LBSU report
Seattle Mariners pitcher and former Dirtbag Jason Vargas will be the keynote speaker at Long Beach State’s annual preseason gala, the Leadoff Dinner. The dinner will be held on Friday, January 22 at The Grand in Long Beach.
The social portion of the evening will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the night’s program at 7 p.m. which will include an introduction to the 2009 Dirtbags squad, words from head coach Mike Weathers and finish with a speech from Vargas. Tickets for the event can be found online at www.longbeachstate.com /RSVP.
Vargas enjoyed a tremendous comeback season this past year with the Mariners. After missing the 2008 season due to hip surgery, Vargas was acquired by Seattle for the 2009 season, where the 26-year-old set career highs in games played (23), games started (14) and innings pitched (91.2) while holding down a spot in the Mariners’ starting rotation.
Previously, Vargas has also pitched for the Florida Marlins and the New York Mets prior to being traded to the Mariners in a package deal that included another former Dirtbag in Jeremy Reed.
A two-way player at Long Beach State, Vargas played one season with the Dirtbags after transferring from Cypress College. Vargas earned first-team All-Big West honors as a utility player after compiling a 7-4 record on the mound while hitting .354 with 14 doubles and five home runs as a designated hitter. He also helped take the 2004 squad all the way to the Super Regionals, which the Dirtbags hosted at Blair Field.
In its 18th year, the Leadoff Dinner has featured many baseball greats as the keynote speaker, including former Dirtbags and professionals Jered Weaver, Mike Gallo, Bobby Crosby, Jason Giambi and the 2008 speaker Troy Tulowitzki. Additionally, many other baseball greats like Tommy Lasorda, Sparky Anderson, Mike Scoscia, Tony Muser, Bill Russell, Bert Blyleven and Terry Collins have honored the event with a featured appearance.
Other preseason events scheduled for Long Beach State baseball will follow the leadoff dinner. The annual alumni golf tournament is set for Friday, January 29 at Recreation Park Golf Course adjacent to Blair Field, and the following day on Saturday, January 30, Long Beach State will welcome back their alumni for game at Blair Field prior to an intrasquad scrimmage with the current Dirtbags. For more information on either of those events, please call the Long Beach State baseball office at (562) 985-4661.