Garrett Balen, senior catcher/pitcher for the Chugiak Mustangs signed his NCAA Letter of Intent to play baseball for the Western Oregon Wolves next year.  The signing took place in his parents home in Eagle River, Alaska on Sunday, May 30th, 2010.  Balen will stay in Alaska during the summer and continue playing baseball with the Chugiak Mustang American Legion team.

Balen will not be the only Alaskan participating in athletics at Westen Oregon.  Justin Ore from Diamond High School, Tanner Grover from Palmer, Mike Petrovich from South Anchorage, and Max Harvey from Eagle River High are on the football team (Harvey was injured last season but says he is ready to go this season), Amber Walker, from Juneau Douglas is with the Volleyball team and fellow Mustang graduate Lorrie Clifford from Chugiak High will be a sophomore on the Women’s Basketball Team.

Balen will be playing catcher for the Wolves, and with both catchers this season being seniors, he will be sliding into one of their spots on the roster.

And yes, Garrett is the son of my sister, making him my nephew.