BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bellevue University baseball coach Duane Monlux announced today the signing of Cade Sakamoto (Bakersfield, Calif./College of the Sequoias) to a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at BU beginning in the fall.
Sakamoto, originally from Bakersfield, Calif., comes to Bellevue via College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif. where he was a two-way player serving as a starting pitcher and outfielder for the Giants.
On the hill at COS, Sakamoto made 18 starts and appeared in 22 games where he logged a 9-8 record and posted a 4.29 ERA. In 109 total innings of work, he struck out 71 batters and issued just 22 free passes.
At the plate, he slashed .284/.400/.473, including a .306/.443/.571 line this spring which featured eight extra-base hits and 10 RBI. He drew 14 walks in 90 plate appearances for his career and struck out just eight times.
Coach Monlux on Sakamoto:
"Cade is joining the Bruin baseball family from College of the Sequoias in California. Bellevue has had numerous former COS players and they have all been major contributors to our program. We expect Cade to come in and continue that tradition. Cade was a regular in the rotation for COS for the past two years, pitching over 100 innings. He has excellent command on the mound and has the ability to swing the bat. He is a tremendous student as well. We are thrilled that he has decided to be a part of the Bruin family."
Sakamoto joins earlier signees Dalton Stamper (Lewiston, Idaho/Wenatchee Valley), Nate Smith (Eagle, Idaho/Blue Mountain CC), Matt Johnson (Meridian, Idaho/Blue Mountain CC), Cole Nordin (Omaha, Neb./Millard North HS), and Alexandro Celiceo (Chula Vista, Calif./Southwestern) in the Bruins' 2020 signing class.
Bellevue posted a 9-11 record in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. The Bruins qualified for the Avista NAIA World Series twice in the previous four seasons and reached nine-straight NAIA National Tournaments. In the program's stories history, Bellevue has qualified for 22 National Tournaments, made 14 World Series Appearances, and won the 1995 NAIA National Championship.
College of the Sequoias Stats:
| Pitching | App | GS | W-L | ERA | SV | IP | SO | BB |
| Freshman (2019) | 15 | 11 | 6-6 | 4.00 | 0 | 69.2 | 40 | 15 |
| Sophomore (2020) | 7 | 7 | 3-2 | 4.81 | 0 | 39.1 | 31 | 7 |
| Career | 22 | 18 | 9-8 | 4.29 | 0 | 109.0 | 71 | 22 |
| Hitting | GP | AVG | OBP | SLG | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | Runs | SB |
| Freshman (2019) | 32 | .240 | .310 | .280 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0-0 |
| Sophomore (2020) | 22 | .306 | .443 | .571 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 0-0 |
| Career | 54 | .284 | .400 | .473 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 0-0 |
