Palomar Comets Baseball 2006

NICK BURKE

NO. 36 /  OF, RS Fr., 5-10, 185; BATS: Both; THROWS: Right

HOMETOWN: Carlsbad, California  

HIGH SCHOOL: La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, CA)

NCAA DIV. I COLLEGE: Transfer from UC Riverside

PERSONAL: Born April 3, 1986, in La Jolla. ... Son of Eddie and Nancy Burke. ... Has a brother, Joey (21), and a sister, Molly (14). ... Joey Burke played two seasons as Palomar's starting second baseman and is the starting center fielder at Chico State.

2006 SEASON: A part-time starter at all 3 outfield positions for the Comets. ... Battled through a pair of early injuries and batted .338 during the regular season (.355 including the post-season). ...  Delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in a run against Los Angeles Pierce on Feb. 16. Went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI against Cerro Coso on Feb.17. ... Went 3-for-4 and drove in 2 runs vs. Orange Coast on Feb. 21. ... Was 1-for-2, singled to drive in a run and got down a pair of sacrifice bunts as he returned from his second injury to help Palomar to a 16-3 road win over San Diego City College on March 4. ... Singled in a run to help spark a 4-run  first inning in a 12-1 win over Imperial Valley on March 9. ... Went 2-for-4 with a triple and 3 RBIs in the Comets' 6-4 win at Grossmont on March 16. Delivered a 2-run single to highlight Palomar's 3-run first inning. ... Doubled in 2 runs in the first inning to get the Comets untracked in a 15-1 victory over Mt. San Jacinto on April 13. ...Went 3-for-4 with a double against Chaffey on April 13. ... Was 2-for-2 with a double vs. Grossmont on April 20. ... Went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Comets clinched no worse than a tie for the Pacific Coast Conference championship by beating San Diego City College 10-3 on April 29. ... Drove in a run on a squeeze bunt in the sixth inning to help Palomar beat San Diego Mesa to wrap up the conference title on May 4. ... Southern California Regionals Round 1 — Singled to drive in a run vs. Rio Hondo on May 14. ... Went 3-for-3 with a double against the Roadrunners later the same day.

2005 SEASON: Red-shirted at UC Riverside.

HIGH SCHOOL: Helped lead La Costa Canyon to-back-to back CIF-San Diego Section Division I championships in 2003 and 2004. ... Was a key performer as the Mavericks won the mythical 2003 Student Sports Magazine national high school championship, then slugged the game-winning home run in 2004 as they beat Fallbrook in the Division I finals. ... Was LCC's defensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-Avocado League selection.

(Updated on May 24, 2006)