Clovis grad searching for national title

Jason Seefeld is soon to leave for the University of Arizona, where he will be a member of the school’s baseball program.

Before he goes, though, the Clovis High graduate is ready to help his summer team, the Lubbock Hubbers, try to win a national championship in the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington. The team leaves from Lubbock today, and plays its first game on Sunday.

Seefeld has helped the Hubbers — named after a former minor league team in Lubbock — post a 22-7 record this season. Batting third and playing shortstop, he’s hitting around .375 for the season with seven home runs.

Lubbock advanced to the World Series by winning a 16-team state tournament in Austin and then taking the championship in double-elimination regional competition last weekend at Broken Arrow, Okla.

“It’s been going pretty good,” Seefeld said. “We’ve been playing pretty well.”

He expects his team has a chance to do well in Farmington.

“In the regional we beat the Dallas Mustangs, and last year they got second in the Connie Mack World Series,” Seefeld said. “Supposedly, we’re from one of the toughest regionals.”

Seefeld plans to return to Clovis for a couple of days to pack for Tucson, leaving on Aug. 16.

He’ll be in competition for the shortstop position at Arizona, but could end up at either second or third base.

Although he wasn’t chosen in baseball’s amateur draft in June and won’t be eligible for that again until after his junior season, Seefeld is comfortable with the idea of going to college.

“I think this is the best situation, to go to Arizona and play a couple of years out there,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”