SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 23, 2023) – Two Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) baseball alumni recently signed with the Northern Colorado Owlz of the Pioneer Baseball League. Jose Diaz and Jacob Mitchell join the squad as they prepare for the upcoming season in May.

The Northern Colorado Owlz compete in the South Division of the Pioneer Baseball League, a Major League Baseball (MLB) Partner League with teams in Montana, Idaho and Colorado. The team plays at Jackson Field in Greeley, Colo. The league has been around since 1939, and the Owlz recently joined in 2022. Former MLB pitcher Frank Gonzales coaches the team. The skipper played in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox systems in 1997. Gonzales coached in the Northwest League in 2015 and the Pioneer League from 2016-2017.

Diaz committed to the team, noting that Gonzales gave him the confidence to become a better pitcher. Information from the Owlz press release cited Diaz saying, "Honestly, I just loved the fact that he was willing to help me become a better pitcher, become a better baseball player." Diaz amassed multiple awards and set records while playing for OLLU. He holds the at-bats record with 774 and had a .336 batting average from 2017-2021, which ranks second in Saints history. Diaz also ranks second in career ERA at 1.99. He pitched a combined no-hitter with current player Alec Martinez during the 2020-2021 season. Diaz was awarded Big Blue Top Saint Male Athlete of the Year in 2020 and 2021, which recognizes a student-athlete who  excelled both on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Diaz's other awards and records include: All-NAIA Ball Award in 2020, NAIA Preseason All-American in 2021, NAIA All-American in 2021, Two-Time Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) All-Conference First Team in 2019 and 2021, RRAC Player of the Year in 2021, RRAC All-Tournament in 2019, Four-Time RRAC Scholar-Athlete; Most games played with 231, most runs with 175, most hits with 260, most doubles with 54, most RBIs with 163, most total bases with 379, most stolen bases with 70; Season best batting average at .405 (2020), most hits with 65 (2021).

Mitchell primarily pitched and played first base while at OLLU. He follows in second place behind Diaz with 610 career at-bats. He totaled nine triples in his five-year career, which ranks first among all Saints. He also ranks first with 168 career walks, a nod to his effort and discipline at the plate. In the Owls press release, Gonzales praised Mitchell, saying, "He was a very good college hitter, but he has a very good arm and will be expected to be one of our starting pitchers this season." Mitchell noted that Northern Colorado is a great place to get his professional career started. Mitchell also was awarded the Big Blue Top Saint Male Athlete of the Year in 2022.

Mitchell's other awards and records include: NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 2022, All-Conference in 2021 and 2022, RRAC Gold Glove in 2018, 2019, 2021; Most home runs with 26, best OB% at .468, most putouts with 1,072; Season most home runs with 12 in 2022, most RBIs with 53 in 2022, slugging % at .745.