Corning grad accepts scholarship

Roy Garcia, a 2005 graduate of Corning High School, has accepted a baseball scholarship to University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky. after a strong junior college career at Butte College.

Garcia attended Butte from 2006-2008 and was the team’s starting catcher this season as a sophomore. He proved to be one of the top defensive backstops in northern California, throwing out 17 would-be basestealers to lead the Golden Valley Conference.

Garcia also batted .286, playing in 42 of the Roadrunners’ 44 games. He slugged six doubles, three home runs, scored 25 runs and knocked in 16, earning Butte’s Most Valuable Player award. He also served as team captain and was named to the all-GVC First Team squad.

“Roy is a catcher that will help take our team to the next level,” Cumberlands coach Brad Shelton said. “He is good offensively, but his best attribute is his ability to lead a pitching staff. He is a team-first guy. His coaches at Butte say he is one of the most unselfish team players they have had in their program.”

At Corning, Garcia was team captain of the 2005 Northern Section championship team as a senior. Roy earned All-League honors that year, helping the Cardinals to a 16-4 record by hitting .322 with four doubles and 18 RBI.

He was team captain for a total of three years and Defensive Player of the Year all four years as a Cardinal.

“His toughness will rub off on our young guys,” Shelton said. “I expect Roy to be a leader the minute he steps on our campus.”

Garcia hopes to continue his success at Cumberlands next spring. The Patriots compete in the NAIA’s Mid-South Conference and are coming off a 43-16 campaign (17-2 MSC).