Locals turn in solid seasons on baseball diamond
The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.
John Salas (Crescenta Valley High, 2009) Cal State Northridge baseball junior: Salas enjoyed a breakout season for the Matadors, emerging from the bullpen to become a formidable starter in the second half of the season.
Arguably his best start came on May 12 in a 7-1 win over UC Santa Barbara, as he went the full nine innings, allowing just five hits and one run, while striking out six and walking one.
He struggled a bit in his final two starts of the season, going five innings and allowing four runs in a loss to Cal Poly on May 19, before getting a no-decision in a season-ending loss to Cal State Fullerton on May 25 in which he allowed three runs over 3 2/3 innings.
Overall, though, Salas put up good numbers for a Matadors squad that went 31-26 and 15-12 in the Big West. After transferring from College of the Canyons, Salas ended his debut season with CSUN at 4-6 after appearing in 21 games and making 13 starts. He threw two complete games and 80 innings, allowing 76 hits and 12 walks, while striking out 52 and turning in a 3.49 earned-run average.
Jason Ochart (Hoover High, 2008) Vanguard University baseball senior: It was a long road with plenty of baseball for the former Hoover High and Glendale Community College player, and Ochart wrapped up his playing days with some excellent numbers at his third college.
Ochart, who began at GCC before moving on to Cal State Dominguez Hills and then transferring to Vanguard, served multiple roles for the Lions.
At the plate, he was second on the Lions with a .313 batting average (57 for 182) as well as in hits. His eight doubles were a team-best and so were his 27 runs scored. He added 17 runs batted in and, on the base paths, had a team-leading 25 stolen bases in 31 attempts, 17 more steals than any other teammate.
On the mound, Ochart even made an appearance, throwing one scoreless inning.
Vanguard finished the season at 22-27 overall and 15-21 in conference.
In his last collegiate game on April 27, Ochart was one for four with a run batted in, as the Lions beat Concordia, 4-1.
David Olmedo-Barrera (St. Francis High, 2012) Cal State Fullerton baseball freshman: Following a freshman season at Fullerton in which playing time was sparse, Olmedo-Barrera has headed north to hone his craft.
Playing in the prestigious Alaska Summer League for the Peninsula Oilers, Olmedo-Barrera is getting in some extra work.
He’s hitting .231 through nine games, tallying four hits in 26 at-bats. He’s also drawn three walks and scored four runs. His best run so far was a three-game span in which he went five for 12 with four runs scored. Currently, he’s walked in three straight games, including a 9-1 win over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots on Monday. The Oilers were 6-7 heading into a tilt Wednesday against the Pilots.
During his rookie campaign with the Titans, who went 51-10 and 23-4 in the Big West Conference, Olmedo-Barrera played in two games and had just one plate appearance, in which he drew a walk and scored.
Elliot Surrey (Crescenta Valley High, 2012) UC Irvine baseball freshman: A former multiple-time All-Area, All-CIF and All-Pacific League honoree, Surrey got his feet wet with Irvine this season and put together solid numbers in sparse appearances.
Appearing in 11 games, with two starts, Surrey threw 13 2/3 innings and tallied a 3.95 ERA with a 1-0 record and 10 strikeouts to five walks.
Irvine finished the season at 33-22 and 15-12 in the Big West.
As for Surrey, his last appearance was an excellent one, as he came on and pitched two innings of spotless relief on May 21 in a 6-4 loss to USC. Surrey closed out the game, striking out one batter against no hits or walks.
Alyssa Sovereign (Crescenta Valley High, 2010) Penn State softball junior: Sovereign concluded her third season as a Nittany Lions starter with a .248 average (27 for 109) through 42 games (35 starts).
She posted 15 runs, eight doubles, 11 RBI, 11 walks, a .314 on-base percentage and, as an outfielder, made just one error.
Penn State struggled to a 16-34 overall record and a 5-17 mark in the Big Ten.