AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific baseball head coach Paul Svagdis has announced the first 2 commitments to the 2011-12 recruiting class, bringing right-handed pitcher Alan Garcia to the Cougar program as a junior-college transfer along with right-handed pitcher and shortstop Joel Belk, who will join the Cougars from Los Osos High School.

Both players will enroll at Azusa Pacific in the fall of 2011 and will begin competing for the Cougar baseball program for the 2012 season.

Garcia is entering his second season at Eastern Arizona College, where the 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-hander averaged nearly a strikeout per inning during his 2010 freshman campaign. He was listed as No. 52 on Perfect Game USA’s Nov. 15 list of the top 100 junior college prospects for the 2011 MLB Draft.

“We are very excited with Alan’s decision to attend Azusa Pacific University,” Svagdis said. “We feel that not only does Alan bring the physical attributes of a power pitcher into our program, he also has a quality about him that lends to great leadership. We are looking forward to working with him next year and seeing him have an immediate impact on our program.”

Garcia was a 2009 Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona All-Star and was named Class 5A All-State honorable mention following his final prep season, and he was Eastern Arizona’s innings and strikeouts leader as a college freshman in 2010. He finished with 65 strikeouts in 66.1 innings, giving up 31 earned runs on 54 hits for a 4.21 earned run average.

“I was drawn to Azusa Pacific for its great baseball program and the excellent education,” Garcia said. “I look forward to being a part of the team and doing what I can to contribute to the team’s success.”

Belk is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound shortstop entering his senior year at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, where he was named to the All-Baseline League second team as a 2009 junior.

“Joel is a perfect fit for our program,” Svagdis said. “Over the last year, our staff has made a conscious effort to recruit dual-position athletes for this year’s incoming class. We felt that we needed to get back to recruiting players who have experienced success in the field and on the mound, players like Scott Hodsdon and Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Not only is Joel that type of athlete, he is also a great student and strong Christian leader. We value that type of leadership in keeping our Christian faith and values in the forefront of all we do as program.”

Belk batted .292 (19-for-65) with 5 extra-base hits, and as a pitcher struck out 10 in 10.2 innings of work.

“I felt that God led me to Azusa Pacific to have a positive impact both on and off the baseball field,” Belk said. “Every time I prayed about my decision, I had a sense that it wasn't just about me and where I wanted to go to school, but more about where God wanted me to grow and serve. I know that God has a purpose for me at Azusa Pacific as I learn to serve and glorify Him through the opportunities I’ll have there in baseball and in school.”

Azusa Pacific is 1 of just 3 NAIA baseball programs that have had multiple selections in at least 3 of the past 4 drafts, and Azusa Pacific has produced 33 MLB draft selections all-time, the second-highest total of any NAIA program. Nine former Cougars played for MLB minor-league affiliates in 2010, with 3 of them participating in their respective league’s mid-season all-star games.

The Cougars open the 2011 season with a 2-night home series with Simpson, Jan. 25-26, kicking off a 12-game pre-conference schedule before opening the Golden State Athletic Conference campaign with a 4-game series against Vanguard the final week of February.