Long Beach State University Athletics
Dirtbags Add One In Spring Signing Period
5/1/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 1, 2014
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Head Coach Troy Buckley announced the signing of Jared James to a National Letter of Intent to join the Long Beach State Dirtbags for the 2014-15 school year. James comes to the Beach after playing two years at Sacramento City College in Sacramento, Calif.
James was a two-year starter in the outfield for the Panthers after arriving on campus from nearby McClatchy High School. He hit .341 as a freshman and is hitting .351 this year as a sophomore. As a sophomore, James has provided the power in the lineup and leads the team with a .555 slugging percentage. He has 10 doubles with three triples and three homers as the Panthers head into the CCCAA postseason this weekend.
"Jared is an athletic outfielder who fits well with our defensive and offensive style and our park," commented Buckley. "His development and success at Sacramento City along with his blood lines will allow him to transition well to our level."
Jared is the son of former major leaguer Dion James, who finished his career with the Yankees in 1996 but was drafted by the Brewers in 1980. Jared's older brother Justin was drafted by the Yankees in 2011 out of Sacramento City College and played in their minor league system for two years.
The younger James was recently awarded with First Team All-Conference honors from the Big 8 Conference. Before the season, he was also named one of the CCCAA's Preseason All-American outfielders.
James will lead his team into the CCCAA regionals this week in a best of three series at Cabrillo College. He is the third JC transfer to sign with the Dirtbags, joining fall signees Trey Ferketic and Josh Advocate. The Dirtbags also signed 10 players wrapping up their high school careers this spring: David Banuelos, Brock Lundquist, Chris Mathewson, Darren McCaughan, Chris McCready, Garrett Nelson, Joseph Sanchez, Brian Schales, Sean Trimble and Jack Wheeless.
