HIGHLIGHTS
» Career High: Six Strikeouts vs CUI (Feb. 25, 2023)
» Career High: Six Strikeouts vs CUI (March 15, 2022)
» 2021 Golden Valley Conference Champion (Feather River)
» 2019 Golden Valley Conference Champion (Feather River)
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
» KTA Super Stores Superstar of the Week (Feb. 22 - March 7, 2023)
STUDENT IN STUDENT-ATHLETE
» 2024 (Spring) B.S. Marine Science
» 2021 A.S. Kinesiology (Feather River)
» 2021 A.S. Biology (Feather River)
2024 (Fifth Year): Pitched 27.1 innings in 10 appearances with seven starts, finishing with a 1-2 record.
2023 (Senior): Made 12 appearances, making 11 starts and finishing with a 3-3 record in 56.2 total innings pitched ... Went 3.0 innings with just one run allowed in an eventual 4-3 walk-off victory over No. 15 Augustana (Feb. 2). Got first win after putting in 7.1 innings of work and notching six strikeouts while scattering 10 hits for three earned runs in a 6-4 victory over CUI (Feb. 25). Got win No. 2 after tossing 3.0 scoreless innings of relief-work in a 7-1 win over Biola (March 2). Went 7.0 innings with just one run allowed in a 3-1 victory against No. 11 Point Loma (March 7).
2022 (Junior): Appeared in eight games, finishing with an 0-1 record and 18 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched.
2019-2021* (Feather River): Played in 28 games with three starts on the mound for the Golden Eagles (3C2A), finishing with a 2.47 ERA, a 1-0 record, two saves and 34 strikeouts in 43.2 innings pitched. Also batted .667 (4 of 6) with a .833 on-base percentage.
*Student-athletes were not charged with use of a season of eligibility for the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic
*Student-athletes were not charged with use of a season of eligibility for the 2019-20 spring sports season due to the COVID-19 pandemic
BEFORE HAWAI‘I HILO
» Spent three seasons at Feather River College (California) playing for coach Terry Baumgartner
» 2017 graduate of Yreka High School (California)
» Played two seasons of varsity baseball for coach Jason Freitas
» Honors: NAL All-League (2x)
» NAL League Champion
» Other Sports: Soccer, Swimming
PERSONAL
» First Name: Santiago
» Nickname: Lil Moose
» Born May 1999 in California
» Parents: Kelly and Kevin Velarde
» Has a twin and an older sister
» Career Aspirations: Professional Baseball or Shark Week Host
» Summer Teams: Medford Rogues
WHY HAWAI‘I HILO
» "The opportunity to play baseball in a new place while pursuing a degree in something I am very interested in."
FAVORITES
» Hobbies: Twitch Streaming, Surfing
» Sports Moment: "Every 'W' in Vulcans red and black."
» Sports Teams: San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Falcons, San Antonio Spurs
» Athletes: Pablo Sandoval
» Movies: Marvel Studios
» Shows: South Park
» Musicians: Justin Bieber
» Video Games: MLB The Show, Minecraft
