LOS ANGELES – Over the past two or three Septembers while competing at the Perfect Game/EvoShield National Championships (both upperclass and underclass), the entries from the La Puente-based Southern California Bombers organization have earned a reputation as “lurkers”.
When those PG national championship tournaments kicked-off in 2011, 2012, 2013 and even this past September, the numerous Bombers’ teams in attendance always seemed to stay in the shadows, never receiving much pre-tournament hyperbole and never, really, drawing any attention to themselves. They were lurking.
And then pool-play started and one or two of those Bombers’ teams that never seemed to have as many high-profile prospects on their rosters as some of the other entrants, inevitably won their pool.
And then, before anyone could even think of uttering those asinine words, “Yeah, but it’s a dry heat”, one or two Bombers’ teams were sitting in at least the quarterfinal round of those PG/EvoShield tournaments held under that blazing desert sun. Even the most experienced observers were asking each other, “Where did they come from?”
It’s really about time that question quits being asked. Put in on the shelf with, “Yeah, but it’s a dry heat.” The success those Bombers’ teams enjoyed should surprise no one.
The Southern California Bombers’ 2016 team opened play at the inaugural Perfect Game California World Series (Underclass) tournament event with a resounding 7-1 win over the June Lake-based So Cal National Travel Team (NTT) Friday afternoon at Dedeaux Field on the University of Southern California campus.
The players on this roster here this weekend are the same ones that reached the quarterfinal round of the playoffs at the PG/EvoShield National Championship (Underclass) about three weeks ago. These guys have now proved they can win under a hot sun in the Arizona desert or under a hot sun in downtown Los Angeles.
“They’re all juniors this year and we have a lot of guys that are two-way guys this year,” acting head coach Frank Martinez said Friday from Demeaux Field. “They can throw well off the mound and they can also play multiple positions, whether it is in the middle-infield or in the outfield; we’ve also got some corner (infielders) that can play outfield.
“Having those guys that can play multiple positions on the field and also pitch is critical when you’re putting together a good team. When we want to bring on our shortstop to throw we have a guy who can play short, and we can mix and match it and stuff like that.”
Martinez, just a year or two removed from a playing career at Cal State-Bakersfield, remembers that it was common as recently as five or six years ago to see youngsters play multiple positions in the field and also come in to pitch. That still goes on, of course, but Martinez is also seeing more and more specialization.
“They’re looking to move onto the next level so it’s either, ‘I’m going to choose to be a position player’ or ‘I’m going to stick to being a pitcher-only.’ Guys are kind of making that decision sooner instead of waiting until someone at the next level says, ‘Hey, OK, we’re going to keep you as just a pitcher’ or ‘you’re going to be just a position player.’”
It’s the versatility of his players – and their eagerness to move from position to position – that makes this team stand apart from the rest, at least in Martinez’s mind.
In the 7-1 win over So Cal NTT Friday afternoon – the Bombers’ only pool-play game Friday before playing their final two on Saturday – catcher/outfielder Andy Thomas from Murietta, singled twice, drove in two runs and scored one; Alex Orellana, a first baseman/third baseman from La Puente, also singled twice, drove in a run and scored two.
“Hitting-wise, we’ve got some kids that can swing it,” Martinez said. “They have fun, they know how to compete, and they know how to get after it and they play the game right.”
Riverside right-hander/shortstop Daniel Martinez proved to be the biggest contributor of all, working five, two-hit innings without allowing and earned runs, and striking out nine while walking one. Take note of the multiple positions played by each one of those prospects.
This Southern California Bombers Underclass roster is not necessarily star-studded, at least when compared to some of the others in the 16-team Underclass field. Right-hander/utility player Jacob Castillo from Glendora is ranked in the top-500 nationally, and with a commitment to San Diego State stands alone as the only roster member with a college commitment to date. More are sure to follow.
Other ranked prospects – again, they’re all from the class of 2016 – include top-550 shortstop Adryan Ramirez from Azusa; top-600 second baseman/right-hander Daniel Caruso from Pasadena, and top-600 third baseman Joaquin Castillo from Downey.
There are 15 2016 prospects playing here this weekend that were on the Southern California Bombers-2016 team that advanced to the quarterfinal round at the PG/EvoShield Underclass National Championship three weeks ago.
Five of those players – Jacob Castillo; left-hander/outfielder Liam Sellers; shortstop/right-hander Emanuel Viramontes; second baseman Humberto Castaneda and right-hander Nolan Collins – were named to the all-tournament team.
This Bombers team – and another that dropped its tournament-opener in the PG California World Series (Upperclass) event on Friday – is trying to build on history. A Southern California Bombers team finished as runner-up at the PG/EvoShield Underclass in 2011, and Bombers’ teams also finished second at the PG/EvoShield Upperclass tournaments in 2012 and 2013.
Martinez, the acting head coach, on Friday was just happy to be able to lead his underclass team at this inaugural PG event that is being heavily scouted by college colleges, most of them from schools right here in California.
“It definitely gets the kids a lot of exposure, getting to play at these nice facilities,” Martinez said. “Some of these coaches don’t’ have to go far – here we are at USC and these guys are going to be here and be able to watch; it kind of makes the job easier for them, recruiting-wise.
“But, definitely, it’s good for exposure because there are tons of places to be, tons of schools around California, and I’m sure it’s difficult to try to recruit just from individual high school games.”
The Bombers Underclass team has pool-play games remaining Saturday against two of the most respected programs in the Golden State: NorCal Baseball from up north and the San Diego Show from down south. It was the for the creation of those most desirable of all Cali matchups the PG California World Series came into being in the first place.
“There are not that many big championship-type tournaments out here in California so it’s good to have this one out here finally and get a little more exposure for the better teams,” Martinez said, adding that he’s glad to see a number of teams from Northern California in the respective Upper and Under fields.
“In the past I’ve coached against many teams from up north and played against guys from up north and they always seem to have good ballplayers from all over,” he said. “They’re not guys who just rollover; they’ve got plenty of ballplayers up there.”
It still seems like the Southern California Bombers will always be around in the end. If they’re not standing front-and-center, well then, look in the shadows. There’s a good chance they will be lurking, eyeing that championship trophy and looking to have their name placed in the PG history books as the titlist at the inaugural PG California World Series (Underclass).
“We shoot to win – we’ve got a good enough group of guys to be able to compete and hopefully win the whole thing,” Martinez said. “At the same time we want to focus on learning the game and improving and getting the exposure. Those things have become a little more a priority to me than just winning.
“I like teaching the game and trying to get these kids to move on to the next level and hopefully achieve some of their goals and their dreams. It’s fun to be able to be around that still.”