Bergman hot pitcher in Alaska League

Several UC Irvine baseball players have extended their summer league seasons as their teams have advanced to playoffs. Christian Bergman and catcher Francis Larson, both of whom will be juniors in 2009, earned all-league recognition in the Alaska Baseball League.

Bergman, pitching with the Anchorage Bucs, was named to the first-team ABL All-Star team after posting a 4-2 record with a 1.34 earned-run average. The right-hander struck out 34 in 62 1/3 innings while allowing just nine earned runs. Bergman also shared ABL All-Star second team Player of the Year honors with Joe Gardner of the Peninsula Oilers. Bergman pitched three complete games in eight starts.

Larson was named a second-team All-Star with the Peninsula Oilers and is competing at the National Baseball Congress World Series that runs through Aug. 15. The Oilers finished third in the league and opened action with an 11-1 win against the Southern California Bombers. The team then defeated the Clarinda A’s of Iowa, 11-7, and faced the Crestwood Panthers (Illinois) Friday. In 38 games, Larson hit .176 in 136 at-bats, with one home run and 14 RBIs.

Outfielder Tony Asaro, playing with the Alaska League champion Glacier Pilots, is also competing at the NBC World Series. The Pilots defeated the Southern Tulsa Diamond Jaxx, 10-0, in their first game and faced the Colorado Sox Thursday. Asaro, who will be a senior next season, was hitting .261 in 111 at-bats with one homer and 15 RBIs.

UCI pitcher Crosby Slaught and the Santa Barbara Foresters won the California League title and routed the Wichita Wild Wings, 20-2, in their first game at the NBC World Series. The Foresters met the Plaza Tire Capahas from Missouri Friday. Slaught will be a sophomore next season.

Alaska Goldpanners teammates Casey Stevenson and Reid Suitor, both of whom will be juniors in 2009, have concluded their seasons. Stevenson hit .270 in 122 at-bats, including a team-leading 13 extra-base hits and 18 RBIs. Stevenson, who hit one homer and eight doubles, was not thrown out in eight stolen-base attempts.

Suitor was 1-1 with an 8.76 ERA in 12 1/3 innings, spanning eight appearances. The right-hander struck out five and walked five.

First baseman Jeff Cusick, coming off his sophomore season at UCI, helped the Harwich Mariners make the Cape Cod League playoffs.

Cusick hit .183 in 71 regular-season at-bats, with one homer and 12 RBIs.