Sports March 2014
Basebal
22
Micah Baxter-Miller
Jake J
Anthony Gomez
Senior Micah Baxter-Miller has been a baseball prodigy since the very young age of four. He was brought into the sport by his father, who played for both his high school and college teams when he was younger. Baseball was the only sport Micah truly knew growing up, and as he got older he began to develop a passion for it and improved year by year. He is now a starting outfielder for the PPCHS Varsity Baseball team and a future player for Point Park University, a university located in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known around the US for their impressive athletic teams. Micah was recently accepted into Point Park for his wide arsenal of skills as an outfielder and is one of the only Jaguars in PPCHS history to ever receive an
honor of this caliber. The school season has only barely begun, but Baxter-Miller is already batting a stunning .360 average and the entire team is off to a pretty good start. Micah’s professional role models are outfielder Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and center fielder Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I love my team and my coaches,” says Micah. “They are like a second family to me.” Baxter-Miller has been a part of the varsity baseball team since his freshmen year, and although he has grown to love the Pines Charter Baseball family, he also looks forward to being able to play in Pittsburgh and wear the green and gold of the Point Park Pioneers.
Derick Garcia
Senior pitcher and third baseman Derick Garcia has been playing baseball all his life. From when he was three and first playing to playing on the varsity team his senior year, Garcia has come a long way on his baseball journey. His dad, who played baseball until he was thirteen, introduced him to sport, and he has fallen in love with the game. “The sport itself just seemed fun and exciting,” said Garcia. “I wouldn’t choose any other sport over baseball due to the fact that you can’t burn out the clock or milk the clock to hold on to a lead. You have to throw the pitch and let the hitter hit, let the fielders field, and let the pitchers pitch. That’s the game.” During his junior year, Garcia was called up to the Varsity baseball team, where he excelled as a pitcher and a third baseman. Hitting a batting average of around .410 this season, Garcia hopes that he can push his team to success. As for after high school, Garcia hopes to play baseball as a walk on. “I do plan on playing in college, but I don’t know where I am going yet,” said Garcia. “I will probably play at Broward College, Florida International, or Miami-Dade.” So far, Garcia is one of the leading factors to the teams above .500 record. He motivates his team to play the best they can. Whether he wins or lose, he always keeps his head up high and looks to the future.
Anthony Gomez is a junior on the Pines Charter Jags Baseball team. He was one of the rare players who got to try out varsity for the Clearwater tournament his freshman year. This year there is no freshman on the varsity team and only one sophomore, so that is an honor to be called up. During the 2014 season Gomez is the starting short stop for the Jags and has started there since last year. “It was cool that I started sophomore year,” said Gomez, “they took me under their wing, showed me the ropes, and taught me a lot of new things. The team gave me a good first experience.” Gomez had started playing baseball when he was only three years old, which is young for any sport. He gets his inspiration for the game from his dad who helps to make him better in every way he can. He takes him batting everyday, and pushes him to try his hardest and be the best player he could be. Gomez’s dad played college baseball and played in the minors for three years but ended up quitting. His dad comes and supports to every single game, and that pushes Gomez to try even harder for his dad. “I liked baseball from the first moment I began playing. It interested and kept me hooked like no other sport could. Plus it was the most fun I could have. It’s fun to be on the high school team cause you get friends that are like brothers who you can be with in and out of school,” stated Anthony Gomez. Last year Gomez had a batting average of .250 and this year he has improved to a .363 so it seems like his training with his dad, is helping him.
There’s a ball hit deep into center field; does it have the distance? Oh my! It’s caught at the warning track by Jacobs.” These are moments that senior outfielder for the PPCHS varsity baseball team, Jake Jacobs Jake Jacobs, lives for. Ever since he was able to walk, Jacobs has always had a great passion for America’s favorite pastime. Whether it be in an immaculate stadium or a neighborhood sandlot, all that Jacobs wants to do in his free time is grab a bat, ball, and glove, and play some baseball. This passion is what has Jacobs on his way to helping the team achieve more than they could have ever imagined. “I feel that the team has the ability to go really far this year. What it ultimately comes down to is how much do we want it, and I know that I want it more than anything in the
Record: 7-2 Home: 4-2 Away: 3-0
Daniel M
When senior Daniel playing baseball at th at the time he didn’t his true passion and f PPCHS Varsity Boys ejo hopes to make it t school season. “Baseball has always life,” said Melgarejo. memories involve a b to be honest I really without the sport. I’ high school season an it far this year with m On the field. Melgar player that always br and vibe to the game the game is played b feel and think better. Melgarejo is the first mate up. Looking toward his be attending Bethun located in Daytona B scholarship next fall has always been my knew I would have where I am today, an that all of my hard w As the Jags ace pitc leaving big shoes to and makes his way o But for now, the Jags and one of the best ar ready to take on any way.