Our 2011 College Alumni

Alex Dreyfuss, Redshirt Senior Catcher, UC Davis: Alex saw increasing playing time in 2010 as the regular backup catcher for the Division I Aggies, hitting .294 in 16 games, 7 as a starter. Alex began his college career in 2008 after redshirting his freshman year, then spent 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery. As a senior at St. Francis, Alex had a record-shattering season. He was named All-League as he tied the WCAL record for hits and broke the league record for batting average surpassing former WCAL stars Barry Bonds, Pat Burrell and Chuck Lofgren. Alex is an athletic player who can play any position on the diamond. He was a member of LA-MV's Bronco Section championship team in 1999, Bronco Section runner-up in 2000 and Pony-13 Section runner-up in 2001. He is one of the most affable players in memory from LA-MV.

Devin Matthews, Senior Pitcher, Pomona-Pitzer College. Devin continues his college career working out of the bullpen at academic powerhouse Pomona-Pitzer College. Devin enjoyed a highly successful three-year varsity baseball career at Los Altos High School where he helped the Eagles to league championships in 2006 and 2007 and a CCS championship in 2007. Devin was a perennial LA-MV all star from Pinto through Colt. Devin is a super-competitive pitcher with a fastball in the mid-80s. His older brother, Cameron, played for two seasons as a utility outfielder at Stanford and his father was a coach in LA-MV PONY for many years.

Mitch Karraker, Senior Catcher, University of Oregon. Mitch is expected to be the Division I Ducks starting catcher after working 2010 as the regular backup, and helping power the Ducks to the their first trip to the NCAA post-season in school history. Mitch played in 25 games, started 8, hit .300 with an OBP of .472, was walked a record five times in a single game against Nevada, and hit a walk-off home run in a come-from-behind victory over East Tennessee State. As a freshman at Fresno City College, Mitch batted .355 and was an all-conference and all-NorCal JUCO selection in his one season of competition. Mitch was a two-year letterman at Central Valley powerhouse Buchanan High School in Clovis and led his team to the 2006 Valley Championship. Born in Mountain View, Mitch played in LA-MV PONY through the Mustang Division before his family moved back to Fresno where his father played college football. Mitch and his Duck teammates face a stiff challenge in resurrecting the baseball program in the Pac-10, a conference considered by many to be the toughest in the nation.

Erik Johnson, Junior Pitcher, UC Berkeley. Erik returns to the bump for the Division I Bears after improving on his already impressive 2009 numbers, throwing 77 innings in 16 games and 13 starts with 77 strikeouts and a 4.09 ERA. Erik had a superb high school career at Los Altos High School and dominant Pony and Little League careers in the Los Altos-Mountain View area. Erik led the Eagles to an SCVAL El Camino Division championship as a sophomore, an SCVAL De Anza Division co-championship as a junior and their first-ever CCS Division-2 title as a junior. As a senior, he led Los Altos back to the CCS Division-2 championship game where they nearly repeated as champions, losing by only 1 run to Wilcox. He was an All-CCS pitcher as both a junior and senior. Erik is a towering force on the mound and features a power arm with a fastball topping out in the low-90s. He was recruited by a number of Division-1 college powerhouses and chose to stay in the Bay Area and display his talent in Berkeley, trying to help the Bears return to national prominence through the always difficult Pac-10. Erik was a star performer in LA-MVs Colt Division following a long and stellar youth career in Los Altos Little League.

Nik Balog, Junior Infielder, University of San Francisco. Nik exploded into Division I baseball his freshman year, and never let up. After batting batting .336 with 21 RBIs in 38 games in 2009, Nik was an All-West Coast Conference First Team selection for 2010, playing 53 games, hitting .298 with 29 RBIs, a team-high 20 doubles, 17 walks, six home runs, and was hit by a pitch a team-high nine times for a .388 OBP. Nik is a big, left-handed power hitting force in any lineup, and is expected to continue as the Dons starting first baseman in 2011. In High School, Nik was a key component for the Archbishop Mitty High School Monarchs 2008 run to the CCS Division-1 title game. In his senior campaign at Mitty, Nik batted .368 and was a 1st team, all-WCAL and 2nd team all-CCS selection. In LA-MV PONY, Nik played into the Bronco division and was a perennial all-star. His father Steve was a longtime coach in LA-MV and is a former LA-MV Board member and former San Diego State teammate of Tony Gwynn.

