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2007
Will start at one of the middle infield spots.
2007
Started all 37 games he played in, one of only three players on the team to accomplish this feat...Hit .244 in 135 at bats with 20 runs, eight doubles, two triples, six homeruns, and 27 RBI...His six homeruns tied him for first on the team, while his .467 slugging percentage was good enough for third...Fielded an impressive .978 with only four errors in 186 chances...Turned 20 double-plays as a second basemen...Had three hits twice on the season, including a three-for-four, two run, three RBI effort on April 17 against Westmont...Had seven multi-hit games...Hit .363 with nine runs and eight RBI in a six game span from April 27 to May 6...Sat out final nine games of season due to a hand injury sustained on a loss to Long Beach State on May 12.
High School
Played for Jim Ozella at Hart High School, where he played shortstop for the Indians...Three-time First Team All-Foothill League selection...Batted .380 with a homerun and 16 doubles as a senior...Tallied an impressive .375 batting average as a junior...Had his best year in terms of average as a sophomore, batting .410 with one homerun...Was an outstanding soccer player for Hart, setting the Foothill League single season record for goals (40)...Selected as a Scholar Athlete...Also recruited by Gonzaga and Santa Clara.
Personal
Born April 2, 1988 in Santa Monica, Calif...Majoring in sociology with a minor in sports management at UCSB...If he was not playing baseball, he would be on the pitch playing soccer...Roots for the Chicago Cubs...Favorite athlete is Roger Federer...Most memorable sports moment was watching the Boston Red Sox win the World Series...Favorite movie is "The Temptations" and favorite TV shows "The Hills"...Subscribes to "Sports Illustrated"...Lists Chance Myers as the best player he has ever faced...Would invite Bill Buckner, Steve Bartman, and Pete Rose to dinner if he could...Best baseball advice received was "be your own person"...Has three brothers, former Gaucho Chris, Patrick, and Nicholas, and one sister, Briana...Son of Jeff and Ilona Valaika.
