Blaze in College and Professional Baseball

Jameson Smith
Clemson University
Fresno City College
Florida Marlins

Jameson Smith (above), who played for the Blaze in 2006, moved on to Clemson in 2006 and then came back to the Valley to attend Fresno City College in 2007, where he received Central Valley Conference Player of the Year honors.  In June of '07, he was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 3rd Round. 

Alec Mehrten (below), still holds the record for most assists in a season for the Blaze (99).  He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2012.

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 Sean Silva
UNLV
Fresno City College
University of Southern Cal

​Sean Silva (above) holds the Blaze record for most strikeouts in a season.  The flame throwing lefty (who's been clocked as high as 88 mph) signed with the Runnin' Rebels of UNLV in August of 2009, but he came back to the Valley to pitch at Fresno City College.  In July of 2012, Silva signed a new National Letter of Intent with one of the most storied programs in college baseball history, the USC Trojans.

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MLB Draft

Korby Batesole (Buchanan HS) -- Boston Red Sox (26th Rd, 2018)
Braden Frankfurt (Clovis North HS) -- San Francisco Giants (32nd Rd, 2018)
Payton Squier (Greenway HS; AZ) -- Oakland A's (16th Rd, 2017) &
Blake Quinn (Bullard HS) -- Philadelphia Phillies (9th Rd, 2016)
Tyler Ferguson (Clovis West HS) -- Texas Rangers (6th Rd, 2015) $$
Jackson Glines (Yosemite HS) -- Chicago White Sox (10th Rd, 2015)
Jacob Gatewood (Clovis HS) -- Milwaukee Brewers (1st Rd, 2014)
Jordan Luplow (Buchanan HS) -- Pittsburgh Pirates (3rd Rd, 2014)
Jordan Brink (Central HS) -- Chicago Cubs (11th Rd, 2014)
Chris Mariscal (Clovis North HS) -- Seattle Mariners (14th Rd, 2014) $
Eric Karch (Clovis West HS) -- Pittsburgh Pirates (22nd Rd, 2014)
Aaron Blair (Spring Valley HS) -- Arizona Diamondbacks (1st Rd, 2013) #
Carlos Salazar (Kerman HS) -- Atlanta Braves (3rd Rd, 2013)
Nick Vander Tuig (Oakdale HS) -- San Francisco Giants (6th Rd, 2013) ##
Alec Mehrten (Madera HS) -- Colorado Rockies (25th Rd, 2012)
Seth Moranda (Buchanan HS) -- Atlanta Braves (11th Rd, 2011)
Brennan Gowens (Buchanan HS) -- Los Angeles Angels (22nd Rd, 2011)
Art Charles (Ridgeview HS) -- Toronto Blue Jays (20th Rd, 2010)*
Vinny Zazueta (Willow Canyon HS; AZ) -- Baltimore Orioles (25th Rd, 2010)
Pernell Halliman (Edison HS) -- Kansas City Royals (40th Rd, 2008)**
Mike Colla (Clovis West HS) -- Pittsburgh Pirates (14th Rd, 2008)***
Jameson Smith (Clovis West HS) -- Florida Marlins (3rd Rd, 2007)

*     = Charles also drafted by Balt.  Orioles (33rd Rd, 2008) & Kansas City Royals (39th Rd, 2009)
**   = Halliman also drafted by Pittsburgh Pirates twice (45th Rd, 2007 and 34th Rd, 2006)
*** = Colla also drafted by Houston Astros (38th Rd, 2005) 
#     = Blair also drafted by Houston Astros (21st Rd, 2010)
##  = Vander Tuig also drafted by Toronto Blue Jays (39th Rd, 2010)
$      = Mariscal also drafted by Baltimore Orioles (41st Rd, 2011)
$$    = Ferguson also drafted by San Francisco Giants (40th Rd, 2012)
&      = Squier also drafted by Oakland A's (39th Rd, 2014)
Independent Ball
Case Rigbie (Clovis West HS) -- Gateway Grizzlies (Frontier League)
Jack Karraker (Buchanan HS) -- Texas Airhogs (American Association)

