After an incredible inaugural season, the Shepherds are excited for this upcoming year of ministry and life change through the greatest game in the world. This year will be one full of new experiences including our involvement in the Sunset Baseball League. The SBL will bring forth a new level of competition with a dynamic playoff schedule and midseason All Star Game. Needless to say, we’re in for an awesome season with these young men.
We are our pleased to announce the first wave of signees for this year’s group of ballplayers!!
Calvin Koo - INF - Claremont McKenna College
Calvin is a freshman this year at Claremont McKenna and is a player that has the ability to play all four infield positions and wreak havoc on the base paths. As a graduate of baseball powerhouse, Harvard Westlake in Studio City, Koo brings a lot of on-the-field knowledge and value to the Shepherds. Calvin may not be the loudest person but can make a lot of noise with his bat as he hit .320 during his senior campaign at HW in which the team finished ranked 3rd nationally with a perfect 18-0 record in league and 26-4 overall.
Chad Ragland - OF - Florida State College of Jacksonville
Chad is the first southpaw to sign with the Sheps this summer and has the ability to pitch and play the field. He is currently swinging a hot bat for the Blue Waves as he is hitting .486 through the first ten games of the season with a home run and three doubles. Chad brings a lot of ministry and baseball experience to the Shepherds as he has been involved with a sports ministry that went down and served in Nicaragua. He also aspires to be a missionary after his career in baseball comes to a close as he has grown fond of serving in Central America.
Sebastian Dunn - INF - Florida State College of Jacksonville
Sebastian, the second of our two signees from Florida State Jacksonville, also has shown some versatility in his career in his ability to not only swing the stick but also has racked up some innings on the mound. During the summer of 2017, Dunn played for the Covington Lumberjacks out of the Valley Baseball League and turned out an eventful summer during which he made 9 appearances on the mound and tallied a solid .288 batting average with 7 stolen bases hitting from both sides of the plate. We’re excited for the potential this young man can bring not only to our baseball team but to our ministry as a whole.
Gabe Huante - UTL - Orange Lutheran High School
Though he’s one of the younger guys on our team, Gabe brings quite a bit of experience to the table in that he has been part of our camp program for more than 5 years. Gabe was one of the original players on our SoCal Catch travel ball team at 13 years old and is now donning the FCA logo once more. He will graduate from Orange Lutheran High School, ranked 13th nationally in the MaxPreps Polls, this spring and is seeking to find a place to play at the next level. Huante will be serving in a bit of a utility role this summer as he has shown the athleticism to play nearly any position on the field. Lot’s to look forward to with this talented young man.