SoCal Sparrows manager Ryan Davis has announced the acquisition of young up and coming talent to anchor the Sparrows in their second season of Sunset Baseball League play.  

Nathan Church (El Toro H.S.) is a CIF Division 1 Champion and incoming freshmen on his way to Big West contender, University of California Irvine. Church is a left-handed bat with great plate discipline and a knack for hitting the baseball. Church also toes the rubber in relief.

- "Nathan is an ultra-competitive player that comes from a great high school program at El Toro. He was a key member on a team that won the CIF Championship.  As a position player, Nathan does lots of things well.  He puts together consistent, good at bats and can play defense.  On the mound he pitches in the mid-80s with a plus change up." 

- Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff, UCI Baseball

Sam Ireland (Tesoro H.S.) is another incoming freshmen also on his way to the University of California Irvine; Ireland has a tremendous hit tool and is extremely confident in his ability.  Ireland has earned preseason All-American distinctions while playing for Tesoro High School which has translated into all-league notoriety following his junior season.

- "Sam is very advanced offensively for a high school player.  He has a knack for using the whole field, hitting the ball
on the barrel, and he continues to show more power.  Sam also provides us some defensive versatility and a needed right handed bat to balance the roster."

-Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff, UCI Baseball

Rounding out the young star-studded acquisitions is incoming freshmen, Pac-12 Conference bound, Diego Barrera (Damien H.S.). Barrera was an early signee to the University of Washington and came highly recommended by recruiting coordinator Donegal Fergus. Coach Davis expects Barrera to  be an anchor for a Sparrows  pitching staff that is loaded with talent. 

Other notable acquisitions are: Sparrows returners from the    2017 season: Shoma Yoshida (Compton College),  Jose Aguilera (Mississippi Valley State University) and Grant Askins (Loyola Marymount University). Newcomers Mark Strebin (Mcpherson College), Jake Parizzo (Norwich University), Carson Conradt (Cairn University), Travis Nelson (Chaffey College), Josiah Austin (Vanguard University) and Jack Chamberlain ( San Diego Christian College) are also expected to be key contributors to the Sparrows success this season. 

Look for the Sparrows to fly to the top of the standings as the pursuit for Sunset Baseball League supremacy gets going June 8th, where the SoCal Sparrows open SBL play at home (Vanguard University) against the Solana Beach Cardinals.