Baseball Places 12 on All-Conference Lists
The 2018 LA Mission Baseball team finished 3rd in the Western State Conference South division with a 13-7 record, earning 12 All-Conference nominations for the Eagles' standout performers.
1st Team All-Conference
Sophomore Tyler Grissom wins his second 1st Team All-Conference award for his explosive offense and near-perfect defense in WSC play. He batted .352 with a .402 on-base percentage and .568 slugging percentage, collecting two triples, two homeruns, 14 RBI, and a team-leading nine doubles. As the Eagles' starting 2nd baseman, he made only one error in his 20 conference games. Grissom is signed to Chico State to continue his baseball career next year.
Freshman Andrew Scheinert made an impressive college debut in the outfield. While batting .297, Scheinert was an effective run producer for the Eagles with five homeruns and 17 RBI. He posted a .392 on-base percentage with a .602 slugging percentage, gathering three doubles and a triple and scoring 20 runs on the season.
Relief pitcher Alex Rangel was a rock on the mound for the Eagles this season. In 28.1 conference innings pitched, the sophomore posted a 1-0 record with a 3.81 ERA, striking out 33 while only walking 12. He also ranked 16th among all WSC pitchers with his 10.48 strikeout-per-game average.
2nd Team All-Conference
Starting sophomore catcher Cade Spurlin was a consistent power hitter in his sophomore season. He batted .365 with a .473 on-base percentage, picking up eight doubles and 15 RBI. He ranked 16th in the WSC in homeruns with five, and 18th in slugging percentage with .676. In 145 total chances on the field, he made only one error, earning him a phenomenal .993 fielding percentage and a WSC Golden Glove award for Best Defensive Catcher. Spurlin has also been named 2nd Team All-American, 1st Team All-State, and 1st Team All-Region, and has committed to play for Dixie State University, an NCAA Div. II school in Utah.
Freshman 1st baseman Gabriel Gonzalez also put up impressive power numbers, leading the team with six homeruns in WSC games which ranked him 10th in conference. He batted .304 with a .484 on-base percentage and .609 slugging percentage, adding three doubles and 25 runs scored.
Freshman outfielder Matt Elser batted .301 in conference, with a .366 on-base percentage. He contributed 15 runs, five doubles, two homeruns, 15 RBI, and a stolen base.
Sophomore outfielder Sam Gray, a returning 1st Team All-Conference winner, led the team in batting average with .387. He collected the second-most conference hits on the team with 29, including seven doubles and a triple, picking 18 RBI. Gray is signed with teammate Grissom to continue playing at Chico State next year.
Starting left-handed pitcher Thomas Gutierrez threw the most conference innings on the Eagles pitching staff this season. The freshman earned a 5-2 WSC record with a 4.72 ERA, striking out 23 in 34.1 innings.
Nico Valdez, a freshman, earned the starting shortstop position and batted an admirable .347 with a .448 on-base percentage. He scored 15 runs and batted in 14, while legging out five doubles among his 25 conference hits.
Honorable Mention
Sophomore outfielder Jonathan Tyler added some respectable numbers to the Eagles lineup, batting .319 in conference at-bats with a .373 on-base percentage. His 15 hits including a double and a triple, and he scored seven runs while batting in six. Tyler is signed with Campbell University (NCAA Div. I) to play for their team starting this Fall.
Freshman starting pitcher Dominic Eberle threw 21.1 innings throughout conference play, finishing with a 2-1 WSC record. In his five starts and eight appearances, he struck out 15 and gave up 19 earned runs.
Mackenzie Lomas had four starts and eight appearances for the Eagles in conference games, finishing with a 1-3 WSC record. In 23.1 innings pitched, the freshman struck out 18 and gave up 18 earned runs for a 6.94 ERA.