Lassen High School senior Joey Beck poses with his parents, Ed and Lucy Beck at his scholarship-signing event Sunday, Jan. 27. Beck has accepted a scholarship to play baseball for Western Nevada College next spring.  Photo by Maddie Musante

Feb. 7 — Lassen High School (LHS) senior Joey Beck has signed a scholarship to attend and play baseball for Western Nevada College (WNC) in Carson City, Nev. Beck signed a letter of intent earlier this month and held a special signing event at KSUE/JDX radio station Sunday, Jan. 27.

WNC is a Division I member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and is currently ranked number eight in the country. The WNC Wildcats have been to the Junior College World Series three times in the past six years. According to WNC’s head baseball coach, DJ Whittamore, Beck is one of six incoming players who have signed a scholarship to play for the Wildcats next spring.

Beck was born and raised in Susanville and began playing baseball when he was four years old as a little leaguer. He advanced to play for the Susanville Renegades when he was 13. For the past three years, Beck has pitched left-handed and played first base for the LHS varsity baseball team. He is known for pitching an 88-mph four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a circle changer, slider and curveball. In 2012 Beck led the Northern Section with 104 strikeouts, was named top pitcher at LHS, won the Eastern Athletic League All-Conference award and was named All-Northern Section first team pitcher.

After graduation, Beck will travel to Seattle, Wash. to play for the EnFuego Elite 18U Connie Mack baseball team for six weeks. During this time, he will travel to Boston, Mass. and Canada with the team.

Beck’s biggest fans were all in attendance at the signing event Sunday, Jan. 27, namely his parents, Ed and Lucy Beck, and his coach and mentor, Eric Perry. The KSUE/JDX studio was a buzz of excitement for Beck, as those in attendance discussed his hard work ethic, impressive accomplishments in baseball and how much fun he will have traveling across the country this summer with the EnFuego baseball team. Beck showed attendees pictures he had taken on this phone of the WNC dorms and baseball field before posing for pictures with his parents and friends.

“I’m very proud and anxious for him to start. I think it’s going to be a good beginning for him. It’s a good stepping-stone for what he wants in his future,” said Beck’s mother. Beck’s parents say they plan to attend every game at WNC next spring to support their son.

Beck said he feels like this is the culmination of a lot of hard work and his supporters agreed. Before enjoying some celebratory cake, Beck said, “I’m pretty excited and ready to go. It feels good to know where I’m going. It feels good to have something to look forward to, you know. I know I’m playing next year; that’s always nice.”

Beck will report to WNC on August 9, 2013, after playing with the EnFuego Elite for the summer.