The Saddleback baseball program was back in the news this week when the baseball office announced that three more players have signed letters of intent.  The latest commitments brings the total to 13 for the year.

The latest to sign were pitchers Jordan Scheftz and Logan Escudero along with infielder Brandon Heinrich. 

Scheftz came to Saddleback from UC Irvine and played with the Gauchos for two years.  He was 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA this past season, pitching 31 innings.  In two seasons at Saddleback, Scheftz pitched 50.1 innings and was 5-3 overall, striking out 38.  He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 28^th round last month but opted to continue with his schooling at the University of Central Florida.  UCF is located in Orlando, Florida, and plays in the American Athletic Conference.  The Knights were 26-33 in 2016.

Escudero will continue his baseball career at Oklahoma Baptist University.  He was 1-1 overall in 2016 in 17.2 innings of work, finishing with 17 strikeouts against just four walks.  Oklahoma Baptist is located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and plays an NCAA D2 schedule in the Great American Conference.  The Bison finished 43-15 in 2016. winning the NCCAA title.

Heinrich played in all 39 games this season, batting .304 in 148 at-bats.  He will transfer to Cal State Bakersfield for the 2017 season.  Heinrich came to Saddleback from the University of Rochester after graduating from local JSerra High School.    Bakersfield plays in the Western Athletic Conference and finished 19-37 overall in 2016.

2016 Team Commitments

Cameron Aufderheide, Colorado-Colorado Springs
Jared Donahoe, Houston Baptist
Daniel Endsley, Houston Baptist
Logan Escudero, Oklahoma Baptist
Ryan Fitzpatrick, UC Irvine
Brandon Heinrich, Cal State Bakersfield
Luke Jarvis, Auburn
Domnique Key, St. Thomas
Eric Neeley, Colorado-Colorado Springs
Jackson Rees, Hawaii
Jordan Scheftz, Central Florida
John Sheaks, Long Beach State
Stephen Young, Point Loma Nazarene