Charles to WAC's Cal St. Bakersfield, giving Comets 12 Div. I scholarships

SAN MARCOS (8-16-2018) -- Palomar sophomore outfielder Eric Charles, who originally signed with Cal State Fullerton out of Redwood High School in Visalia, has become the 12th 2018 Palomar baseball player to land an NCAA Division I scholarship. 

Charles has transferred to Cal State Bakersfield of the Western Athletic Conference.

Commits/signings for Palomar to date, with more commits/signings/transfers still expected:

NCAA DIVISION I (12 players)

-- University of Oklahoma (Big 12): Conor McKenna, INF (Carlsbad High School). Notable: Hit .402 on the season and .409 in conference games. 

-- Kansas State University (Big 12): Brett Lockwood, RHP (Murrieta Valley High School). Notable: Struck out 25 batters in 26 2/3 innings in going 3-2 with 2 saves coming out of the bullpen during the 2018 season. In Pacific Coast Athletic Conference games, he was 2-1 with 2 saves, the latter to lead the PCAC. Recorded a save, coming on to throw a scoreless ninth inning, as the Comets clinched the conference title by beating defending state champion Grossmont College 5-4 on April 24.  

-- University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League): Josh Sidney, RHP (Torrey Pines High School). Notable: Was 3-2 with a 1.60 ERA as a starter (2-1 in the PCAA with a 1.59 ERA). Is a 4.0 student and Academic All-State selection; see accomanying article.

-- University of Kentucky (SEC): Jake Thompson, INF (Albert Lea High School, Minnesota). Notable: Hit .326 with 34 RBIs. Batted .340 for PCAC games.

-- California State Universitiy Bakersfield (WAC): Eric Charles, OF (Redwood High School, Visalia). Notable: Hit .333 with a .505 slugging percentage. Led the Comets with 7 triples. In PCAC games, batted .365 with a .414 on-base percentage and a .571 slugging percentage, highlighted by 6 triples.

-- University of Kansas (Big 12): Ryan Semon, LHP (Valley Center High School). Notable: Was a first-team all-state selection and a second-team American Baseball Coaches Association Community College All-American as a freshman in 2017. Had a 1.54 ERA as a freshman and compiled a 12-1 win-loss record with 5 saves for the Comets over two seasons.

-- Santa Clara University (West Coast Conference): Russell Grant, LHP (Oceanside High School). Notable: Was fourth in the PCAC in ERA at 3.19 with a 3.06 ERA in conference play.

-- University of Oregon (Pac-12 Conference): Marco Young, OF (Del Norte High School). Notable: Batted .324 with 11 stolen bases on 13 attempts. Hit .373 in conference games. 

-- Western Kentucky University (Missouri Valley Conference): Kenny Lapierre, RHP (Granite Hills High School). Notable: Compiled an ERA of 2.00 (0.60 in PCAC games).

-- University of Texas-Rio Grande (WAC): Kevin Palm, RHP (Murrieta Mesa High School). Notable: Comets' No. 1 starter. Was 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA.

-- Northern Illinois University (MAC): Tristan King, C (Timberline HS, Boise, Idaho). Notable: Batted .346 (.364 in the PCAC).

-- Houston Baptist University (Southland Confererence: Nathan Soriano IF (Canyon Del Oro HS, Tucson, Arizona). Notable: Batted .352 (.326 in the PCAC).

(De-Commit) ...

-- Abiline Christian University (Southland Conference): George Chapman, RHP (Oceanside High School). Notable: Chapman, the Comets' closer, has de-committed from Abaline Christian, where he had initially accepted an 80 percent scholarship, and has retired from baseball. He will attend UC San Diego strictly as a student.

NCAA DIVISION II (1 player)

-- Central Oklahoma University (Heartland Conference):  Ryan Harrel, INF (Cashion High School, Oklahoma). Notable: Batted .303 (.400 in the PCAC).

NAIA (1 player)

-- Missiouri Baptist University (Mid-South Conference): Tyler Baca, RHP (Cimarron Memorial, Las Vegas). Notable: Compiled 2.30 ERA out of the bullpen