Boys’ Player of the Week : Arias Finds Pitching Is Just Another Challenge

Pitching comes easy to Rene Arias. Although only a sophomore on the Fullerton High School varsity, he is perfectly comfortable on the mound.

His rapid adjustment took far less effort than Arias made several years ago, when he faced the culture shock and bigotry of life in a new country with a new language.

Arias first played baseball with his family on the streets of Acapulco, Mexico, where he was born. It was a hitter’s game, but he didn’t get to hit.

“I was the pitcher, but we would just throw underhand to each other,” Arias, The Times’ player of the week, said. “They wouldn’t let me bat, because I wasn’t a very good hitter.”

Although Arias has learned how to hit, pitching has been his strength.

Last Friday in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs, Arias, the kid who used to lob pitches to his brothers and uncles, tossed a no-hitter against Leuzinger. He struck out only four, but allowed only two baserunners--one on a hit batter and the other one an error--in a 1-0 victory.

“I was really nervous before the game, it hit me about fifth period,” Arias said. “My friends tried to calm me down, telling me I would do great. When I was warming up in the bullpen, I had my good stuff. I knew then it would be all right.”

Pitching has always helped Arias get through rough times.

His parents were divorced when Arias was 10 and his father, Robert, moved to Fullerton. Arias moved north shortly afterward, much to his delight.

“My aunt drove me up,” Arias said. “I didn’t know we were here (in the United States), I didn’t know where we were. Then I saw my father and I was happy.”

Adjusting to the language and culture was tough. But, there was baseball.

Some friends in his apartment building asked Arias to try out for Little League. He was an immediate star, making the all-star team his first year.

However, it wasn’t an entirely pleasant experience.

“I didn’t know the language and other teams would yell things at me, “ Arias said. “I would come home crying all the time. The next year, I decided it wasn’t going to bother me. I was just going out there and pitch.”

Arias made the all-star team every year, from Little League through Pony League.

As a freshman at Fullerton, he was 8-1 and hit .500 for the junior varsity. This season, he is again 8-1 with a 1.79 earned-run average and has five straight victories, leading the Indians to the Freeway League championship.

“I figured I could do well at this level,” Arias said. “It helps that the first seven guys in our batting order are hitting over .300. Even if I’m down by a couple runs, I know we have the hitting to come back. It makes pitching easier.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Kaleaph Carter of Edison won the shotput (62-0 3/4) at the Southern Section 4-A track and field championships. He also finished third in the discus with a throw of 164-2.

John Cummings of Canyon threw a 4-hitter, striking out 7, in a 6-1 victory over Western Friday in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs. Cummings also drove in two runs with a triple.

Chris Facione of El Dorado had 3 hits, including a home run, 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs, as the top-seeded Hawks defeated Rolling Hills, 14-12, Friday in the first round of the Southern Section 5-A playoffs.

Brent Jones of Brea-Olinda, who won the 2-A 800-meters race in 1:55.70 Saturday at the Southern Section track and field championships.

Andy Lobpreis of Western won the Southern Section 2-A high jump title Saturday with a leap of 6-feet 10-inches at the Southern Section track and field championships. The mark gave him a share of the 2-A record with five others: Doug Nordquist (Sonora 1977), Delvon Davis (Miraleste, 1978), George Steelman (Yuccipa 1978) and Myron Williams (Orange 1987).

George Lynch of Mater Dei won the 110-meter high hurdles (14.66) at the Southern Section 3-A championships Saturday. He also finished second in the 300 hurdles with a time of 38.77.

Freshman Paul McDaniels of Estancia hit a three-run homer to rally the Eagles to a 4-2 victory over top-seeded La Quinta Friday in the first round of the Southern Section 3-A playoffs.

Jim Robbins of Corona del Mar, who won the 3-A 1,600 meters in 4:15.68 Saturday at the Southern Section track and field championships.

Shanon Winkelman of Marina held off Santa Ana Valley’s Jimmy Rodriguez to win the 4-A 3,200-meters Saturday at the Southern Section track and field championships.

Rene Arias

Fullerton High School

Position: Pitcher/second baseman

Height, Weight, Class: 5-11, 150, Soph.

Last Week: Arias threw a no-hitter against Leuzinger in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs. He struck out four and allowed just two baserunners, on a hit batter and an error, in the 1-0 victory.

Season: Arias has an 8-1 record with a 1.79 earned-run average. He has five straight victories and has allowed only 45 hits and 14 earned runs in 54 innings.