AGAINST ALL ODDS

July 2022

BY CODY DALTON

Three years ago, Ivan Acuña was stranded inside a hotel room in Arizona, faced an uncertain athletic future, and watched his lifelong dream fade away. Acuña, a Catawba Valley Community College baseball alum, was set to compete in the 2020 World Baseball Classic when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down not only the tournament, but daily life itself. “2020 was definitely kind of odd,” Acuña said. “At the end of the year, there was nothing going on. There was no baseball. There were hardly any sports or people going to work. There were only restaurants and supermarkets open.” Safely making his way back to France — where he now resides with his wife — Acuña didn’t know if he’d ever have another opportunity to represent Team France at the World Baseball Classic. Acuña was eligible to compete for Team France because he is a legal resident of the country. Players and coaches can also represent international teams if they have a connection to the heritage of that country.

“They asked me at the end of the year if I’d like to try to play for the team,” Acuña said. “I told them absolutely; I’m trying to play baseball as long as I can. They did all of the paperwork needed for me and my wife to stay here in France and become eligible to play for Team France in the World Baseball Classic qualifier.” Even though it is not his birth country, Acuña was ecstatic with the offer, and took pride in being able to represent France on a national stage. “It’s definitely neat any time you get to put on a jersey, but especially when you get the opportunity to represent a whole country or whole land,” he said. “It’s a different feeling. Usually when you play out of college, you play for money as a professional, but once you put a jersey on with the name of a country, it has a little heavier sentiment to it.”

During his time on Team France, Acuña played under manager Bruce Bochy, who helped lead the San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles. Acuña learned so much from the journeyman skipper. “It was unbelievable getting to play for him and getting to know the guy,” Acuña said of Bochy. “Anyone who gets to know him knows that he is a people person. He is really down to earth. He wants to know you and talk to you on a personal level. I actually got his phone number, and we exchanged messages. was definitely looking forward to playing meaningful games under his wing.”

In preparing for the World Baseball Classic qualifiers, Acuña didn’t know which position he’d play. He brought first baseman gloves, infielder and outfielder gloves, and catcher’s mitts, but he didn’t know where he’d officially play until he arrived to practice in-person and had an initial conversation with Bochy. “The first thing that Bruce told me is if I wanted to lead, I have to be behind the dish,” Acuña said. “I told him okay, whatever you need. was in the role behind the plate in the two games we were able to play. It was a cool experience as well.”

Acuña and Team France traveled to Regensburg, Germany to compete in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers.

Team France competed in two games during the qualifier: one against Great Britain, and another against the Czech Republic. Acuña made the most of his first game and made a home run during his first at bat, launching a ball over the right center-field wall on a 2-2 count from Great Britain pitcher McKenzie Mills. “I look at the video, and I’m rounding second into third and I don’t remember doing it,” Acuña said of his home run. “I remember giving the bump to the third base coach Steve Smith and then I woke up. Before that felt like I wasn’t there. That was my first game with the French National Team, because last time we couldn’t play it. That was my first at bat and my first game putting on that jersey.”

Although Team France was unable to qualify for the World Baseball Classic, he’ll remember this team forever. “It was an unbelievable experience,” Acuña said. “It was an amazing time for me and great memories for life.” Acuña believes his time at Catawba Valley Community College helped shape him into not only the baseball player he is today, but also the person he has become. “The CVCC Baseball Team was always noticed for being good people,” Acuña said. “We were always polite. We always opened doors for people. We always sat in the front of the class. We took care of everything we needed to take care of and then played baseball. Being in the program taught me to be a good man and a good person first—before anything else.”