Coaches convince Lopez to continue his playing career at CR
Published on Aug 2 2024Eureka senior Jorge Lopez thought he would be done with baseball after high school, but those plans have changed.
Earlier this month, the Loggers standout pitcher signed his letter of intent to play for 91视频 after graduation, where he will join a Corsairs team that has added a couple of key local players this offseason.
But it almost never happened for Lopez.
Until CR coach Kokko Figueiredo came calling, that is.
鈥淜okko came to one of my games and talked to me about CR and the team,鈥� Lopez said. 鈥淚 had considered not playing baseball any more, but when Kokko came to me I was convinced to keep playing.鈥�
That鈥檚 good news for the Corsairs.
Lopez played a key role in the Loggers鈥� chase for a Big 5 championship this past season and gave his team a reliable arm out of the bullpen as they pushed eventual Big 5 champs McKinleyville all the way.
The senior appeared in eight games out of the bullpen and had an impressive ERA of 1.40.
But whether or not he continues to play a relief role remains to be seen.
鈥淔or me, I鈥檓 going to try and make the starting rotation,鈥� said Lopez, who got his first start against Fortuna earlier this spring. 鈥淲hat I want to achieve is to become a starter, and if not just take whatever role they give me and work hard on that.鈥�
Lopez, who signed this letter in front of family at CR, became an integral part of the Loggers pitching staff during his junior season, when he had an ERA of 1.11.
He carried that into his senior campaign, helping to lead the Loggers to a 12-6 record, including a 10-2 run through conference.
But that鈥檚 not all he will remember from his days playing for Eureka.
鈥淚t was really fun,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to remember all the good coaching and advice I got from (head coach) Tommy (Gale) and all the great memories. It was a really fun time with my teammates.鈥�
And now that he鈥檚 opted to continue his playing career at the collegiate level, the Kinesiology major is hoping to take his talents to a four-year school after his time at CR.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a goal I鈥檓 really hoping for,鈥� he said.
Lopez added that he鈥檚 looking forward to the challenge of playing college ball and that he feels CR is a good fit for him, both as a player and as a student.
鈥淲hat impressed me (about CR) is how competitive they are and how hard working they are,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd they have the ability to turn me into a better player.鈥�
Lopez also played football and basketball in his middle school days but opted to focus exclusively on baseball in high school, and it鈥檚 a decision that has paid off.
He says his biggest influence has been his father, Jorge, who 鈥渉as been pushing me to play baseball and sports since I was little,鈥� he said.
Lopez joins Fortuna graduate Drew Franklin in taking his talents to the local community college, which should give the Corsairs pitching a boost for 2025.