Four West Valley pitchers and one catcher have signed to play at four-year schools, West Valley coach Rick Wiens announced this week. RHP Matt Atencio and catcher Alex Howard will head to Oklahoma Wesleyan, RHPs Erik Peterson and Jake De Fiore have signed with Hawaii Pacific, and LHP Luke Short has inked with St. Edwards University.
Atencio was one of the top closers in the CCCAA during his career at WVC. He posted a 5-2 record with 8 saves and a dominant 68 strikeouts (10.86 K/9) in 56 1/3 innings pitched. "After baffling hitters in California for three years, Matt is taking his show on the road," said Wiens. "He will leave hitters in the midwest shaking their heads at what he can do with a baseball."
Battery-mate Howard slashed .271/.333/.352 with three doubles and three RBI in 18 games in his lone season behind the plate. According to Wiens, "Alex has a passion for the game that raises the bar for those around him. He is a clutch player who is at his best in big moments."
De Fiore and Peterson head across the Pacific after being stalwarts of Wiens' pitching rotation for the last three years. De Fiore appeared in 25 games, mostly in relief, going 2-2 with 36 K's (8.53 K/9) in 38 1/3 innings. Peterson started 20 games for the Vikings, striking out 69 (7.33 K/9) in 84 2/3 innings.
Said Wiens of De Fiore and Peterson: "Jake has a very high ceiling and the ability to pitch in multiple roles. He will put a lot of zeros on the board at the next level. Erik has a bright future on and off the baseball field. He is an excellent athlete and an even better young man."
Short was Wiens' go-to starter in 2021. He was 4-1 in nine starts as a Viking, with 53 K's (8.27 K/9) and a 2.81 ERA in 57.2 innings pitched. "Luke is a fiery competitor and an extremely hard worker," Wiens said. "With his stuff and tenacity, he will compete to be a weekend starter at St. Edwards."
Oklahoma Wesleyan is an NAIA school in Bartlesville, OK. NCAA D2 Hawaii Pacific is loacated in Honolulu, while St. Edwards is an NCAA D2 institution in Austin, TX.