NCAA / NAIA / JUCO

Class of 2019 (1)
Soria, RJ (Modesto HS) -- Hawaii-Hilo (HI)

Class of 2018 (2)
Fitzgerald, Kevin (Laguna Creek HS) -- Delta College / Louisiana-Lafayette
Tellez, David (Moreau Catholic HS) -- College of San Mateo / Ohlone College

Class of 2017 (8)
Benavidez, Matt (Granada HS) -- Ohlone College / Toledo (OH)
Boomgaarden, Kyle (Sutter HS) -- Feather River College
Boomgaarden, Michael (Sutter HS) -- Feather River College
Griffin, Joe (De La Salle HS) -- Diablo Valley College
Mello, Jordan (Granada HS) -- Ohlone College / Monterey Peninsula / Chico State
Nisbet, Cody (Cal HS) -- Ohlone College / NW Nazarene (ID)
Rossi, Niko (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno City College
Stevens, Thomas (Yuba City HS) -- Lassen College
Stultz, Tyler (Granada HS) -- Ohlone College
Van Loon, Peter (Cal HS) -- Ohlone College / UC Irvine

Class of 2016 (17)
Andersen, Jason (Heritage HS) -- Ohlone College
Chioino, Robert (Granada HS) -- Ohlone College
Castaneda, Cam (Piedmont Hills HS) -- Mission College / De Anza College / Rogers St (OK)
Fong, Justin (Serra HS) -- Ohlone College / Cal Lutheran Univ
Gill, Tommy (Oakmont HS) -- Yuba College
Graham, Jack (Christian Brothers HS) -- Ohlone College
Hoff, Cameron (Tracy HS) -- San Francisco City College / Holy Names Univ.
Jacobs, Austin (River City HS) -- American River College
Lara, Andres (Roseville HS) -- UC Davis
Newman, Michael (Irvington HS) -- Ohlone College / Univ. of Antelope Valley
Ochoa, Kyle (Lincoln HS) -- West Valley College
Saenz, Kevin (Tracy HS) -- Sacramento City College / San Jose State
Shull, Jax (Napa HS) -- Ohlone College
Thompson, Dareon (Lindhurst HS) -- Yuba College
Tijero, Ronaldo (Manteca HS) -- Butte College / Pikeville Univ (KY)
Vanhille, Dalton (San Lorenzo HS) -- Ohlone College / CSU Northridge
Walstad, Ryan (River City HS) -- Ohlone College / Sacramento State

Class of 2015 (4)
Alvarado, Jacob (Tracy HS) -- Ohlone College / Pikeville Univ (KY)
Bertoncini, Donovan (Madera South HS) -- Fresno CC / Webber International Univ (FL)
Damon, Jonny (Damonte Ranch HS; NV) --- Ohlone College / Culver-Stockton Univ (MO)
Jennison, Joey (Monte Vista HS) -- Ohlone College / Vanguard University
Phillips, Thad (Oak Grove HS) -- Ohlone College / UConn (CT)
Williamson, Evan (Piedmont Hills HS) -- Ohlone College

Class of 2014 (5)
Batesole, Korby (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno St.
Frankfort, Braden (Clovis North HS) -- Santa Clara / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Hatten, Wes (Clovis West HS) -- Washington St. / Nevada-Reno
Ramos, Dom (Central HS) -- CSU Monterey Bay
Squier, Payton (Greenway HS; AZ) -- UNLV

