Page 9 - Sanger Herald 9-13-18 E-edition

SangerSports
SANGER HERALD * PAGE 1B * THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018
Former Apache called up to the majors by the Orioles
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Former Apache Luis Ortiz has been called up to the Baltimore Orioles to make his major league debut, and the people in Sanger, who he never forgot, and his hometown Apaches, who he kept in contact with over the past four years, will be watching.
Closely. Very closely. And likely every one of them will be cheering him on.
“We are very excited for Luis,” said David Cuellar, Apache head baseball coach, via email. “Our players know how much he means to our community and baseball program. Luis has a lot of love and loyalty for Sanger and the baseball program.”
Ortiz made his pitching debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 7.
“It’s awesome seeing him in the majors,” said Alec Flores, a senior and pitcher for the Apaches. “And I met him, and he taught me some stuff. Hopefully I’ll
Jon Earnest / Sanger Herald
Luis Ortiz in his days at the Sanger High baseball field.
see him (play) this week.” Likewise, teammate Jesus Campos, an Apache pitcher and shortstop, was impressed. “It’s a big deal,”
he said.
Ortiz, 22, told Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun he didn’t expect to receive a September call- up.
“I was not anticipating anything,” he told Encina. “I was just going about my business and everything
fell in place. Just was thinking about going home. It was a long season. I did what I had to do this year and then this happens. So it’s a blessing. ... [It’s] like everyone’s reaction. You can’t even speak to it. It’s unreal.”
Ortiz started six games for the Norfolk, Va. Tides, going 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA in his first Triple-A stint, Encina wrote. “Before the trade, he went 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 16 games (11 starts) for Double-A Biloxi,” Encina said. “As is the case with other pitchers, the Orioles will monitor Ortiz’s usage. He has pitched 99 2/3 innings this season, his most as a pro, though this is the third straight season he’s pitched at least 90 innings.”
But there is more to Ortiz than baseball. Like fellow former Apache Tom Flores, who has four Super Bowl rings, Ortiz continues to support his home town. He comes home regularly to visit family and the baseball program he was part of.
“Every January he visits our practices and quietly gives away cleats to players who need cleats,” Cuellar said. “He’s donated baseballs. He talks to players about how they can improve day in and day out. He watches bullpen sessions and gives advice on mechanics and mental approach.
“He doesn’t ask for attention. He knows it took hard work with a support system that included his family and the community of Sanger to help him achieve his goals. He doesn’t hesitate to give back.
“On Twitter and Facebook you can see the pride our community has for Luis. It’s awesome.”
Irma Jasso-Mendez certainly thinks so. “Sanger Banger! Apache Pride!” she wrote on the Herald’s post about Ortiz. And the post, which links to Encina’s story, was shared 20 times and liked or loved by more than 140 people. Many offered congratulations.
Sports maestro and
self-professed godfather of Valley sports Nick Papagni tweeted, “Former Sanger Apaches pitching star is in the show. LUIS ORTIZ has been called up to the Baltimore Orioles. ... Congratulations Luis Ortiz!!”
Those who knew him consider Ortiz a brilliant player and somebody who will continue to have an impact on his home program by inspiring those Apaches who work hard to grind out wins and be their best whoever they play.
“Everyone knows about his 96 mph fastball,” Cuellar said. “What many people do not know is how smart he is as a baseball player. I saw that when he was freshman. He gets the strategy behind the game. He understands the big picture. He always picked up the small details of the game that elevated him beyond his talent.
“Our players have tremendous pride for Luis. I went to Fresno High and Bobby Jones (a Fresno High alum who pitched for
the Mets and Padres in a MLB career from 1993 to 2002) was the baseball king for us growing up.
“Luis is that guy to these kids. They see a Sanger kid who went to the same classes, did the same workouts, played on the same field and now he’s a big-leaguer. Once he pitches, he will be in the Major League Baseball Encyclopedia forever.
“No one can take that away from Luis and his family. And no one can take that away from Sanger.”
The Rangers selected Ortiz with the 30th overall pick in 2014 out of high school. “He was traded to the Brewers at the 2016 nonwaiver deadline along with outfielder Lewis Brinson in a deal that sent catcher Jonathan Lucroy to Texas,” Encina wrote.
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerheraldsports@gmail. com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
Thriller vs. Tigers revitalizes Apaches
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Tahj Webb was one of the last to leave the Apaches’ locker room after yet another contest with rival Lemoore resulted in a win that wasn’t assured until the clock ran out.
The Apaches vanquished the visiting Tigers 49-41 in a match that saw Lemoore’s football team rally for 20 points in the fourth quarter. Sanger expanded its season record to 3-1, while Lemoore fell to 2-2.
“I just knew what I had to do,” Webb said. He had a pack of ice wrapped in plastic on his right shoulder and another on his right knee. He had picked up 10 tackles, the second most for his team, and acknowledged the Tigers’ late surge and their effective play.
“But our defense was disciplined. It was a good, hard fight. We brought it, and I was ready.”
The year before, Sanger escaped with a 40-38 double- overtime win in Lemoore. And Sept. 7 unfolded much the same way even though the Apaches had a home-field advantage in Tom Flores Stadium. The Tigers, mostly behind junior quarterback Justin Holaday and senior running back Brandon Hargrove, engineered an answer for nearly every Sanger score.
