. He was selected as the SJAA Offensive Player of the Year and was named a Stockton Record first-team selection for his strong work during the 2008 season. Eppler, who has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, batted .455 with seven doubles, seven triples, one home run and 32 RBIs last season. He also caught seven of eight runners trying to steal against him. Eppler led the team as captain and picked up the team MVP award for his work in 2008. Eppler, the son of Mark and Diane Eppler, has been the Bear Creek starting catcher since his freshman year, and earned SJAA Honorable Mention his freshman and sophomore years. He has also played for the San Francisco Giants Scout Team for the past two years, making the NorCal All-Star Scout Team in 2008. He is coached by John Stevenson.
"I am thrilled to be selected as the 2008 Greater Stockton High School Baseball Player of the Year," Eppler said. "Ever since I have touched a baseball, I have always wanted to go to college and play baseball. After college, I would like to play professional baseball, and have hopes and dreams of one day being a big league player."
Cheryl Freitas, a senior at St. Mary's High School, will be honored as the Greater Stockton Area Softball Player of the Year at the Hot Stove Banquet. She was a Stockton Record first-team selection and named the TCAL MVP for her outstanding performance in 2008. Under the instruction of Coach Bob Harmon, the third baseman hit .586 with five doubles, four triples, one home run and 21 RBIs. Freitas, who played softball as a child with the Pacific Little League and Stockton Girls Softball Association, has been a starter on the varsity softball team at St. Mary's since her freshman year. She won First-Team honors her freshman year, All-Area honors her sophomore year, and All-Area honors with the League MVP her junior year. Freitas, who has signed a letter of intent to San Jose State University to play softball, is the daughter of Jim and Cindy Freitas.
"The most important part of this experience and my whole softball career rests in the hands of those who have helped me through the years," Freitas said. "I could not have done this without my friends and family to support me the whole way through. I am so excited to go play for Peter Turner at San Jose State University. He has helped me since I was around 12 years old and has never lost faith in me."
The Hot Stove Banquet, in addition to honoring Eppler and Freitas, will provide fans with an opportunity to hear Oakland A's manager Bob Geren speak before he heads off to Spring Training. Fans can also meet new Ports manager, Aaron Nieckula. There will also be a silent auction and raffle of baseball memorabilia from Minor and Major League teams.
The cost to attend the banquet is $50 per plate for adults, $30 per plate for children and $450 for a preferred table of 10. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Stockton Ports Anchor Fund, which aids several community projects, with a focus on youth centers and youth sports.
To purchase tickets for the Ports Hot Stove Banquet, or for more information, please contact the Ports front office at (209) 644-1900.