Valley Bears right-handed pitcher Humberto Solorio By Cherie Smith Humberto Solorio played summer ball for the Valley Bears this year as a right-handed pitcher. He graduated from Redwood High School in Visalia, CA in 2010. Solorio has been attending College of the Sequoias (COS) since fall 2010.
Humberto Solorio pitching for the Valley Bears against the Santa Maria Reds on Saturday, June 15, 2013 in Santa Maria, CA
One of the years at COS Solorio redshirted and another year he pitched in relief. COS is a California Community College in Visalia, CA and is in the Central Valley Conference (CVC). He is a business management major. College of the Sequoias Baseball has a summer league and he played the last two summers with them.
Simpson University in Redding CA recruited Solorio to play baseball there. They are a NAIA school and part of the Cascade Collegiate Conference for baseball. Solorio will be sophomore pitcher for them in spring 2014. Solorio talked about how he enjoyed playing the Valley Bears and it is a competitive team. He also talked that his Bears teammates and he had one goal each game that it was to win. Solorio enjoyed watching his teammates excel. Solario said, “You're around a great group of guys who like to have fun and also that know how to win games. We got an exciting team full of talent and its fun to watch in action.” For the Valley Bears this summer he pitched in 6 games, started 2, 2-2 record, a save, 17.1 innings pitched, 23 runs, 20 earned runs, 16 strikeouts, 12 walks, 26 hits, and a 10.38 ERA. The Valley Bears are part of the Pacific West Baseball League (PWBL). “I first started playing baseball when I moved to Visalia, CA at around age 10. I'm originally from San Jose, CA. My family inspired me to play baseball. I come from an athletic family, both my older brothers were swimmers and wrestlers. So I found this sport that I really loved and hope to excel in,” Solorio said. “I dedicate every game I play to my grandfather, who has been the biggest influence in my life. My pre-game ritual on the mound resembles him. He is greatly missed and will never be forgotten. I know he is with me every game I play,” Solorio said.