Ukiah Native and Mendocino College Closer Nathan Looney Earns Scholarship to Simpson University

Mendocino College sophomore Nathan Looney has earned a scholarship to continue his baseball career at Simpson University, where he will compete for the Red Hawks baseball program.

He was one of the Eagles' most valuable and versatile players during his two seasons at Mendocino. As a freshman, he played primarily in the infield and finished the year hitting .297. In his sophomore season, he became the ultimate utility player, filling multiple roles — but his most significant impact came out of the bullpen, where he emerged as the team's closer.

Looney secured back-to-back saves in Bay Valley Conference play against a tough Solano Community College Falcons squad, closing out two pressure-packed wins that helped turn the Eagles' 2025 season around and spark a strong second-half run. Cool under pressure, he shut the door on 6–4 and 3–2 victories, lifting the entire team and setting the tone for the rest of the season.

A Ukiah native and Ukiah High School graduate, Looney competed for Coach Ford and the Wildcats before joining Mendocino College. His growth, maturity, and willingness to do whatever the team needed made him a cornerstone of the program.

Looney will now join a Simpson University program led by Head Coach Dan Tating, who became the winningest coach in Red Hawks baseball history in 2022.

We are incredibly proud of Nathan for his work ethic, toughness, and steady leadership — and we look forward to seeing his continued success at Simpson University.