Backing Quittner up will be Matt French (.263 average), redshirt Kenny Garcia (.405 senior year in high school) and freshman Ed Gonzalez (.323 in HS). Canadian Josh Nowlin (.298) should be the backup catcher, but his shoulder has taken a turn for the worse, and Hill is uncertain when the senior will return. "I'd feel a lot better about the situation if Nowlin was healthy," said Hill, who then could move Hempel to the outfield, Quittner or Purkiss to first base, and then put Nowlin behind the plate.
Quittner, who hit .379 last year, with 30 RBI's and five doubles at Allan Hancock Junior College, can move into the lineup at either designated hitter, first base, or his more comfortable position behind the plate. Quittner's return is good news for the Dons, and maybe bad news for catcher Josh Nowlin who has recently replaced Ted Turkington as the number one catcher. "Josh has provided a spark offensively and has made the most of his opportunity," Hill said. "It's good to see him doing some damage." Nowlin, who has started three of the five games he's played in this year, is hitting .286 with two doubles, a home run versus UC Berkeley, and a .643 slugging percentage (TheFoghorn).