Alex Balog, Freshman Pitcher, University of San Francisco. Alex joins his brother and former LA-MV player Nik Balog at the University of San Francisco for the 2011 season. At a towering 6 ft. 4 in., Alex will be used primarily as a pitcher at USF but could see some action at first base or designated hitter. Alex brings a 90+ mph fastball with a solid overhand curve and change-up and should be an impact player from day-1 at USF. As a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School in 2010, Alex led the Monarchs to WCAL and CCS championships while the team was also named the California Team of the Year by ESPN and ranked number-1 in the nation by rivals.com and Perfect Game. In his senior season, Alex hit .331 with 5 HR and sported a 1.01 ERA while going 8-2 from the mound including a 12-0, 1-hit shutout over Bellarmine in the CCS Championship game. Alex was named CCS Player of the Year, 2nd team All American, 1st Team All California, 1st Team All Northern California, 1st team All WCAL and the Santa Clara County Hot Stove Committee’s high school Player of the Year. As a junior he was named the MVP for the North team in the California North/South All Star Series. In LA-MV PONY, Alex was a perennial all star, primarily as a catcher playing in Pinto through Bronco Divisions.

Kyle Tachibana, Redshirt Sophomore Pitcher, Chapman University. Kyle moves on this season to the Nationally Ranked Division 3 Panthers after his first full season of play at San Jose City College, in which he worked both as a starter and out of the bullpen. Kyle is a highly versatile pitcher/infielder/outfielder. Kyle concluded a tremendous 3-year varsity career as a starter at Los Altos High School. In 2007 he was a key player for the Eagles as they captured their first SCVAL-De Anza Division co-championship and first-ever CCS championship. As an LA-MV player, Kyle was a perennial all star helping to lead his Pony-13 all star team to their first-ever berth in the NorCal Region Championships in 2002. Under the tutelage of his father Aaron, himself a former San Jose State player, Kyle matured into a force on the mound, in the field and at the plate. Kyle’s father, Aaron, is a former San Jose State player and was a longtime LA-MV coach and volunteer.

Spencer Trygg, Junior Pitcher, Cal Lutheran. Spencer returns to the Kingsmen after appearing in six games in relief in 2010, striking out eight, posting a 2.35 ERA, and earning one save in 7.2 innings pitched. At 6 ft. 3 in. and 215 lbs., Spencer is an imposing figure on the mound with a fastball that runs into the mid-80s. A fierce competitor, Spencer enjoyed a fine high school career at St. Francis helping the Lancers to a CCS playoff appearance in his senior season. Spencer was an all star in LA-MVs Pony division primarily as a catcher, but made the switch to the bump once in high school. Spencer is expected to continue work out of the Kingsmen bullpen in 2011.

Michael Hoo, Sophomore Infielder, Cal Poly. Michael looks for increasing playing time in his second season with the Division 1 Mustangs after coming off the bench for 14 games in 2010. Michael came to Cal Poly after an excellent senior season at St. Francis High School, where he hit .310 with 11 doubles and a home run, helping power the Lancers to a first place tie in the WCAL and a berth in the CCS semi-finals. A multi-sport athlete and a scholar athlete, Michael lettered four times in football and graduated from St. Francis with high honors. Michael played with LA-MV from Pinto through to Pony Division.

Jesse Lehrman, Freshman Outfielder, University of Puget Sound. Jesse starts his college career with the Loggers after coming back from injuries to finish strong in his Senior season at Homestead High School. An All Star catcher most of his career, Jesse played his first two High School years with the St. Francis Lancers. After sitting out most of his junior and senior years with injuries, Jesse returned to the game as a relief pitcher and outfielder for the Mustangs. Jesse considered LA-MV his baseball home, playing Pinto-2 through Palomino and being selected for All Stars every year he was eligible. Jesse's father Russ was a long-time LA-MV coach and board member.

Nick Schulz, Sophomore Outfielder, San Jose State. Nick returns to the Spartans after 23 appearances and six starts in 2010. A two-sport athelete at St. Francis High School, Nick was a second-team All-WCAL pick in both baseball and football in 2009, and first-team in baseball in 2008.

Kenny Treadwell, Redshirt Freshman Pitcher, Santa Clara University. Kenny starts his college career with the Division 1 Broncos after red-shirting in 2010. Kenny was a two-sport star at Robert Louis Stevenson High School in Pebble Beach, where he was 18-4 and hit .400 in his Junior and Senior seasons, leading the Pirates to a 19-win season and a trip to the CCS Division III playoffs in 2009. Kenny played with LA-MV through Bronco, and his father Ken was a long time LA-MV coach and board member.