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LION’S CLUB
ARE YOU A TRUE FAN? JOIN
TODAY
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Patten University has completed its first full season
of baseball in 6 years. The sport
of baseball was resurrected in time for the 2005-06 season. The Patten Lions Baseball Team
competed in the Region II of the National Association of Inter-Collegiate
Athletics (NAIA) as an Independent Representative. The Lions found themselves in some
serious competition with the tough 51-game schedule they had, with three
of the Lions’ opponents (Biola University, Lubbock Christian, Cal-Baptist
University) being ranked in the Top 25 (nationally).
After finishing the season with a 7-32 record (12
rainouts), the Lions’ went to work recruiting for next season. The coaching staff in excited about
the new recruits that have joined this season.
CATCHING
 Chris Brigham and
Joseph Sevier are the newest additions to the Lions’ catchers. Brigham, a transfer from San Diego
Mesa College, and Sevier, a walk-on from Patten, have joined up with
returning players, Clifford Berry (Jr.), Jordan Wesley (So.), and Derek
Luque (Sr.) for the 2006-07 season.
 FIRST BASE
At first base, the
Lions announce the signing of Joseph Jennings, a left-handed power
hitting transfer from San Diego Mesa College. Jennings will be competing with returning players Clint
Bartizal (So.) and David Lievanos (Sr.) for a starting position.
MIDDLE INFIELD
The newest additions
to the middle infield include second basemen Brett Korporaal, Janaik
Johnson, and Michael Mortara.
Korporaal (So.), a transfer from San Jose City College, provides
great defensive range and good contact at the plate. Johnson (Jr.), a transfer from Texas  Southern University,
with be used in multiple roles this season, including some innings on the
mound. Mortara (Fr.) comes to
Patten from Redwood Christian High School, where he was a starter at
second, third, and shortstop, with occasional pitching duties.
At shortstop, the
Lions’ announce the signing of Chris DeBiasi, a transfer student from Los
Medanos College and Jeff Aguirre, Jr., a transfer from Merced Junior
College. DeBiasi (Jr.) and
Aguirre, Jr. (Jr.) will look to start at short for the upcoming
season.
These five will
compete with returning player Blake Carroll (Sr.) for starting roles in
the upcoming season.
 THIRD BASE
The third base duties
will be in the hands of returning players Cory Richison (So.) and Kent Morrison
(So.).
OUTFIELD
The Lions outfield
will be joined by Jeremy Wells, DeJuan Johnson, Andy Harris, and Ben
Magnone. Wells, a JC transfer
from San Diego City College, and Magnone, a transfer from  Lubbock Christian
University in Texas, will look to earn a starting role in
centerfield. Harris, a transfer
from American River College, will be looking to start in left field,
while Johnson, a transfer from Clackamas CC in Oregon, will compete for a
role in right field.
The Lions return Ivan
Stewart (Sr.), Jonathan Overall (Sr.), Joshua Harrell (Jr.), and Oscar
Ochoa (Sr.) to shore up the outfield.
 PITCHING
Patten has added three
more pitchers to its staff for the upcoming season. James Doss, a transfer from San Diego
Mesa College, Kevin Cheechov, a transfer from Sacramento State
University, and Jonathan Dec, a freshman from Redwood Christian High
School al look to add depth to the Lions rotation. The Lions return four pitchers from
last season, Daniel Silvas (Sr.), Brandon Boyd (Sr.), Graig Whelan (So.),
and Juan Ramirez (Sr.).
COACHING
Patten
is proud to announce the addition of its new pitching coach, David
Wolfe. Coach Wolfe comes from
Tucson, Arizona, where he played his collegiate baseball (Central Arizona
College, 2000-01), before playing in the Arizona-Mexico Professional
Baseball League (2003). From
2003-04, Wolfe was the pitching coach at his alma mater, Sabino High
School. Under his instruction,
the pitching staff led the conference for two seasons in earned run
average (2.57-2003; 1.97-2004).
After leaving Sabino, Wolfe coached summer youth camps for the
Arizona Diamondbacks as a training center coach (2004). Pusch Ridge
Christian Academy lured him away from Sabino by offering him the
head coaching position, where he coached for two seasons (2005 &
2006). His two-year record at
Pusch Ridge was 31-19, with his pitching staff ranking 2nd in
2005 (3.59 ERA) and 1st in 2006 (2.23 ERA), along with an
appearance in the 2A State Tournament (2006). In 2005, Wolfe worked with Pima Community College (Tucson,
AZ) as a Fall Scout League Coach. Wolfe also coaches for the Edenton
Steamers (Edenton, NC) in the summer time, where led his pitching staff
to a 2.73 ERA, 35-16 win-loss record and a first half Summer
Collegiate Coastal Plain League Championship (2006).
To help support the
Athletics Department at Patten University, please contact Coach Wright at
(877) 4Patten ext. 7773, 510-261-8500 ext. 7773, or email pattenbaseball@aol.com.
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