8 Bears Headed to 4-Year Schools

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas – Eight Dallas College Brookhaven baseball players signed with four-year schools.

Outfielder Balin Valentine signed with Northwestern State University. A product of Abilene, Texas, Valentine hit .323 with 16 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 18 runs batted in, 19 stolen bases and 41 runs scored.

First baseman Tucker Simpson signed with New Mexico Highlands University. A first baseman from Montgomery, Texas, Simpson batted .304 with 11 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 24 RBI and 29 runs scored.

Outfielder Deven Kirtley signed with Emporia State University. Kirtley, who hails from Santa Rosa, California, hit .235 with six doubles, a triple, three home runs, 26 RBI, six stolen bases and 24 runs scored.

First baseman Peyton Starr will play for McPherson College. Starr, a native of Lake Jackson, Texas, had a .317 batting average with 12 doubles, eight homers, a triple, 38 RBI, nine stolen bases and 39 runs scored.

Infielder Joseph Jaco is headed to Ecclesia College. Jaco, who is from West Helena, Arkansas, batted .333 with six doubles, a triple, a home run, 14 RBI, seven stolen bases and 15 runs scored.

Outfielder Jacob Vela signed with Our Lady of the Lake University. Vela, of McAllen, Texas, hit .287 with eight doubles, a triple, four homers, 25 RBI, 23 stolen bases and 39 runs scored.

Pitchers Tyler Ramage and Hunter Beltran signed with Austin College. Ramage, a freshman right-hander from Odessa, Texas, went 2-2 with 19 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched. Beltran, a sophomore righty from Odessa, was 2-2 with two saves, and 25 strikeouts in 26.1 innings.

BEARS WHO SIGNED WITH FOUR-YEAR SCHOOLS

Balin Valentine, OF, Northwestern State University

Tucker Simpson, 1B, New Mexico Highlands University

Deven Kirtley, OF, Emporia State University

Peyton Starr, 1B, McPherson College

Joseph Jaco, INF, Ecclesia College

Jacob Vela, OF, Our Lady of the Lake University

Tyler Ramage, P, Austin College

Hunter Beltran, P, Austin College