Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on James Voorhies, College Park High
Grade: Senior
School: College Park High
Sports: Football & Baseball
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Aug. 1, 2025) — James Voorhies (Jimmy to teammates, coaches and friends) was already a well-known College Park High athlete entering his senior year but he took things to another level when he added pitching to his baseball resume and became the ace of the Falcons staff that reached the North Coast Section championship game.
Last fall, Voorhies led College Park to the NCS football playoffs in his third season as the team’s quarterback, a position he claimed in his second varsity game as a sophomore. The senior righthander was an all-Diablo Athletic League first team QB for the second time.
He began pitching during the off season at the same time he was looking at college baseball opportunities as a catcher based on his club (Diablo Valley Baseball Club and Diablo Valley Oaks) and high school (2024 DAL champion Falcons) performances behind the plate and at bat. This spring his pitching prowess came to the fore when he no-hit Burlingame on April 4 while notching 14 strikeouts. He also held eventual runner up Serra-San Mateo to one run in seven innings of a Northern California CIF championships opening-round game that went 12 innings.
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Voorhies attended a Cal State Northridge baseball prospects camp in the winter and impressed the coaching staff, which offered him a spot on the Matador D-1 Big West team. By the time his College Park football and baseball careers ended last month he had won four all-DAL awards and helped his Falcon teams to five NCS playoff appearances.
Among his high school highlights besides the no-hitter were “playing baseball with my friends from eight-years-old all through high school” as well as leading the football team on a 65-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes to beat rivals Alhambra his junior year. He also fondly recalls winning the DAL baseball crown 7-6 in the last inning at Clayton Valley Charter that junior season.
As a youngster he played baseball, basketball, soccer, flag football and swimming. He started baseball at age five in Pleasant Hill Baseball Association.
Aside from all his sports efforts Voorhies carried a 3.8 GPA at College Park and looks forward to pursing a sports journalism career through his communications major at Northridge.
The Pioneer congratulates James and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry.
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement, or a great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
Jay Bedecarré
Jay Bedecarré is a long-time resident and writer in Concord and Clayton. He began his newspaper writing career while still a senior at Mt. Diablo High School and he has been part of The Pioneer since its inception in 2003. Jay also operates Bay Area Festivals, presenting events around the San Francisco Bay Area including Bay Area KidFest annually in Downtown Concord.