Cougar Athletics
30 NAIA National Championships
95 GSAC Championships
...and counting

THIS YEAR: Senior shortstop Matt Venegas returns to set the table for the Azusa Pacific offense for the second straight season … A leader who connects with his teammates as a working-class hero … Has used a tireless work ethic and a positive attitude to turn himself into a productive collegiate player … A patient hitter capable of making consistent contact … Can also drive the ball from gap-to-gap … Anchors one of the GSAC’s top defensive middle infields.

2007: Earned All-GSAC recognition as the spark plug of Azusa Pacific’s record-setting offense as a 2007 junior … Started 52 of Azusa Pacific’s final 54 games, seizing the starting shortstop position at the beginning of GSAC play and missing just 2 games the rest of the season … Batted .364 (80for-220) with 73 runs and 42 RBIs … Was 10th in the NAIA and second in the GSAC in runs scored with 73, 1 behind teammate Scott Hodsdon’s program single-season record 74 runs … Also led the league in scoring in conference games with 51 runs … Ranked second among GSAC shortstops in fielding percentage (.955) and double plays turned (26) … After 20 homerless games to start the season, went deep in 3 straight games and finished with 5 home runs on the season … Had 25 multi-hit games, including a 4-for-4 effort in an 11-4 NAIA Region II Playoff defeat against Concordia and a 5-for-5 performance in an 8-6 win over Dixie State (Utah) … Finished the season on an 8-game hitting streak and logged a season-high 14-game hitting streak midway through the season … Reached base safely in 26 straight games.

MT. SAN ANTONIO CC: Played 2 seasons at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. for head coach Stacy Parker … Earned All-South Coast Conference first team honors as a 2005 freshman, batting .354 (56-for-158) with 35 runs and 34 RBIs … Had 12 extra-base hits, including 4 triples … Finished with a 2-year batting average of .316 after going 39-for-143 (.273) as a 2006 sophomore … Was a teammate on the 2006 squad with current Cougar pitcher Jonny Bravo.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Bonita High in San Dimas, Calif., for head coach Chris Romero … Batted .375 (33-for-88) with 19 runs and 6 steals as a 2004 senior … Over the Bearcats’ final 14 games, batted .468 (22-for-47) with 8 multi-hit games.

PERSONAL: Born April 24, 1986 to Art and Spring Venegas … Majoring in liberal studies.