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More honors for former Golden Knight <b>Christian Bergman</b>

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The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level.

Christian Bergman (St. Francis High, 2006) starting pitcher, Modesto Nuts: Bergman, a former All-Area Player of the Year, likely won’t forget what he’s accomplished this season with the Nuts, the class-A advanced affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Simply put, he’s garnered impressive accolades.

Bergman, who was selected as the California League Pitcher of the Year, was slated to start Wednesday’s playoff game against the host San Jose Giants.

In his final regular season appearance, the right-hander yielded seven hits, one walk and two runs to help Modesto post a 5-2 victory against the Stockton Ports on Aug. 29. Bergman struck out three in six innings to become just the second player to notch 16 wins in the club’s history, according to the Modesto Bee.

“This was a solid day,” Bergman told the Bee. “I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”

As an additional bonus, the victory clinched a playoff spot for the Nuts in the league’s North Division.

In Bergman’s previous appearance Aug. 24 against the Bakersfield Blaze, he surrendered two hits and struck out eight in eight innings to lead the Nuts to a 2-0 win.

Through 27 starts, Bergman is 16-5 with a 3.65 earned-run average. Bergman’s also tops in the league in innings pitched (162.2) and is tied for third in WHIP (1.22), to go along with 121 strikeouts.

Alonzo Gonzalez (Glendale Community College, 2012) starting pitcher, Bluefield Blue Jays: Gonzalez, a former member of the Glendale Angelenos who was selected in the 18th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, made quite a debut with the Blue Jays’ rookie affiliate in the Appalachian League.

For his solid work on the mound, Gonzalez was named the league’s pitcher of the week for the week of Aug. 27.

Gonzalez, a left-hander who helped Glendale college win its second consecutive Western State Conference Southern Division championship in the spring, allowed one hit and struck out four to spark Bluefield to a 7-0 home victory against the Kingsport Mets. Gonzalez faced 20 batters, walking one, in six innings.

In a start Aug. 20 against the Pulaski Mariners, he allowed two hits and struck out five in six innings in Bluefield’s 10-2 home win.

In 12 innings pitched with Bluefield, Gonzalez struck out nine and walked three. He allowed three walks and opponents batted 0.77.

Gonzalez began the season with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, going 3-3 in 10 appearances. He tossed 36 2/3 innings, allowing 26 runs (21 earned) and striking out 22.

Bluefield finished 29-37 and in fourth place in the league’s East Division.

Ryan Sherriff (Glendale Community College, 2011) starting pitcher, Palm Beach Cardinals: The former Vaquero and Glendale Angeleno got plenty accomplished during his first season with Palm Beach, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Class-A Advanced affiliate.

Sherriff finished 10-3 with a 3.25 earned-run average. The left-hander struck out 60 and allowed 40 runs (35 earned) in 97 innings.

In his last start Aug. 28 against the Charlotte Stone Crabs, Sherriff recorded his first complete game. He struck out three and walked four in Palm Beach’s 3-0 road victory.

The Cardinals finished 33-36 and in third place in the Florida State League’s South Division.

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