Long Beach, Calif. - Eight Viking baseball players have signed with four-year institutions, announced Thursday.
Diego Altamirano (C), Moises Guzman (OF/RHP), Jake Habelitz (RHP), Braxton Hutcherson (C/1B), Sebastian Irwin (LHP), Julio Lopez (RHP), David Rivera (INF), and Dennis Stevenson (RHP) all have signed to continue their athletic and academic careers.
Diego Altamirano (C | 5-11 | L/R | Bothell, Wash. (Jackson HS))
After transferring from Vanguard University (NAIA), Altamirano batted .301 in his 21 appearances during the 2020 campaign for the Vikings, notching 22 total hits, 23 runs, and 19 RBI. Behind the plate, he counted 120 putouts and 15 assists, while throwing out runners in 70 percent of the total stolen base attempts.
Altamirano joins the University of South Alabama (NCAA Division I), who completed 2021 with a 36-22 overall record, 15-9 in Sun Belt Conference play.
Moises Guzman (OF/RHP| 5-10 | R/R | Long Beach, Calif. (Millikan HS))
Guzman competed for LBCC in 2020, both in the outfield and limited appearances on the bump. He played in 15 games, posting a .324 on-base percentage and .464 slugging percentage with three doubles, a triple, one long ball, and eight RBI. On the hill, he earned one save against LA Pierce, averaging 9.2 strikeouts on 14.2 innings pitched.
He signed with the recently transitioned NCAA Division I UC San Diego in La Jolla, Calif. The Tritons finished 2021 with a 24-28 overall record, 21-19 in the Big West Conference.
Jake Habelitz (LHP | 6-2 | L/L | Lakewood, Calif. (Lakewood HS))
Habelitz joined the Vikings for the 2020-21 from Cypress College, however due to COVID-19, did not compete.
The lefty signed with Middle Georgia State (NAIA) located in Macon, Ga. The Knights played in 2021, earning a 36-20 mark and 13-8 in the Southern States Athletic Conference.
Braxton Hutcherson (C/1B | 6-1 | R/R | La Habra, Calif. (La Habra HS))
Hutcherson played in five games for the Vikings in 2020 as a freshman, posting a perfect fielding percentage behind the plate.
He is transferring to Georgetown College (NAIA) in Georgetown, Ky. The Tigers competed during the 2021 season, earning a 35-18 overall record, 14-7 in the Mid-South Conference.
Sebastian Irwin (LHP | 5-10 | L/L | Lakewood, Calif. (Lakewood HS))
Irwin competed for LBCC in 2019 and the halted 2020 season, counting 21 total appearances on the bump, starting 17. The southpaw posted a career record of 8-4, hurling a total of 108 innings with 51 strikeouts and an 2.92 ERA.
He transferred to Oklahoma Wesleyan University (NAIA), located in Bartlesville, Okla., in December 2020 and played during the Eagles' 2021 campaign. He made 14 appearances, starting seven games, with a 4-1 record. In his 40.2 innings pitched, he averaged 8.41 strikeouts with 38 total. OKWU finished the 2021 campaign with a 49-11 overall record and were perfect at home with 26 wins.
Julio Lopez (RHP | 6-4 | R/R | Long Beach, Calif. (Millikan HS))
Lopez played for the Vikings in 2019, making 14 appearances on the mound with a 4-3 overall record and a save against Pasadena. He posted a 2.88 ERA on 40.2 innings pitched and fanned 27 (5.98 K/G).
He signed with California State University, Dominguez Hills (NCAA Division II) in Carson, Calif. The Toros canceled the 2020-21 sports seasons, but finished 12-10 overall, 11-5 in the CCAA in the shortened 2020 campaign.
David Rivera (INF | 5-9 | R/R | Lakewood, Calif. (Lakewood HS))
Rivera played for the Vikings in 2018 and 2020, appearing in 59 total games mainly as a middle infielder. He notched a .365 career batting average with 91 total hits, including 14 doubles, six triples, and three homeruns, adding 35 RBI.
He will be joining Hope International University (NAIA), located in Fullerton, Calif. The Royals accumulated a 29-15 record in 2021, 22-10 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. The team was ranked 16th to end the season.
Dennis Stevenson (RHP | 5-10 | R/R | Bellflower, Calif. (Bellflower HS))
Stevenson made three career starts on the mound, 15 total appearances, during his tenure with the Vikings in 2019 and 2020. In total, he threw 34 complete innings, averaging 6.09 strikeouts with a 4.50 career ERA. Mainly a reliever in his rookie season, he posted a 3.38 ERA during his shortened sophomore campaign with 16 strikeouts on 24 innings pitched.
The righty signed with California State University, Dominguez Hills (NCAA Division II) in Carson, Calif. The Toros canceled the 2020-21 sports seasons, but finished 12-10 overall, 11-5 in the CCAA in the shortened 2020 campaign.