Baseball Briefs: A College Signing and Big League Decisions

’ stand-out pitcher Sam Eichler signed on Wednesday to play baseball at East Tennessee State University. 

“I’m very excited to be a pioneer for Capo Valley Christian Schools to play Division I,” Eichler said. He readily acknowledges life is going to be different, switching from a close-knit high school of 200 students to a university with 10,000.

“As long as I take what I’ve learned from my years at CVCS and my parents … I feel I’ll do just fine,” he said.

As long as he’s on the mound, he’ll probably do just fine as well. Before heading into the CIF championship finals this season, Eichler’s record was 11-2, and he had a season ERA of 0.65 with 125 strikeouts. 

The Eagles made it all the way to the Division 6 CIF championship game earlier this month, .

In other baseball news …

’s Jake Pintar had a big choice ahead of him. Earlier in the year, he signed . But just this month, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in Round 29, No. 882 overall. He’s the 5-year-old school’s first Major League Baseball draft.

And his choice is … the big leagues!

“Jake Pintar signed with the Baltimore Oriels Tuesday of this week so he will not be attending San Diego State this fall,” said Stallions head baseball coach Jeremy Wooten.

Meanwhile, back at the draft

Two alums were also drafted by MLB teams. Pintar may have a teammate in Colton Plaia, a catcher. The Orioles tapped Plaia in the 33rd round. And left-handed pitcher Joe Kurrasch was selected in the eighth round of the draft to the San Francisco Giants.

While attending JSerra, San Juan Capistrano resident Plaia earned three varsity letters for coach Brett Kay, served as team captain in his senior year, and garnered All-League recognition as a junior and senior. Plaia was named a scholar-athlete, and has earned the Coaches Award as a senior at JSerra, according to a school press release.

“Colton Plaia was one of the best student athletes here at JSerra, a quality young man, and one of the brightest athletes I have seen here,” said Brett Kay, JSerra head baseball coach. “He is a continuous hard worker, and has the baseball acumen to excel at any level he wishes.”

Plaia batted .382 with 18 runs scored and 19 RBI as a senior, collected six doubles and two home runs in 2009, and was 18-for-31 throwing out potential base runners in his final year. Recruited by Oregon and Long Beach State, Plaia chose LMU because it was close to home and has a great sports program.

Mission Viejo resident Kurrasch was “outstanding pitcher for JSerra for the two years he was here. He was at the top of the list in LHP in Southern California, and his development throughout his two years was great,” said Kay. “Joe has earned everything that has happened to him and the fact he was drafted in the eighth round is a testament to him and his hard work.”

Kurrasch was a standout competitor at JSerra, earning a 2007 USA National Team Invite for his efforts, Recorded a 7-1 record with a stellar 0.67 ERA and 58 strikeouts as a senior. He garnered first-team all-league and second-team All-CIF Southern Section honors for his performance. Kurrasch previously posted a 3-3 record with a 1.67 ERA and 74 strikeouts during his junior campaign.