ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST : Fall Blamed in Death of College Baseball Star
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A college baseball star who was killed last weekend while hiking in the Angeles National Forest had lost his footing while taking a shortcut, authorities said.
Upper Iowa University baseball standout Rick Perez, 20, fell about 75 feet, officials said. He was from El Monte.
The accident occurred about 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Perez was flown to a Pasadena hospital, where he died later in the day.
A junior, Perez led Upper Iowa with a .401 batting average and had a school record 57 hits this season. The American Baseball Coaches Assn. named him to the All-Central Region second team as an outfielder.
“I’m in shock. I’m sad. He was a really good kid,” Upper Iowa Coach Rick Heller said.
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