With the immediate future of community college baseball still uncertain, many student-athletes who are eligible to transfer to the four-year level have made that jump. One of those is former Cerritos College baseball player David Hays, who transferred to NCAA Division II Azusa Pacific University, where he has already made an immediate impact.

'David was our ace," said Falcons head coach Vic Buttler. "Not having him come Opening Day once we get back to playing is unfortunate. However, our team understands the 'next man up' mantra. One of our top priorities as a coaching staff at Cerritos College is to get these young men to the next level, may it be a four-year college or professional ball."

In the abbreviated 2020 season, where Cerritos posted a 13-8 record, the left-handed pitching Hays (pictured, left) pitched two of the best games seen at Kincaid Field in a long time. In the season-opening game last February 24, 2020, Hays tossed eight shutout innings against Fullerton College and surrendered just one hit and two walks while striking out nine batters. He culminated the season with seven no-hit innings against Long Beach City on March 9 and struck out 12 batters. He finished the season with a 3-2 record and a 3.60 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 35 innings. His strikeout total tied for ninth in the state, while his 12.09 strikeouts per nine innings was eighth best in the state.

With the abbreviated 2020 season, Hays was aable to maintain his freshman playing status for the Cougars.

The decision by Hays wasn't an easy one, but his desire and opportunity to play for the Cougars presented itself and he couldn't turn it down. Hays ended up at Cerritos after his academic paperwork was delayed at Azusa Pacific prior to the 2020 season. Hays was turned on to the Falcons by his uncle, who is good friends with Cerritos assistant coach Darrell Sherman.

"David came to Cerritos College as a highly sought-after high school recruit," said Buttler. "Blessed with God-given abilities, David came to improve his abilities both on and off the field. He learned the importance of being true to himself by setting smart goals. Over the course of the fall and spring, David's overall focus and work ethic improved tremendously, which indeed will help him move the needle throughout his life's journey."

"I wasn't so sure if Cerritos was going to have a season and I always wanted to go back (to Azusa Pacific) if anything didn't happen at Cerritos," said Hays. "So I took that risk of going back to Azusa. I was going to stay with Cerritos and play for them, 100%. I have tons of love for the coaches and teammates."

Since his arrival at Azusa Pacific (2-1), Hays has pitched in one game in relief after starting the game at first base and allowed one unearned run in 3 1/3 innings to absorb the loss against Westmont College. He walked four batters and struck out seven while allowing just two hits. With the team trailing 6-3 in the fifth inning, Hays launched an opposite field two-run home run to draw the team to within a run. It was his first collegiate home run and first hit for the Cougars.

At the plate for the Falcons in 2020, Hays batted .213 with three doubles and six RBI, which included a season-high three RBI against Santa Ana College.

By contrast, the dimensions at Kincaid Field are massive and has been viewed as a pitcher's park for many years, while Azusa Pacific is a much smaller playing facility. But Hays views that as an extra challenge when pitching for the Cougars.

"I do enjoy the smaller field on the hitting side," stated Hays. "As far as pitching, it makes me even more competitive than before because a simple pop up can go out at that park."

Although his time in the Falcon pinstripes was short-lived, Hays feels that it was served a valuable purpose in helping him move to the next level of baseball.

"The atmosphere of playing with adults, rather than in high school helped me quite a bit," said Hays. "The amount of professionalism was great for me."

Buttler will miss his ace and power from the plate, but stated, "The coaching staff and I are extremely excited and proud of David's promotion to the next level. His advancement to APU will be used as motivation and encouragement for other Falcon ballplayers to handle business in the classroom and out on the field."