Class of 2013 (14)
Ashford, Trent (Clovis North HS) -- Fresno CC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Batesole, Kody (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno St.
Coleman, Jonathan (Bullard HS) -- Reedley JC
France, McKay (Clovis HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Gallegos, Joey (Clovis West HS) -- College of Sequoias / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Handzlik, Logan (Hoover HS) -- San Jose St.
Meza, Gabe (Granite Bay HS) -- Sacramento St / Sacramento City College
Molina, Jonathan (Memorial HS) -- West Hills JC / College of Sequoias / Holy Names Univ.
Montero, Eric (Kerman HS) -- Fresno CC
Pacheco, Niko (Bullard HS) -- Fullerton St.
Pierce, Marco (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno CC
Roberts, Scott (Madera HS) -- Fresno CC
Vollberg, Jeremy (Buchanan HS) -- Reedley JC

Class of 2012 (26)
Avery, Jacob (Buchanan HS) -- College of Sequoias
Berger, Holden (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC / Cal State LA
Cain, Brent (McLane HS) -- West Hills JC
Carter, Logan (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno CC
Clark, Ryan (Clovis West HS) -- UC Santa Barbara
Cowger, Jake (Clovis HS) -- Reedley JC
Fain, Michael (Clovis HS) -- Nevada-Reno
Ferguson, Tyler (Clovis West HS) -- Vanderbilt University
Garabedian, Joe (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ. / Fresno CC / CSU Monterey Bay
Garza, Mario (Kerman HS) -- Gavilan JC
Glines, Harley (Yosemite HS) -- Fresno CC / Biola Univ.
Hackett, Kellen (Memorial HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Lee, Nick (Clovis HS) -- Reedley JC / CSU East Bay
Nelson, Anders (Central HS) -- Fresno CC
Ortiz, Mark (Oakdale HS) -- Cabrillo JC
Pate, Nick (Lemoore HS) -- Reedley JC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Perez, Nick (Bullard HS) -- Fresno CC
Quinn, Blake (Bullard HS) -- Fresno St. / Fullerton St.
Rasmussen, Kyle (Clovis East HS) -- West Hills JC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Seib, Trent (Bullard HS) -- Fresno CC
Silva, Scott (Clovis West HS) -- Gonzaga Univ / Fresno CC / Fresno St.
Soares, Ryan (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno CC
Tavares, Kevin (Buchanan HS) -- West Hills JC
Taylor, Zak (Madera HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ. / Fresno CC / CSU Monterey Bay
Topoozian, Dominic (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC / Fresno St.
Wells, Ryan (Bullard HS) -- Fresno CC

Class of 2011 (23)
Ashford, Wilson (Clovis North HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Brager, Jimmy (Madera HS) -- Fresno CC
Brink, Jordan (Central HS) -- Fresno St.
Brown, Jeff (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC / Fresno St.
DiCiccio, Lucas (Memorial HS) -- Point Loma Nazarene
Ellison, Trevor (Memorial HS) -- St. Mary's College
Gonzales, Nikky (Edison HS) -- West Hills JC / Pikeville Univ. (KY)
Gonzalez, Jason (Buchanan HS) -- Reedley JC
Hinkle, Trent (Madera HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Karch, John (Clovis West HS) -- Reedley JC
Koretoff, John (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Lopez, EJ (Edison HS) -- Pomona-Pitzer
Luplow, Jordan (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno St.
Mariscal, Chris (Clovis North HS) -- Fresno St.
Perez, Gabe (Central HS) -- Fresno CC
Riley, Luke (Yosemite HS) -- West Los Angeles CC
Rolff, Brad (Yosemite HS) -- West Hills JC / Minot St. (ND)
Tempel, Taylor (Clovis HS) -- Fresno St.
Tittle, Michael (Clovis North HS) -- Fresno CC / Fresno Pacific Univ
Villa, Laz (Memorial HS) -- Reedley JC
Walker, Travis (Kerman HS) -- West Hills JC
Walker, Tyler (Kerman HS) -- West Hills JC
Witt, Chisholm (Coalinga HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ. / West Hills JC / Colorado Christian Univ.

