Sam Purgason Season 2023-24

PRIOR TO COLLEGE: Graduated from Truckee (Calif.) High School where he was a three-year varsity performer under head coach JR Murphy, who played at San Diego State in 2007 and 2008 … Truckee High is one of four California schools that compete in the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) … Led the Wolverines to a 25-9 overall record and a berth in the NIAA Class 3A championship finals as a senior … Captured Class 3A MVP honors and earned a spot on the Class 3A all-tournament team … Also merited NIAA West Division MVP plaudits to go with Class 3A Northern Division Co-Player of the Year distinction … Batted .380 with a team-high six home runs and 39 RBIs in 2022, according to MaxPreps … Also topped the squad in slugging percentage (.848), on-base percentage (.520), runs scored (37) and triples (6) while ranking second in doubles (7) and stolen bases (10) … Additionally posted a 3-1 record with a 2.54 ERA in 12 pitching appearances that season, fanning 80 batters against just 19 walks in 49.2 innings of work … Was named the NIAA Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2021 to go with first-team all-division distinction at pitcher … Twice received Perfect Game Preseason All-America honorable mention prior to his junior and senior campaigns … Received a No. 85 ranking by Perfect Game among right-handed pitchers for the California high school graduating class of 2022 and was rated 252nd in the state overall … Participated in the 2020 Perfect Game California Workout Camp in Irvine … Was a heavily recruited player who chose the Aztecs over the likes of UC Davis, Fresno State, Nevada, Utah Valley, Houston Baptist, Utah, Point Loma, Pepperdine, Saint Mary’s, Columbia and CSUN …  Also competed in football, basketball and big mountain skiing as a prep … Garnered Truckee High School Male Athlete of the Year accolades as a senior after collecting team MVP honors in basketball and baseball to go with Defensive Player of the Year plaudits in football … Excelled in the classroom as well, taking home the Distinguished Scholar Award, Golden State Seal of Merit and President’s Education Award … Finished with a cumulative GPA above 4.0 to receive Truckee High’s Certificate of Achievement before landing on the Nevada all-state academic team.