Baseball players, Shawn Dumser, left, Hope International, and Omar Myzel, Cal State San Bernardino, sign their letters of intent to attend Universities during a ceremony at La Mirada High School on Wednesday April 13, 2016. (Photo by Keith Durflinger/Whittier Daily News)

By Stephen Ramirez
Wednesday marked the spring signing day for college eligible student athletes, but for five from La Mirada it felt like Christmas in April.The Matadores fabulous five made their college choices official in a signing ceremony at the school.The five are baseball players Shawn Dumser (Hope International) and Omar Myzel (Cal State San Bernardino); football player A.J. Rivas (University of La Verne); swimmer Sarah Albright (UC Santa Cruz) and softball player Nikki Barrow (Marymount California).Dumser is one of the top pitchers in the area and has helped the Matadores to 12-6 record and, going into Wednesday, in first place in the Suburban League. He is 4-1 with a 0.56 ERA. He threw a no-hitter vs. Lakewood on March 16.

“Hope was the first school that offered me,” said Dumser, of the Fullerton school that competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference. “I checked out their baseball program and I want to take them whereever they need to do go and do whatever they need me to do. I feel truly honored to be able to play baseball for the next four years.”
Myzel, and outfielder/catcher/pitcher, has been solid this season. He’s hitting .260 with seven RBIs and three doubles.
“I think it’s a great fit,” Myzel said of CS San Bernardino, a NCAA Division II school that competes in the CCAA. “I can really see me playing there and I think I’m going to have a bright future.”
Rivas helped the Matadores to CIF Southern Section and CIF State titles. He had 23 tackles, including 5 1/2 sacks for La Mirada, which was 13-3 and also won the Suburban League.
“I talked to the coaches there and I feel this is a good way to progress my future in sports,” said Rivas of La Verne, which won the SCIAC title this past season. “Also, the academics, so I decided to go to La Verne.”
Barrow, and outfielder, has helped La Mirada to a 9-6 record and first place in the Suburban League.
“I’m just so excited to be part of a legacy,” said Barrow of Marymount, which is a new NAIA program. “We’ll be starting a new program. I’m second-year (recruiting class). We’ll be building the foundation for a good, great program.”
Albright was first team all-area last season. Her top even is the 50-yard freestyle.
“I’m so stoked to go to UC Santa Cruz,” Albright said. “It’s my dream school. The academics, the environment and getting to swim. I’ve been wanting to go there forever. It’s an incredible opportunity.”