Class of 2010 (24)
Alvarez, Jacob (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno St.
Astone, Andrew (Memorial HS) -- CSU Monterey Bay (RS) / Hartnell JC / Fresno CC / UNLV
Bayman, Ryan (Clovis West HS) -- Reedley JC
Blair, Aaron (Spring Valley HS; NV) -- Marshall
Cook, Tyler (Chowchilla HS) -- Cal Baptist / Merced JC
Corona, Kenny (Fowler HS) -- College of Sequoias / Chico St.
Ferreria, Skippy (Edison HS) -- CSU Stanislaus
Gilleland, Michael (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno CC / Reedley JC
Glines, Jackson (Yosemite HS) -- Fresno CC / Michigan
Gonzales, Jesse (Hanford West HS) -- College of Sequoias / West Hills JC
Graef, Aaron (Central HS) -- West Hills JC / Cal Lutheran Univ.
Karch, Eric (Clovis West HS) -- Pepperdine
Karraker, Jack (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC / Oregon
Kruger, John (Clovis HS) -- College of Sequoias
Lozier, Steven (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
McCurley, Adam (Washington Union HS) -- West Hills JC
Merlo, Drew (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Nunn, Darion (Bakersfield Christian HS) -- Bakersfield CC / Wright St (OH)
Phillips, Jacob (Washington Union HS) -- West Hills JC / Cal State East Bay
Sandoval, Alan (Kerman HS) -- West Hills JC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Travis, Kenny (Edison HS) -- Fresno CC / Laney College
Turner, Isaiah (Stockdale HS) -- Bakersfield CC
Valentino, Joseph (Sierra HS) -- College of Sequoias / Pikeville Univ. (KY)
Vander Tuig, Nick (Oakdale HS) -- UCLA

Class of 2009 (32)
Barger, Bryce (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC / Nevada-Reno
Bariteau, Pat (Liberty-MR HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Batty, Seth (Buchanan HS) -- UC Davis
Bejeckian, Billy (Fresno HS) -- Fresno CC
Bishop, Brett (Buchanan HS) -- Cal / Fresno CC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Caraccilo, Nick (Madera HS) -- CSU Stanislaus
Chambas, Robert (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Christian, Tyler (Leigh HS) -- San Jose State / Cal State LA
Coy, Zach (Clovis HS) -- Fresno CC
D'Amico, Justin (Freedom HS) -- Los Medanos JC
Dalena, Nate (Memorial HS) -- Fresno CC
Dunn, Blake (Bullard HS) -- Fresno CC
Forestiere, Walter (Buchanan HS) -- West Hills JC
Fukuda, Braden (Washington Union HS) -- Reedley JC
Herrera, Chris (Kingsburg HS) -- Reedley JC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Hinkle, Haden (Madera HS) -- USF
Howard, Jordan (Liberty HS - Bak) -- Taft JC
Kinder, Kevin (Buchanan HS) -- Reedley JC
Lee, Jared (Clovis West HS) -- UNLV / Pepperdine
Martinez, Jacob (Bullard HS) -- Fresno CC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Neal, Chris (Liberty HS - Bak) -- Biola University / Azusa Pacific Univ.
Owen, Jeff (Clovis East HS) -- CSU Monterey Bay
Pizzo, Brandon (Memorial HS) -- College of Sequoias / Waldorf College (IA)
Rich, Andrew (Washington Union HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ. / Reedley JC
Richards, Kevin (Kerman HS) -- West Hills JC / Cal State East Bay
Rogan, Perry (East Bakersfield HS) -- Taft JC / Patten University / Univ. of Antelope Valley
Silva, Sean (Clovis West HS) -- UNLV / Fresno CC / USC
Vidmar, Bryce (Clovis HS) -- Fresno CC / Cal State East Bay
Wardell, Billy (Freedom HS) -- UNLV / Cal State East Bay
White, Cody (Clovis HS) -- Western Oregon / Reedley JC
Wild, Andrew (Mt. Whitney HS) -- UOP / Fresno CC / CSU Monterey Bay
York, Michael (Chowchilla HS) -- Fresno CC / CSU Stanislaus

