What was the point in waiting, thought Golden Valley sophomore baseball player Billy Fredrick.

So the 2010 All-Santa Clarita Valley first-teamer has decided to choose a college.

Fredrick verbally committed to UC Santa Barbara on Monday night, hours after receiving an offer from the school.

“It felt right,” Fredrick said. “I like the coaches over there. I can really thrive in that environment. I thought, ‘Why not?’”
At just 15 years old, Fredrick is one of the Santa Clarita Valley’s best young players.

He was not intimidated last year as a freshman and batted .427 with two home runs and 14 RBI. He reached base at a .520 clip.

“He can be a monster,” said Golden Valley head coach Scott Drootin of what Fredrick can be by his senior year. “I can see him getting bigger, stronger. I can see him get more productive in that area.”

Drootin, who has been a baseball coach for nearly two decades, said he has never had a player who was this young commit to a university.

Fredrick said he knew that other colleges could potentially make offers, but he was confident that UCSB was the right choice.
UCSB has been a popular destination for some of the Santa Clarita Valley’s top baseball talent.

Chris and Matt Valaika and Shane Carlson, all from Hart High, played for the Gauchos.

All three are now professional baseball players.

Head coach Bob Brontsema was a member of the 1981 state champion College of the Canyons baseball team.

Fredrick, who played middle infield and outfield for the Grizzlies, said he also received an offer from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

He won’t be able to sign a letter of intent until his senior year.