Dec. 2, 1997
Bears Ink Two Players to Letters of Intent
BERKELEY -- The University of California baseball team has signed two high school athletes to letters of intent during the early signing period, it was announced by head coach Bob Milano.
Left-handed first baseman/outfielder Derek Ayres and switch-hitting catcher/infielder/outfielder Tyler Beuerlein have signed letters of intent to play for the Bears next season.
Ayres, a 6-2, 200-pounder from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, CA, batted .392 with nine doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI last spring as a junior after batting .400 with 10 doubles, five home runs and 41 RBI as a sophomore. This past summer he played for the San Diego Padres in the Area Code Games in San Diego. Ayres chose Cal over Fresno State, San Diego State, Pepperdine, Tulane and UNLV.
Beuerlein is a 6-3, 180-pounder from Paradise Valley High School in Cave Creek, AZ. He was an all-region shortstop as a sophomore and an all-region catcher last year as a junior, batting .385 with 14 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 35 RBI. During the summer, Beuerlein was invited to the Best of the West Showcase, played for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Area Code Games and participated in the CABA World Series in Cleveland, OH. He considered Arizona State, Arizona and Tulane before selecting Cal.
"We went out to get the two best left-handed bats we could find and we accomplished our goal," said associated head coach David Lawn. "Both Ayres and Beuerlein are versatile athletes who we will be able to utilize in a lot of spots next season."
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Last School
Derek Ayres 1B/OF 6-2 200 El Cajon, CA/Granite Hills High School
Tyler Beuerlein C/INF/OF 6-3 180 Cave Creek, AZ/Paradise Valley High School