Class of 2008 (19)
Amaral, Steven (Leigh HS) -- San Jose CC / Sacramento State
Anaya, Paul (Madera HS) -- Fresno CC / Lewis and Clark St. (ID)
Avila, Frankie (Central HS) -- College of Sequoias / West Hills JC
Charles, Art (Ridgeview HS) -- Bakersfield CC
Gowens, Brennan (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno St.
Hernandez, David (Ridgeview HS) -- Bakersfield CC
Martinez, Anthony (Madera HS) -- Fresno CC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Mehrten, Alec (Madera HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Petrangelo, Brandon (Freedom HS) -- Nevada-Reno / San Francisco St.
Phillips, Jeff (Dinuba HS) -- College of Sequoias / Fresno CC / CSU Monterey Bay
Riley, Allen (Edison HS) -- UOP
Rivera, Tyler (Clovis East HS) -- Reedley JC
Salwasser, Scott (Buchanan HS) -- West Hills JC
Sanchez, Bo (Central HS) -- College of Sequoias / Porterville JC
Torres, Daniel (Washington Union HS) -- Reedley JC
Truhett, Dylan (Buchanan HS) -- West Valley JC / Vanguard Univ.
Walkley, Korie (Centennial HS) -- CSU Bakersfield
Wold, Dustin (Freedom HS) -- Diablo Valley College / San Francisco St.
Youpel, Nick (Memorial HS) -- University of San Diego

Class of 2007 (6)
Isaac, Scott (Buchanan HS) -- West Valley JC / Reedley JC
Karraker, Mitch (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC / Oregon
Lewis, Steven (Fowler HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Lynn, Aaron (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Mariscal, Mo (Buchanan HS) -- West Hills JC
Rigbie, Case (Clovis West HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.

Class of 2006 (9)
Acevedo, Ryan (Caruthers HS) -- West Hills JC / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Borba, Wes (Chowchilla HS) -- Merced JC / Fullerton St.
Coleman, Jared (Kerman HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Dorrell, Wes (Clovis HS) -- Cal Poly SLO / Fresno Pacific Univ.
Geist, Zach (Fresno HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Gonzales, Gibby (Kerman HS) -- Fresno CC / Gavilian JC
Kourafas, Joey (Washington Union HS) -- Reedley JC
Mulligan, Ryan (Selma HS) -- St. Mary's College
White, David (Clovis East HS) -- West Hills JC / Fresno Pacific Univ.

Class of 2005 (14)
Boren, Phil (Kerman HS) -- West Hills JC
Colla, Mike (Clovis West HS) -- Arizona
Delarosa, Joaquin (Kingsburg HS) -- Reedley JC
Escovedo, Josh (Memorial HS) -- Fresno CC
Fast, Brian (Immanuel HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ.
Franco, Josh (Selma HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ. / Fresno CC 
Garza, Michael (Washington Union HS) -- Reedley JC
Gonzales, Phillip (Kerman HS) -- Fresno Pacific Univ. / Fresno CC / Patten University
Halliman, Pernell (Edison HS) -- West Hills JC / Jackson St. (MO)
Mirelez, Richie (Washington Union HS) -- Reedley JC
Motsenbacker, Jacob (Kerman HS) -- West Hills JC / College of Sequoias
Phillips, Matt (Pope John Paul II HS; TN) -- Chricton College (TN)
Smith, Jameson (Clovis West HS) -- Clemson Univ. / Fresno CC
Smith, Ryan (Buchanan HS) -- Fresno CC

Class of 2004 (2)
Lofreso, Joe (Sierra HS) -- Fresno CC
Pestorich, Mark (Washington Union HS) -- Fresno CC / Sonoma St.

Class of 2002 (1)
Gonzales, Steven (Kerman HS) -- Gavilan JC / Fresno Pacific Univ.