Webb, a sophomore, made himself part of the solution. Head coach Jorge Pena called him up from the bench to replace senior linebacker Gabriel Webb, who sat out after suffering a concussion the previous week. Tahj Webb and at least four others substituted in for a banged
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Running back Kosi Agina scores one of his four touchdowns against Lemoore.
from junior quarterback Noel Collazo of 15 yards. Collazo completed six of eight passes for 131 yards and that touchdown. Senior wide receiver Jake Boust had two key catches for 61 yards.
Junior linebacker Pierce Jones led the Apaches with 15 tackles, followed by Tahj Webb’s 10 and Pena with seven. Pena also scored an interception late in the second quarter. Barrera collected six tackles.
“Coach told me it was on me today,” Agina said on the field after the game. “And I came out and performed. I stepped up. I knew I had to do something big.
“My whole (offensive line) came out for me. We worked together. Everyone did their part.”
Ayala, who doesn’t betray much emotion, appeared to have a lighter step than normal leaving the field. “A lot better,” he said about how he felt compared to the frame of mind just after the 14-8 loss to the Timberwolves. “I’m very happy. We came in with a mood like dogs, all scrapped up. (But) always tough.” Another of those stepping up was junior wide receiver Dolce Calandra who had two receptions for 41 yards. His final catch sealed the win for the Apaches in the closing seconds of the final quarter, putting another Lemoore possession out of reach.
“I was just trying to finish the win for us,” Calandra said. “We just made a big-time play, and I took the opportunity. It was a hard fight. The offense fought. It was a great team win, a bounce back from our loss.”
A lot of that fight fell to big man Jude Groft, a senior on defense who helped derail many of Lemoore’s drives. With Gabriel Webb and Salcido sidelined, he and fellow senior Rene Martinez rallied the line. And at no point was he worried, Groft said.
“I believe in our defense and our D line,” he said. “I thought the outcome that happened would happen.
“What we’d been saying all week is ‘Next man up.’ We believe in our players over any other players any day.
“We had some juniors step up,” he said, saying he had to switch positions. But the team trains with versatility in mind, he said.
Another big contribution came from junior lineman Jesus Ferreira-Ortiz who came crashing through Tiger defensemen like they were eighth-graders as he blocked for Agina on that final touchdown run. What exactly happened wasn’t at first clear from the sideline. But photographer George Armenta nailed the story on multiple images from his camera.
Agina dodged his way down field, successfully evading or breaking tackles. But then he was tripped by a Lemoore leg tackle and started to fall.
“He cut into me (when it happened),” Ferreira-Ortiz said.
Somehow at the moment Agina was to go down, and while he was still traveling forward full tilt, Ferreira- Ortiz used an arm to balance his teammate and reverse his trajectory, and send him onward.
up team that lost four of its starters in the very physical game with Clovis East on Aug. 31.
“Guys stepped up,” said defensive line coach Nikko Motta after a very boisterous and upbeat post- game team meeting. “Guys stepped up big time. That’s all you can ask for.”
Motta said those who s t e p p e d u p i n c l u d e d junior Mark Barrera, sophomore Jon Pena, senior Christopher Castro and Kenaz Bal.
“Love these guys,” Pena said, referring to all his players but giving specific praise to those who filled in. “I feel real bad for the kids who are hurt. I don’t see anybody as banged upasweare.Alotofnew faces on the field. We really gutted it out this week.”
In fact, Sanger’s injured reserve at least looks as robust as at any time in the past four seasons. Sunnyside transfer Carl Hawkins was hurt in the season-opening scrimmage in Visalia against Redwood,
and he and Morgan Privett, injured against Clovis East, stalked the sideline Friday with with crutches and their injured knees protected.
Others who had to sit out the game against Lemoore included senior running and defensive back Damien Duarte with a concussion, junior linebacker Luis Manzo and senior defensive end and defense leader Aaron Salcido with a dislocated shoulder. Senior Jackson Rocker was injured earlier in the year, and sophomore Gabriel Olmos is also out.
Early in the game against the Tigers before even two minutes had expired, senior running and defensive back Alex Saefong injured an arm on a play. Pena said Saefong is a big part of the team when he spoke of the toll injuries had taken. “He wants to play,” Pena said.
Salcido said he’s feeling better. And if indications of sideline intensity have anything to do with recovery speed, Salcido,
Duarte, Webb, Privett and the rest would run out onto the field after a nod from their coaches. If they could.
The night offensively for the Apaches included four touchdowns from junior running back and wide receiver Kosi Agina, two from senior running back David Ayala and one from senior running back Orlando Douglas, who like usual after a game limped slightly as he headed to his car. “It means I’m working,” he said.
“Whew,” wrote Ron Blackwood, Sanger master statistician, in his game notes. “The young Apaches went out in a blaze of glory prior to their bye week, scoring runs of 8, 32, 37, 3, 6 and 47 (yards) and a pass of 15 yards. They held on to defeat the Tigers.”
Agina rushed for a total 223 yards. And Douglas, who rushed for 71 yards, added kickoff returns of 21, 30, 36 and 40 yards. Ayala kicked in six extra points and scored on runs of 8 yards and a pass
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