Joseph Balfour Season 2017

AT SAN JOSÉ STATE: Completed his second season with the Spartans... Transitioned from a closer to a Sunday starter in mid-season... Joined the Spartans after a standout season at Mount Hood Community College.

2017: Started in six of 19 appearances... Posted a 1-4 record and two saves... Did not allow a run in his first six appearances while saving two games... Recorded his first career Spartan save against Northern Colorado (2/25)... Made his first career Spartan start against San Diego State (4/2) pitching 4.0 innings of shutout ball... Posted his first career Spartan win against UNLV (5/20) where he recorded season-highs in innings pitched (8.0) and strikeouts (5). 

2016: Redshirted the season.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Played his sophomore season at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore. …Set a school record with 98.0 innings pitched…Posted a 10-1 record with a 1.19 ERA…Struck out 66 and walked just nine…Tossed five complete games…Led all Saints pitchers in innings pitched, starts (13), wins and strikeouts…Received First Team Rawlings/ABCA Pacific Association Division All-American accolades…Named the Northwest Athletic Association (NWAC) MVP and also garnered first-team all-league honors.

SAINT MARTIN’S UNIVERSITY: Played his freshman campaign at Saint Martin’s University, an NCAA Division II school in Lacey, Wash. …Played in 32 games as a position player…Led the team in saves with four…Posted a 1-2 record with 4.91 in 22.0 innings.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Sherwood (Ore.) High School…Lettered four times in baseball and three times in football…Led the Bowmen to a pair of state titles on both the diamond and gridiron…A first-team all-state infielder and team MVP as a junior and senior…Also a first-team all-state safety and Class 5A Northwest Oregon Conference Defensive Player of the Year honoree as a senior in 2012.

MORE ON JOSEPH: An economics major… Plan to go into commercial real estate after graduation… Parents are Clark and Mary Beth Balfour…Has two older brothers, David and Michael… Michael played football at Oregon State from 2011-13... Enjoys duck hunting, playing the piano and spending time with his family…Nickname is “Bally”…Born in Portland, Ore. …Now calls Sherwood, Ore., his hometown.