Walk-on who became the Aztecs[apos] starter at second base in his first season at San Diego State ... Two-time all-conference junior college player at two positions (second base and third base) ... Competed during summer 2008 for the Southern California Running Birds.
SAN DIEGO STATE 2009
Made 60 starts at second base and one at designated hitter with one appearance at second base off the bench ... At the NCAA Regional at UC Irvine, batted .417 (5-for-12) with a pair of doubles and a run scored ... Hit safely in 14 of the season[apos]s final 16 contests ... A defensive standout at second base where he committed only four errors in 61 games for a .985 fielding percentage ... Had only one miscue in SDSU[apos]s final 33 contests ... Did not commit an error in 23 Mountain West Conference games ... At the plate, reached base safely either via hit or walk in 36 of the last 38 games of the season... His three triples ranked second on the squad ... Had a pair of six-game hitting streaks, the latest running from May 3-14 when he went 12-for-22 (.545) with a double, triple, five runs scored and two RBI ... Recorded more walks than strikeouts (32 BB, 21 K) ... Batted .354 in conference play ... Had 17 multiple-hit efforts and 10 multiple-RBI contests... Season highs of three hits in a game on three occasions with the last time coming vs. Air Force on May 9 ... Hit his first collegiate home run in the win at UC Santa Barbara on March 31 ... Other came at home vs. UCLA on April 14 ... Had two steals in a game twice ... Hitting .357 (25-for-70) with runners in scoring position.
JUNIOR COLLEGE
A two-time first-team all-Pacific Coast Conference selection at Palomar JC in San Marcos, Calif., where he was coached by Buck Taylor ... Ranks among the school[apos]s top 20 for hits in a season ... As a sophomore in 2008, batted .354, second-best on the club, with 11 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 26 RBI as the Comets[apos] regular second baseman ... Also was outstanding at shortstop, the position he played in high school, and third base, where he was an All-PCC selection as a freshman ... Hit .462 (6-for-13) and doubled three times in three post season games ... Hit .352 in conference games ... Normally batted second in the order, but also both led off and hit in the No. 3 hole ... Led the team with 16 successful sacrifice bunts, second-highest total in Palomar history... His total of 25 sac bunts in two seasons is a school record ... Had seven stolen bases in eight attempts ... Started 46 of the Comets[apos] 47 games ... As a freshman in 2007, was the Comets[apos] primary starter at third base ... Hit .339 in Pacific Coast Conference games ... Batted .286 overall on the season with eight doubles (third on the team) ... Second on the club with 20 walks and reached base seven times as a hit batter ... Had a .432 on-base percentage and was third on the team with nine sacrifice bunts.
HIGH SCHOOL
Earned three varsity letters in baseball at Chaparral High School in Temecula, Calif. ... Played under coach Dave Barrett ... As a senior hit .340 with a .425 on-base percentage ... Committed only three errors as an infielder ... Team captain ... Batted .325 during his junior season with 20 runs batted in ... Struck out only twice during the season ... Was honored with team[apos]s Most Consistent Player award.
PERSONAL
Mitch Steven Blackburn was born Dec. 21, 1987, in Anaheim, Calif. ... Son of Mark and Anne Blackburn ... Enjoys the beach and going to the river ... Favorite athlete is former major league outfielder Brett Butler ... Also recruited by Centenary, Murray State and Lipscomb ... A social science major at SDSU.