Coaches convince Lopez to continue his playing career at CR

Aug 2 2024

Eureka senior Jorge Lopez thought he would be done with baseball after high school, but those plans have changed.

Earlier this month, the Loggers standout pitcher signed his letter of intent to play for College of the Redwoods after graduation, where he will join a Corsairs team that has added a couple of key local players this offseason.

But it almost never happened for Lopez.

Until CR coach Kokko Figueiredo came calling, that is.

“Kokko came to one of my games and talked to me about CR and the team,” Lopez said. “I had considered not playing baseball any more, but when Kokko came to me I was convinced to keep playing.”

That’s good news for the Corsairs.

Lopez played a key role in the Loggers’ chase for a Big 5 championship this past season and gave his team a reliable arm out of the bullpen as they pushed eventual Big 5 champs McKinleyville all the way.

The senior appeared in eight games out of the bullpen and had an impressive ERA of 1.40.

But whether or not he continues to play a relief role remains to be seen.

“For me, I’m going to try and make the starting rotation,” said Lopez, who got his first start against Fortuna earlier this spring. “What I want to achieve is to become a starter, and if not just take whatever role they give me and work hard on that.”

Lopez, who signed this letter in front of family at CR, became an integral part of the Loggers pitching staff during his junior season, when he had an ERA of 1.11.

He carried that into his senior campaign, helping to lead the Loggers to a 12-6 record, including a 10-2 run through conference.

But that’s not all he will remember from his days playing for Eureka.

“It was really fun,” he said. “I’m going to remember all the good coaching and advice I got from (head coach) Tommy (Gale) and all the great memories. It was a really fun time with my teammates.”

And now that he’s opted to continue his playing career at the collegiate level, the Kinesiology major is hoping to take his talents to a four-year school after his time at CR.

“That’s a goal I’m really hoping for,” he said.

Lopez added that he’s looking forward to the challenge of playing college ball and that he feels CR is a good fit for him, both as a player and as a student.

“What impressed me (about CR) is how competitive they are and how hard working they are,” he said. “And they have the ability to turn me into a better player.”

Lopez also played football and basketball in his middle school days but opted to focus exclusively on baseball in high school, and it’s a decision that has paid off.

He says his biggest influence has been his father, Jorge, who “has been pushing me to play baseball and sports since I was little,” he said.

Lopez joins Fortuna graduate Drew Franklin in taking his talents to the local community college, which should give the Corsairs pitching a boost for 2025.