Zach Slesk says he has dreamed about playing NCAA Division I baseball since he was a sophomore at Meridian High School.
Now a sophomore at Lower Columbia College, Slesk will get that chance next spring, as he has signed to play for Utah Valley University.
"This is a great opportunity for me, and I can hardly wait," Slesk said in a phone interview.
Slesk said he chose Utah Valley over Hawaii Pacific and New Mexico State.
"They offered me a scholarship, and I took it," said Slesk, who made his decision last fall.
Utah Valley is making a move to the Western Athletic Conference next year, which also interested Slesk, as did the opportunity to step in and play shortstop right away.
"It'll be my position to win, but it will also be my position to lose," Slesk said. "I need to come ready to play."
That shouldn't be a problem for the competitive Slesk, who hit .331 with 29 RBI, 16 doubles and three homers and finished with a .935 field percentage as a freshman at Lower Columbia last spring.
As a shortstop for the Wolverines, Slesk will continue a Whatcom County tradition at the position. Former Sehome star Kai Hatch is a senior shortstop on the team's roster, and Slesk's older cousin, Eli Slesk, also played there.
"I talked about the move with Eli a lot, and he told me a lot of good things about the school and program," Zach said. "They have good coaches and play at a minor league field, so you know the facilities are pretty good. It will be pretty neat playing on a professional field."
Slesk has not yet decided on a major.
BOWSER THROWS IT DOWN
Pacific University junior forward Dustin Bowser (Mount Baker, Whatcom Community College) scored 13 points on Tuesday, Feb. 5, to help the Boxers end a three-game losing streak with an 80-60 Northwest Conference men's basketball victory over Willamette.
Two of the points were extremely loud, as Bowser rattled the rim with a dunk on an off-the-glass assist from teammate Colin Wester with 15:25 to play in the game. Video of the dunk can be found online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6DkEddIPts.
Bowser is averaging 7.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this year.
GREENE HONORED
Northwest University's Michael Greene (Squalicum) was selected to the 2012-13 CoSIDA Academic All-District men's basketball team for District 8. It was the second time Greene earned the award, and he went on to be named a Capital One Academic All-American in 2011-12.
Greene, who owns a 3.91 GPA, is an accounting/finance major and will graduate this year. He is a junior athletically, but a senior academically. He plans to return to Northwest next season and attend graduate school while finishing out his college playing eligibility.
Greene also scored 12 points in the Eagles' heart-breaking 75-72 NAIA Cascade Conference loss to Warner Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 2. Greene leads the team with 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
DEBOER TURNS IN A DOUBLE DOZEN
Montana senior Kenzie DeBoer scored 12 points to help the Lady Griz to a 72-61 Big Sky Conference victory over Portland State on Thursday, Jan. 31.
She added 12 more two nights later in a 76-51 victory over Eastern Washington.
DeBoer leads the team with 13.9 points per game.
Reach David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2286.
Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.
