Baseball player Tyler Odekirk signs with University of San Diego

Baseball player Tyler Odekirk signs with University of San Diego

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Irvine Valley sophomore shortstop Tyler Odekirk recently signed with NCAA Division I University of San Diego.

Odekirk has been among the top baseball players in the Orange Empire Conference this season.

"Tyler is an extreme competitor," IVC coach Kent Madole said. "His work ethic says everything you need to know about him. On the field, in the weight room, during off hours, he is a grinder.

"He leads by example with how he goes about his business. His character, make-up, and personal integrity are the intangibles that separate him from the average player. His accomplishment of earning a sizable scholarship to a nationally ranked DI program is well deserved."

Odekirk, who hits leadoff for the Lasers, enters this weekend's action batting .360 with 50 hits, 30 runs scored, seven doubles, three triples, 22 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

He is second on the squad in batting average and leads the team in hits, doubles, RBI, stolen bases and is second in on base percentage (.417) and is second in slugging percentage (.453).

Odekirk ranks fifth in the conference in batting average, tied for seventh in RBI and tied for fourth in stolen bases.

In 33 games played so far in 2017, he has 16 multi-hit games. And Odekirk has five games with three hits or more.

He went a season-best 4 for 4 with three runs scored in a game at Grossmont on Feb. 23.

And he had a season-high four RBI in Irvine Valley's 7-3 win over Mt. SAC at home on Feb. 13.

In an amazing six-game stretch in late February, the former Mission Viejo High standout went 15 for 26 with 12 runs scored.

He has helped Irvine Valley to a record of 17-19 so far this season with a game against Santa Ana this Saturday and a three-game series with Orange Coast next week left in the regular season.

Odekirk is headed to a University of San Diego program that has a record of 27-9 overall and is ranked No. 19 in the nation. The Toreros are riding a seven-game win streak, including beating No. 8 Cal State Fullerton this past Tuesday. USD is playing BYU with first place on the line in the West Coast Conference this weekend.