Valley Bears Michael Hostetler two time All-CVC 1st Team Infielder By Cherie Smith Michael Hostetler is playing summer baseball for the Valley Bears in Fresno, CA. He finished his sophomore season this spring at Reedley College as a first team all-conference. Hostetler said, “My dad was what made me start playing baseball.”
Michael Hostetler playing third base for Valley Bears on Friday, June 7, 2013
Baseball and water polo are the two sports Hostetler played at Hanford West High School in Hanford, CA where he graduated in 2011. He played the infield and pitched and in his senior year he pitched 44.2 innings, 2.35 ERA, did not give up a walk, and as a batter had a .386 batting average. As a water polo player he made the water polo first teams, Hanford West were Central Section Division III Water Polo Champions, and made the 2011 Tulare/Kings All-Star Water Polo game. As a baseball player his senior year, he made the 2011 West Yosemite League First Team, 2011 Cal Hi Sports All-State Baseball Team for medium schools as a multipurpose player, Hanford Sentinel’s 2011 Baseball Player of the Year, 2011 Exeter Lions Tulare/Kings East-West All-Star Game, and Hanford West became the 2011 Baseball Central Section Division III Champions for a third year straight.
Hostetler played his freshman and sophomore in years at Reedley College, a California Community College in Reedley, CA. Reedley College is in the Central Valley Conference (CVC). He played in 36 games, 156 at bats, 23 runs scored, 52 hits, 2 doubles, a triple, 21 RBIs, 13 walks, 10 strikeouts, 5 stolen bases, .390 on base percentage, .359 slugging percentage, and a .333 batting average as a sophomore. Hostetler played third base and then his sophomore year when the team did not have a shortstop, he moved to shortstop. Hostetler was a 1st Team All-CVC Infielder as a freshman and sophomore in 2011 and 2012. He said, “Being first team is something you get for working hard both years.” Hostetler was selected as a recipient of the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) 2013 Doyle Scholarship based on his athletic/baseball success, academic proficiency, and team/community involvement. He had a 3.3 GPA and became the 2013 Reedley College Male Athlete of the Year. “Reedley was a great experience and I would do it over in a heartbeat,” Hostetler said. Hostetler is transferring to Fresno Pacific University to continue playing baseball. They are a Division II school and are part of The Pacific West Conference. Hostetler is a criminology major and hopes to work for the FBI. In summer 2012 Hostetler played for the Sand Nats in Fresno, CA. This summer for the Valley Bears, he played in 8 games, 26 at bats, 6 runs, 11 hits, a double, 3 RBIs, 4 walks, a stolen base, and a .423 batting average as of June 24. The Valley Bears are part of the Pacific West Baseball League (PWBL). Hostetler has played third, first, and left field this summer.