Oops, I guess I kind of screwed up with this series since I never really finished it. Since I'm not finding the desire to get on the computer at home as much anymore, I figure I should zip through the last several years of my baseball experiences. So here we go....
After the Whittier Little League AAA A's, there was a big dispute within Whittier Little League, which is when Whittier Pony league formed; 1987. For the first two years of Pony, I was again on the team lead by Traci's uncle. This obviously allowed me more time to see Traci, even though nothing was happening with us at the time.
Anyway, on the Padres, I typically had a really strong first half of the year and then tailed off towards the end. No top 3 trophies either of those years, but i really enjoyed playing and had a lot of fun. One of the memories I have from those years is when I was playing 3rd base and really had to go to the bathroom. I think our pitcher walked a batter or two while I danced around at third base trying to keep it in. Eventually, we got the third out and everybody was yelling for me to run to the port-a-potty. Somehow I made it, but man was it torture standing around being frustrated pitch after pitch waiting for the chance to go.
Another memory I have from the Whittier Pony, Pony Division Padres is when we were being no-hit by the opposing pitcher and I broke it up with a triple down the right field line at Joe Miller field.
My finest pitching performance ever was mercy rule shortened game where I pitched a 2-hit complete game shutout. I didn't pitch very often because although I was accurate, I was not very fast. Regardless, that was a great memory.
After playing for Traci's uncle for three years, it was time to move on to the Bronco Division, where I was on the Reds for two years. I didn't do great either year, although my highlight from those two years was a home run I drilled at York Field where there were no fences. It was a shot into the left-center gap and I had time to circle the bases before the left and center fielders could chase down the ball an get it back to the infield. Considering i only hit 3 home runs in my whole time playing baseball, it was a pretty special moment for me. (Notice that both home runs i have hit to this point have involved not going over a fence.)
After the Reds came La Serna High School. I started at La Serna High School in the Fall of 1990, which is just a few months after the school's baseball team had won a CIF Championship, very exciting. I made the Freshman team my freshman year and was excited to play at the high school level. I started the year sharing playing time with the other, bigger first baseman. Eventually, I earned a majority of the playing time. Although I had one of my worst offensive years that year (I think I hit .225), I still loved playing and was looking forward to advancing up the high school ranks.
My sophomore year I made JV. I saw limited action the first half, but when I was given a chance to start a game about half way through the year against Pioneer High School, I took advantage of the opportunity, hitting a ground-rule double (bouncing over the fence), showing I deserved playing time. I managed to start every game the rest of the year, whether paying first base or DH (Designated Hitter). I finished the year with pretty good numbers although I don't remember the stats.
My junior year I had hopes of making the Varsity team since there were typically very few juniors on the JV team. The JV coach said he thought I would make the varsity team and so I was excited. However, a couple week s later when JV and Varsity team rosters were posted, I found myself on the JV for a second year. Needless to say, I was disappointed. however, that couldn't make me quit; I was too determined. Again, as a junior this time, I rode the bench most of the first half of the year. Again, I was given a chance to start a game about half way through the year, this time at Whittier High School and I played the game of my life! I went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI (runs batted in)! And my hits weren't little singles. The first hit was my first, and only ever, home run that cleared the fence. It is a moment I will never forget! The pitch was down and in. I know I had two strikes on me because first I fouled a pitch down the third base line and almost got my coach near third base. The following pitch I fouled off into my team's first base dugout. The next pitch I nailed and it soared over the left field fence, bouncing on the tennis courts! I remember my parents screaming with excitement. I was totally pumped when I saw it bounce off the concrete past the fence. I didn't think I had hit it that well. I wanted to keep it cool circling the bases and was able to until I saw all my teammates gathered at home plate to congratulate me. Then I couldn't hold back the smile. Later in the game, I drove another one to the left-center field wall, which turned out to be a double. I tried to advance to third on the throw that got away from the catcher trying to tag out the runner, but I was thrown out at third. Oh well. As a result of this game of my career, I again played in every game the rest of the rest of the year. I finished with my best offensive year ever, batting over .400 (.429, I think) and earning Most Improved Player of the Year Award for the team. It is still the award I am most proud of that I ever received.
The following year as a senior, I made the Varsity team finally. However, it was an extremely frustrating year. I saw a total of 10 at bats the entire year, although I did have 3 hits for a .300 batting average. Those three hits were productive though. One was a bases loaded, bases-clearing (3 RBI) double against and at Loyola High School in L.A. during a Spring Break tournament. Another hit was during the last regular game of the season, when we were at home playing against Santa Fe High School. We had given up 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning. i was batting ninth in the lineup and actually got to bat in the 1st inning. The score was 5-4 in favor of Santa Fe and there were 2 runners on base. The first pitch I saw I drove to the wall in right-center field, knocking in both runners and giving us a 6-5 lead, which wound up being the final score. Also in that game, I grounded out and walked. The best part of this was that the coaching staff from Whittier College was in attendance since I had already received a partial academic scholarship from there. Coach Brock told me that they were very impressed with what they saw. Although I didn't wind up laying in college because I decided to focus on keeping my scholarship, it was great to know that they saw what I could do. The funny thing about my third hit that year on Varsity, it was a single that made it onto the school's video annual that year, along with a play from that same game where I did the splits at first base. So the stats for the year were a .300 batting average with 5 RBI. We made the CIF playoffs that year as the League Champions. We made it to the semi-finals before being eliminated. I don't remember seeing any action in the playoffs, but it was fun to watch and be there.
Since then I have played a softball team a church one time and have played a few years in MABL (Men's Adult Baseball League) in Orange County. Watching Courtney play softball for the first time this year has given me the itch to try to get back into baseball, but I need to get into shape (and save money) if I ever want to play again.
Baseball has always been a part of my life and always will be. There's just something in my DNA that prevents me from being who I am without baseball. In addition, it is because of baseball that I am married to the person I am married to today. What more could I ask for?
