Vanguard University

The athlete:  Zachary returns to the VU baseball team after a strong freshman season…earned the starting shortstop position, playing in all but one game in 2006…started 42 games and was second on the team with 10 stolen bases…had 30 hits and scored 17 runs in his debut season…came to Vanguard from Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, California…2005 graduate who played for Coach Russell Conner at ORHS in the Sierra Valley League…was named All-Metro and All-League…team captain…led ORHS to the Sierra Valley League Championship…also played soccer in high school…has played baseball for 15 years…bats right…throws right…good size and strength…above average base runner…athletic and speedy…strong arm and has solid fielding skills…good pop at the plate…will be increasing his leadership role and hopes to contribute more with the bat as a sophomore.

The person:  Zachary Beau Leighton was born in Sacramento, California on August 5, 1986 to his parents Brian and Joanne Leighton…is the oldest of three children…his brother joins him on the VU team this year…nickname is “Z-Beau”…is a Business Administration major at VUSC…loves to eat steak…favorite movie is “The Patriot” and TV show is “24”…roots for the Boston Red Sox…likes reading the Bible…loves the color blue and the number seven…favorite place is home…enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, and mountain biking…would like to meet God and his sports hero Albert Pujols…loves the chemistry on the VU baseball team…has learned from life that God will be there when He is needed…competing in athletics has taught him that not everyone can win or be number one…wants to become a Financial Advisor.

His thoughts:  I chose Vanguard to be in the Christian atmosphere and because of the nice people.

Coach Mallernee’s comments:  Zach will never be outworked.  This is the reason for his success.