CARLSBAD, Calif. --- Jeff Woolson's collegiate baseball journey has taken the right-hander back-and-forth from the Carlsbad, California-area to Coos Bay, Oregon several times over the past three years. 

After helping the Sante Fe Christian High School baseball team to a 20-9 record and a CIF San Diego Section Tournament Semifinal appearance during his senior year in 2018, Woolson enrolled at Southwestern Oregon Community College and played in the competitive Northwest Athletic Conference in 2019 and 2020 with a stint in the San Diego summer ball league mixed in.

But baseball will keep Woolson closer to home starting this coming fall. The culture that is developing in Biola Baseball drew him like a magnet and is fueling optimism about the years ahead:

"I chose Biola because I loved the culture that coaches Calhoon, Baker and Cordy are creating on the team," said Woolson. "I had to be a part of it, and I can't wait to get up there in the fall and start working!"

Woolson had a very successful campaign this past summer and helped Southwestern Oregon to an 8-4 record in 2020 before COVID-19 halted the season. He earned San Diego League all-star honors last July on the way to pitching to a 3.77 ERA and a 1.62 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 28.2 innings pitched. And the righty also picked up two wins in eight outings while allowing just three extra-base hits over the 2019 summer, all doubles.

The Lakers' baseball season obviously was just getting going this year before play was stopped. But SWOCC got off to a 8-1 start and earned a come-from-behind 11-10 victory over Treasure Valley on February 29 thanks in large part to Woolson's 4.1 innings of one-run relief after the Lakers allowed a grand slam in the second inning and eventually found themselves down 9-3. 

Woolson struckout five and scattered five hits over that outing as SWOCC was able to make it a one-run contest by the time he left the game. The eventual win would be the Lakers' six in a row at the outset of the season.
 
"We are excited for Jeff's future here. He comes from an up and coming junior college in Southern Oregon and was beginning to come into his own before the season ended, said Head Coach Jeff Calhoon. "He projects well in our long term plans of Biola baseball and I cannot speak highly enough about the quality of character he brings to our program."

Academically, Woolson plans to declare a broadcast journalism major at Biola and hopes to work as a sports broadcaster after college. He'll join his new teammates this coming fall as the Eagles work to follow through on their strong start to the 2020 season. More information on the incoming 2020-21 class that will join him at Biola can be found on the Committed Athletes page.