FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
MALIBU, Calif. – Patrick Rooney, considered among the best defensive third basemen in the West Coast Conference when he played for Pepperdine Baseball from 2002 to 2005, was killed Sunday in a plane crash. He was 26.
According to investigators, the single-engine turboprop plane Patrick and his father, Bill, were flying left Yampa Valley Regional Airport outside Steamboat Springs, Colo., Sunday morning but crashed about a mile north of the runway.
Plans for a memorial service are still pending.
“The loss we’ve suffered is an immeasurable one for both the university and the athletics department,” Pepperdine Athletics Director John Watson said. “Patrick was an integral member of our baseball program, both as a player and as alum, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Rooney’s and their friends in this difficult time. As a department, we are dedicated to doing whatever needs to be done to show our love, support and most heartfelt sympathies to them.”
Pepperdine head baseball coach Steve Rodriguez has known the Rooney’s for close to a decade and considers them a caring, tightly-knit unit. He is confident they’ll be able to pull through this heartbreaking tragedy through their belief in God and reliance on one another.
“Anyone who knows the Rooney’s sees that family always comes first for them,” Rodriguez said. “They really understand the true meaning of family, and I believe that as Christians and people who have a strong faith in God, the Rooney’s will be able to get through this tragic time.”
A four-year varsity letterwinner and starter, Patrick was Pepperdine’s everyday third baseman – a position his younger brother, Colin, is ready to assume for the Waves in 2009. At the hot corner, Patrick batted .270 with 11 home runs and 126 RBI while compiling a .945 fielding percentage.
Upon leaving the Waves following the 2005 campaign, Patrick ranked third among Pepperdine’s all-time career leaders with 242 games played and 882 at bats. His 238 hits, of which 55 were for extra bases, ranked him 10th by the end of 2007.
Patrick received honorable mention All-WCC honors in 2003, and the year prior, was tabbed as an honorable mention freshman All-American. He helped lead his team to a pair of conference titles in 2004 and 2005 and three NCAA Regional berths.
Patrick played a key role during Game 2 of the 2004 WCC Championship series vs. Loyola Marymount, leading off what would be a six-run eighth inning with a single and later provided two RBI, which were enough to give Pepperdine a 12-10 victory.
Patrick graduated from Pepperdine in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising and had been working in construction operations for WP Electric & Communications, Inc.; based in Yorba Linda, Calif. Father, Bill Rooney, served as president of this company.
Prior to his arrival at Pepperdine, Patrick was a three-year letterwinner at Esperanza High School in Anaheim, Calif., where he collected three All-Sunset League citations as well as a Gold Glove award.
Patrick is survived by his wife, Erynn, son, Will, mother, Debi, and brothers Sean and Colin.
Brother, Colin Rooney, recently transferred to Pepperdine after spending two years as the starting shortstop for the Saddleback College Gauchos. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 45th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft following a sophomore season in which he batted .374 (.415 in conference) with 12 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 43 RBI.
This past fall, Colin claimed Co-Offensive MVP honors of the Blue and Orange World Series with teammate Miles Silverstein after hitting .538 with two home runs and five RBI. Colin also cracked a three-run blast in a 14-3 exhibition win over Long Beach State.
Other Sources
The Steamboat Pilot & Today Article
