Division I Baseball Players from UC Riverside Will Meet Their Professional League Brethren

Public is welcome to a free alumni game Saturday, Feb. 11 that will include World Series Pitchers Marc Rzepczynski and Troy Percival

By Kris Lovekin on February 9, 2012

RIVERSIDE (www.ucr.edu) — Major league baseball players Marc Rzepczynski and Troy Percival will lead the alumni team in the annual baseball game that pits current Division I players from UC Riverside against players who have already graduated.

The annual alumni game this Saturday, Feb. 11 at 12 noon at the UCR baseball stadium. Admission to the game is free, parking is $5.

A couple of UC Riverside’s former stars are currently playing in the major leagues and have had relatively recent appearances in World Series play.

Marc Rzepczynski, played at UC Riverside from 2004 to 2007, debuted in the major leagues in July of 2009, and was most recently celebrated as the St. Louis Cardinals, won the 2011 World Series.

Troy Percival, closing pitcher for the 2002 World Series champion Anaheim Angels, played baseball for the Highlanders of UC Riverside from 1987 to 1991, until the Angels drafted him. In addition to stellar play that has made him an All Star in the American League, Percival remains active as a role model, bringing signed souvenirs to UCR baseball camps and raising money for charitable causes. Along with his wife, Michelle, a former Highlander volleyball player, he established “Percival’s Perch,” in the left field pavilion of Edison Field, which provides free tickets to charity groups in the Inland Empire.

The UC Riverside baseball program started in 1958 and John Lowenstein was their first player to make it to the Major League level.  The Riverside Highlanders play their home games at the Riverside Sports Complex, at the corner of Canyon Crest Dr. and W. Blaine St. in Riverside.

Archived under: Inside UCR, alumni, baseball, highlanders, major league, press release, world series

Top of Page