Four D1 Players Added to 2018 Roster

Simi Valley, CA. – The Ventura County Baseball Club is excited to announce that Shea Barry (University of California, Santa Barbara), Carter Hayes (University of the Pacific), Cole Kriger (La Salle University) and Christian Walton (University of Pennsylvania) have been added to the 2018 roster. These four additions, coupled with the returning players, bring the roster to 18 for the organization’s eighth season of play, and its first as an affiliate of the California Collegiate League.

Shea Barry, a sophomore right-handed pitcher, made a co-team-high 23 appearances as a true freshman in 2017, all out of the bullpen for the Gauchos. He served as the team's closer down the stretch, notching a squad-high five saves. He ranked seventh in the Big West Conference in saves, and ninth in games finished (14). Barry makes his return to Ventura County after spending last summer with the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast League, appearing in 11 games. 

To Ventura County Baseball Club fans, the last name Barry should sound familiar. Shea’s older brother, Blake (University of the Pacific ’17), was mostly a catcher but developed into a utility player extraordinaire from 2013 through 2016.

Carter Hayes, a sophomore third baseman, appeared in 16 games his first year with the Tigers. Carter played for the Carmel High School Padres where he hit .437 as a sophomore, .493 as a junior, and .505 as a senior, earning All-League and All-Monterey County selections in each of those three years.  He was twice named the Monterey County MVP as well as twice making the Small School All-State Team. Carter played for Valley Center Mud Daubers of the Kansas Collegiate League last summer.

Cole Kriger and Christian Walton are freshman outfielders, and come to Ventura County as the first players from their respective schools’ baseball programs, La Salle University and University of Pennsylvania.

Cole Kriger played at Moorpark High School and in his senior year, the Musketeers were Coastal Canyon League Champions with an 11-1 record, and 25-4 overall. Moorpark advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF SS – Division 2 Playoffs before losing 2-1 to Edison HS of Huntington Beach.

Christian Walton lettered four years at Thousand Oaks High School, serving as the team captain his senior year. He earned both All-League and All-County Awards in his senior year, and was a four-year Scholar Athlete and AP Scholar. Christian has played on the scout teams of both the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants.