AZUSA, Calif.-- Azusa Pacific baseball head coach Paul Svagdis has announced the signing of 2 more high school athletes—teammates Dwight Nixon and Kyle Loretelli from Beyer High School in Modesto, Calif.—for the 2005-06 season.

Nixon, whose parents Ike and Diane (Jennings) both attended Azusa Pacific, is expected to compete for a starting spot in the Cougar outfield, which graduated 2 seniors. Loretelli comes in as a catcher and will likely back-up 2005 GSAC Player of the Year Stephen Vogt as well as serve as the Cougars’ designated hitter.

“Both Dwight and Kyle come from a very successful program in a competitive area,” said Svagdis. “They both have the potential to come in and compete for substantial playing time right from the start. These guys will have a positive impact on our program for the next 4 years.”

Beyer, which is currently ranked No. 6 in the CIF-Sac Joaquin Section, won its second straight conference title and is currently in the second round of the 2005 section playoffs.

A 3-year varsity starter, Nixon is currently hitting .368 and was recently named All-Modesto Metro Conference (MMC) first team, his second straight all-league honor. Nixon is leading both his team and the MMC in home runs (4) and RBIs (26), and he has also scored 23 runs and has 16 stolen bases. He currently ranks in the top 5 in runs, RBIs, home runs and stolen bases.

“We began recruiting Dwight the summer before his junior year, and we knew then that we wanted him in our program,” said Svagdis. “The tenaciousness in which he plays the game is something that we really respect as a coaching staff. He plays the game with a high level of intensity and is the type of player that expects to have success each time he steps between the lines. He will have an impact on our program.”

Earlier this year, Nixon was named one of the Top 100 Middle Infielders in the country by TeamOneBaseball.com. He was also named as a participant for the Stanislaus County Rotary High School Baseball All-Star Game June 4.

Loretelli was recently named Modest Metro Conference MVP. He currently is one of the top catchers in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section and is hitting a team-leading .434 with 22 runs and 25 RBIs. He has also hit 6 doubles and 3 home runs, which ranks second in the league behind Nixon.

“Azusa Pacific is just the perfect fit for me,” said Loretelli. “Everyone is energetic and friendly, and I loved that while I was on my visit. The future looks bright at Azusa Pacific, and I am glad that I will get to be a part of it and look forward to getting my chance to contribute.”

Loretelli, who was also Beyer’s starting quarterback, was named on of the Top 60 Catchers in the country by TeamOneBaseball.com. As a 2004 junior, he was named all-district second team after hitting .404.

“Kyle has been one of the top hitters in his region the past 2 seasons,” said Svagdis. “We have signed Kyle in hopes that he will take advantage of the opportunity to work with Vogt as well as gain practical game experience during next year’s season. He is a very athletic kid and that’s why we wanted him. We feel that he has both the physical and mental makeup to be an outstanding leader in our program during his time here.”

Azusa Pacific is coming off a season in which it finished 22-22 overall, 17-13 GSAC, missing the NAIA Region II Playoffs by just one game. The Cougars return 20 players from last year’s team, 16 of whom were underclassmen, including Vogt.