The California Baptist University Lancers established themselves as a very successful collegiate program, not only for their ability to win titles at the collegiate level, but also in their ability to produce professional athletes.
The baseball program at CBU has been especially successful, seeing their players get drafted into Major League Baseball. This success has stemmed from a rigorous training regimen implemented by head coach Gary Adcock and his staff.
Adcock is entering into his ninth season as head coach and has seen eight of his players drafted by MLB teams in the last eight seasons, including four after the 2011 season.
Adcock has a 281-150-1 career record as head coach at CBU. Prior to coming to this campus he worked as an assistant coach at University of California, Los Angeles and Purdue University.
Last season, in their final season as part of the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC), Lancer baseball won its second straight GSAC title leading up to its most successful MLB draft in school history.
Pitchers Taylor Siemens and Drew Madrigal, Catcher Sharif Othman and Shortstop Brian Sharp were all drafted in the first 35 rounds of the three day 2011 first-year player draft.
The CBU baseball program has developed a strong following amongst major league scouts. This is evidenced in the number of teams that have drafted CBU players in the past.
Since 1981, 19 players have been drafted out of the Lancer baseball program. They have been drafted by 15 different teams across the nation, from as far as Florida and Massachusetts.
There are currently five former Lancers playing in the professional baseball circuit: three pitchers, an outfielder, and a catcher. Further testament to the strength of the program is the variation in the positions that have been drafted, proving the many strengths of the coaching staff.
Siemens, pitcher and recent CBU alumnus, now plays for the Missoula Osprey in the Class A Pioneer League, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system. In his first professional season Siemens was named to the Pioneer League all-star team.
Whether these current players ever reach the Major League level remains to be seen. However, it is important to note that they are using their God-given talents to find their purpose and make an impact for Him in the sports world.
CBU athletics programs all focus on one underlying principle: using sports to build character and make an impact for God’s kingdom. CBU baseball has had an ability to spread this mission across the country through players being drafted into the professional baseball circuit.
