I am a recently-graduated sports writer from the University of California. In four years at The Daily Californian, I wrote over 250 articles, including my regular column, Off Base. I covered sports across the collegiate spectrum, ranging from Olympic sports (i.e. non-revenue) to the biggest sport of them all, Cal football. I covered the Cal baseball team for three years, for which they rewarded my persistence with a playoff berth in my senior year. I also covered field hockey (two years), Cal softball (one year), and Cal volleyball (one year). I am currently trying to navigate an industry in the midst of change and crisis, hoping that one day my diligence and passion for the business of sports journalism leads to a fulfilling career.

As for my sports background outside of the written word, I played baseball for 11 years as a catcher, and my knees and shoulders let me know when it rains. I went to my first Dodgers game as a zygote, and have been a rabid fan of the Boys in Blue for my entire life. Vin Scully's voice was the one behind my bedtime stories. I am one of three members of my family to don the shin guards and chest protector, and as such, I think most pitchers (especially those lefty's) couldn't breathe without the help of their batterymates.

In high school, I played baseball for a year before younger and healthier catchers surpassed me, and before a torn muscle in my lower back helped usher me out of the game. For the next three years, I threw shot put and discus. I played IM softball in college, and wore stirrups to every game. I like throwback jerseys, high-cuffed baseball pants, sunflower seeds and long walks on the warning track. I'm an Ares, born just before the start of the baseball season.

I enjoyed college to its fullest, as a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, and graduated with High Honors in English. How did a sportswriter graduate with honors, you ask? I wrote a 200-page honors thesis on comic book superheroes and King Arthur. If you couldn't already tell by that, I'm a hopeless romantic and a stubborn idealist.

My favorite place in the world is any empty baseball field.