Vikings Moving On

-Barstow, CA

The Barstow Community College Baseball program has continued its proven track record of matriculating Sophomores on to the next level.  What is perhaps more impressive is the level to which the program continues to advance it's players.  This year's class is no exception. 

Sophomore starting pitcher Chase Ottofy has signed to continue on at Divison I University of Northern Colorado.  Chase was the Vikings workhouse in 2018 amassing 74 innings on the campaign striking out 67 and allowing an opponent batting average of .281.  Chase spent his Freshman year at a junior college in Arizona but transferred to BCC for a better opportunity.  Chase said, "The exposure I received at Barstow was unlike anything the guys got at my previous school.  I had several offers to choose from and coaches starting calling me pretty quickly soon after I arrived."  Chase was not the only player who experienced this increase in exposure.

Sophomore Nyk Crumrine saw the same thing upon transferring from a community college is Kansas.  "I was shocked at the level of exposure I got once at BCC, it was unlike anything I witnessed in Kansas, I had 4-year schools calling me from all over the country."  Crumrine committed to Division I Coppin State before an arm injury ended his season prematurely.  Crumrine chose to return to BCC to further pursue his options and complete his sophomore year in the Navy and Gold.  "I'm happy to be coming back"

Coach King commented, "We call it the Southern California Tag, schools all over the country come to Southern California to recruit.  I've coached other places in the country and the exposure our guys get here is unmatched."

This years class also included two signees to top tier Division II schools.  Mitch Hulse, a left-handed hitting infielder signed at Western Oregon and Lucky Martinez, who transferred in from NAIA power house University of Antelope Valley signed at Colorado State University-Pueblo.  Both Hulse and Martinez had several offers on the table when making their decision.

The program has also sent several athletes on to top ranked NAIA programs.  2018 NAIA World Series qualifier University of Antelope Valley has two former Vikings on their roster.  Austin Crank and Easton Withers both spent their first two years developing at BCC.  Crank signed at Divison I University of North Dakota out of BCC but transferred to UAV when UND dropped their program in 2016.  The NAIA tournament featured several additional former Vikings.  KC Proctor pitched for Presentation College, Jonah Yang at Bellevue University and Osvaldo Escobar at Mayville University.

This year's class includes another addition to the NAIA contenders list.  Sophomore Luis Ruiz has committed to Mount Marty University in South Dakota.  Ruiz came off an All-Conference season which saw him serve as the primary arm out of the bullpen and catch several big innings behind the plate.  

Below is the list of schools of schools that Vikings have transferred to since Coach King and Coach Walker took over the program in 2015: