Clipboard: Four Hartnell players land beach volleyball scholarships
Arriving at Hartnell College to extend their indoor volleyball careers two years ago, four players are moving on – as beach volleyball players.
Katie Barclay, Jordyn Pascone, Paige Mason and Theresa Habrik were instrumental in leading the Panthers to a Coast Conference North volleyball indoor title last fall.
The Fab Four’s rise as beach volleyball players in two years earned all of them scholarships this coming fall.
Headlining the list is Habrik, who landed at Division I Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.
Theresa Habrick (Courtesy of Hartnell College)
Paige Mason (Courtesy of Hartnell College)
Jordyn Pascone (Courtesy of Hartnell College)
Katie Barclay (Courtesy of Hartnell College)
Habrik was the Coast Conference North Most Valuable Player indoors and on the beach this past season as the team’s setter. She was also Hartnell’s valedictorian.
Barclay, who earned all-conference honors in both indoor and beach for the Panthers in both of her years at Hartnell, will play at Hope International University in Fullerton.
Pascone, a North Salinas High graduate, along with Mason, are headed to Hawaii Pacific University.
Pascone is going to Hawaii to compete in both sports, earning all-conference honors last fall as a hitter indoors, and all-conference honors on the beach.
A defensive specialist indoors, Mason earned all-conference honors on the beach two straight years for the Panthers, leading them to a conference beach title in 2024.
Rossi to Youngstown State
Luke Rossi made the most of a new lease on his baseball career, as he will play next spring at Youngstown State.
Having committed out of Palma to play at the University of San Francisco in 2023, Rossi transferred to College of San Mateo, where he tore up pitching.
Last spring, the right-handed utility player sizzled at the plate, hitting .384 with 41 runs batted in over 41 games.
A member of the Herald’s All-County football team in 2021, Rossi hit six homers last spring, with 21 of his 58 hits going for extra bases, posting a .478 on-base percentage.
A two-sport standout at Palma, Rossi compiled nearly 2,000 yards in total offense, throwing for just under 1,400 yards, while leading the team in rushing with 562 yards, totaling 15 touchdowns.
Jensen released
Salinas graduate Ryan Jensen has been released by the Minnesota Twins, where he had spent the season with their Triple-A team St. Paul.
The 6-foot former first round pick put together a strong April, posting a 2.16 earned run average with 13 strikeouts in eight innings.
However, Jensen struggled in June with his control, walking seven hitters over nine innings of relief.
Jensen, who is averaging 12.4 strikeouts every nine innings, throws a fastball near the century mark.
The Cubs’ No. 1 selection in 2019, Jensen has pitched for three different organizations, the last two seasons with the Twins’ Triple-A team.
In 151 appearances (53 starts) over five minor league seasons, Jensen is 13-28 overall with 367 strikeouts in 301 innings, posting a 4.69 earned run average.
A member of The Herald’s all-county football and baseball teams, Jensen earned second-team All-American honors at Fresno State in 2019 after going 12-1 with 107 strikeouts in 100 innings.
Aldrete looks for big second half
The month of June could not have ended sooner for Carter Aldrete, who struggled with a .188 batting average.
The infielder will go into the second half of the season for the Sacramento A’s Double-A franchise in Midland, hitting .203 with three homers and 23 runs batted in over 52 games.
Aldrete, who put together an all-star season last summer playing Independent baseball, was signed in the off-season by the A’s, spending the entire spring training with the team.
A former Monterey High and Arizona State slugger, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound Aldrete has hit 50 homers over four minor league seasons with teams affiliated with Major League Baseball.
Drafted by the Giants in the 15th round in 2019, the right-handed Aldrete has driven in 217 runs over 400 minor league games, making an all-star team for Class-A Eugene in 2021.
Coaches needed
Carmel is looking for a varsity girls volleyball coach, a varsity boys and girls cross country coach, a JV flag football coach and a JV boys water polo coach. Go to http://carmelunfied.org
Officials needed
Peninsula Sports Incorporate is looking for high school and middle school officials for all sports this season. Varsity officials are paid $100 a game. There is an immediate need for officials in the fall for football, flag football, water polo, field hockey and volleyball. Training is provided. Call Tom Emery at (831) 241-1101.
