Baseball signs OF/2B Sparks

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University baseball team, under head coach Duane Monlux, announced today the signing of 5-9, 165-pound outfielder/second baseman Brandon Sparks (St. Joseph, Ill.) to a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning in the fall of 2017.

Sparks comes to Bellevue from Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Ill. where he spent the last two seasons. For his performance on the field Sparks earned first team all-ISCC (Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference) honors as an outfielder in 2017.

At Waubonsee, Sparks slashed .372/.442/.494 in 263 at-bats over 84 career games. He recorded 26 extra-base hits (21 doubles), drove in 51 runs, and scored 75 runs. He stole 29 bases in his two seasons and came just short of the 100-hit plateau, finishing his WCC career with 98 base knocks.

Coach Monlux said of Sparks, "Brandon comes from a very solid program at Waubonsee CC in Illinois. He was a two-year starter for WCC in the outfield; he also has the ability to play some second base as well. He knows how to win (his WCC team was an NJCAA III World Series qualifier in 2016). Brandon has solid speed, can steal bases, and has the ability to hit for a high average. We are excited to see how he steps in and compete for Bellevue University.

Sparks joins earlier signees Jonah Yang (OF, Diamond Bar, Calif.), Luke Stratton (OF, Temecula, Calif.), Bailey Link (C/3B/RHP, Chula Vista, Calif.), Jarrod Molnaa (RHP, Kennewick, Wash.), Conner Sharp (RHP, Port Orchard, Wash.), Stuart Eurich (OF, Elizabeth, Colo.), Stephen Knapp (RHP, Huntington Beach, Calif.), Travis Tanaka (C/OF, Aiea, Hawaii), Kory Longaker (OF, Edmonds, Wash.), and JT Patterson (C/1B, Calgary, Alta.).

Bellevue concluded another strong season last month with a 51-11 mark that saw them earn their second-straight NSAA Regular-Season title after going 23-1 in league play. The Bruins hosted the NAIA Opening Round Bellevue Bracket where they reached the final round. The National Tournament Appearance was the 19^th in the stories history of the Bruin Baseball program.