After leading their team to its third straight Bay Valley Conference Title in 2015, COM Baseball players Matthew Tarantino and Ryan Schalch have their sights set on the future, Division one baseball. The left side of the Mariners' infield signed letters of intent from University of Pacific on Thursday. They will attend University of Pacific next fall, but not before spending another season in pursuit of a state title at College of Marin.  

Both Mariners are very capable of playing at the Division One level as they dominated the competition in the 2015 season. Shortstop Matthew Tarantino hit .337 in the 2015 season with 32 RBI and a school record 21 doubles. Third baseman and pitcher Ryan Schalch hit .368 with 25 RBI in his first season as a Mariner. As a pitcher he struck out 21 batters in 22 innings and allowed just a pair of earned runs. Schalch earned the Bay Valley Conference Most Valuable Player award, and Tarantino was a First Team All-Conference selection.  Schalch was also named to the CCCBCA Northern California All State Team and both Tarantino and Schalch were named to the 2016 Northern California Pre-Season All State Team.

The litany of awards garnered by both are likely only the beginning of their prodigious baseball careers.

Video of Tarantino and Schalch signing is available here.