Kern, a high school senior, recently committed to Sacramento State earlier this month. The second and third baseman bats left-handed and brings a mix of power and contact to the Sweets, posting a .338 average, .532 slugging percentage and a 1.002 OPS. The San Jose native credits his consistency at the plate to his ability to work through slumps.

“What helps with that (cold stretches) is when I journal,” Kern said. “When I am on hot streaks, I journal what I’m thinking, how I feel during at-bats, and I can just look back at that and remember how I was feeling to get back to there.”

Although he is not from Eastern Washington, Kern has ties to the region. His father played collegiate baseball at Gonzaga, and his parents have spent time living in Walla Walla. He hopes his confidence at the plate will help lift the Sweets this summer.

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