Lowden is Cal bound

Michael Lowden can still remember having to face his former Yuba City High battery-mate Max Stassi when they played on separate teams for Peach Bowl Little League.

After having Stassi as a teammate for the past two seasons, Lowden may be back to pitching against his friend in the Pac-10 Conference.

The Yuba City High standout has signed a letter of intent to play Division I baseball with the California Golden Bears, which includes a scholarship that will cover Lowden's books and tuition.

With three complete-game victories during Yuba City High's Sac-Joaquin Section title run as a resume builder, Lowden received numerous looks from several scouts at Division I schools.

The right-hander garnered interest from UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Nevada, St. Mary's, San Jose State and Fresno State, before finally deciding to sign with Cal.

Coach David Esquer's ballclub had a disappointing 2009 campaign, finishing second-to-last in the Pac-10, but Berkeley's esteemed academic reputation was enough to lure Lowden to the Bay Area.

"Obviously the school is top notch and education was definitely a deciding factor," said Lowden, who finished high school with a 4.2 grade point average. "I had a really tough time deciding, but being able to play Pac-10 baseball is a dream come true."

While many college freshmen have to wait a couple of years to crack the starting rotation, Lowden said it will be an open competition when he gets to school in the fall.

He is currently playing for Oroville's American Legion team (Post 95), but took some time off following the spring season due to a slight arm strain.

Lowden is back to 100 percent now, and although he went undefeated in his high school career, he's ready for the rigors of Division I baseball.

"(Yuba City) had a lot of success the past few years and it was a privilege to play there," Lowden said. "It will be tough (next season), but hopefully Cal can build something like (Yuba City) over the next few years."

The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder went 20-0 as a Honker and set single-season school records in strikeouts (102) and wins (11, tied with Bob Noreen).

Lowden carried a 1.17 ERA this past season and a 1.25 mark in 2008. He threw six complete games this year and three shutouts.

Yuba City High coach Jim Stassi noticed Lowden's dedication in the weight room this past offseason and believes it pushed the pitcher to a new level.

"The way he approached the game was business-like," Stassi said. "You could see it in the way he carried himself. We knew every time he pitched that he was going to keep us in the ballgame."

Stassi also mentioned Lowden's ability to locate four pitches for a strike is what made him stand out to Division I programs.

The way Lowden took command of a baseball game was another attractive quality to scouts as well.

But Stassi said it's not necessarily Lowden's pitching ability - it's the fact that he never wore his emotions on his sleeve.

"That's huge," Stassi said. "You could never tell if he was up by 10 or down by 10. His mental approach to the game was outstanding."

Though soft-spoken, Lowden was a leader by example through his offseason work ethic and professional attitude.

Max Stassi, who has a full-ride scholarship to Cal's rival school UCLA, caught most of Lowden's 20 career wins at Yuba City High and is excited for the possibility of facing his longtime friend next season.

"That'd be pretty cool," Stassi said. "I hope he brings his A-game because I know I will."

Lowden would rather have Stassi as his teammate. "I remember facing him in little league and it wasn't very fun," Lowden said with a laugh. "It's a lot better to play with him than against him, but it will definitely be fun."

He may need to get used to wearing a sweatshirt in the summertime, grow a hatred for Stanford and figure out the all-to-fascinating intricacies of BART, but Lowden feels right at home in the blue and gold and said he's ready for the biggest step in his baseball career.

"He's one of the greatest pitchers I ever caught," Max Stassi said. "He works really hard and puts in the unrequired time. It definitely paid off for him."