Fryer surveys the county scene

Fryer surveys the county scene

STEVE FRYER

Andre Argaez is no power hitter. The Capistrano Valley Christian senior baseball shortstop hit two home runs his freshman year, hit one as a sophomore and one as a junior.

"I'm more of a line-drive, gap hitter," he said.

Last week Argaez hit four home runs — in consecutive at-bats.

Records are sketchy and semi-unreliable in high school sports. But from what we can find, Argaez is the first Orange County baseball player to hit four homers in consecutive at-bats.

On April 8, during a 14-7 victory over St. Margaret's in an Academy League game at Sage Hill High, Argaez hit homers in his final two at-bats. Three days later, in a 12-9 victory over St. Margaret's at San Juan Capistrano Sports Park, he hit home runs in his first two at-bats. His fourth home run in the streak came on the first pitch of that at bat, giving him homers on consecutive pitches.

Argaez is not big – 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. But he is a strong guy. He was a three-time, All-Academy League quarterback at Capistrano Valley Christian, where he also maintains a 4.14 grade-point average (Argaez was among the honorees at the National Football Foundation Orange County Chapter's Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet in March).

He's using a 33-inch, 30-ounce bat, common specs for high school hitters.

So, what's behind the power surge? Argaez said weight-training, extra batting practice and the mentorship of CVC coach Clemente Bonilla and Bonilla's father and assistant coach, also named Clemente, have made a difference.

"My coaches," Argaez said, "have instilled in me this three-word phrase: anticipation, rotation and location. Anticipate, by looking for the right pitch. Rotation means looking at the rotation of the ball, like looking for that backspin to see that it's a fastball. And location means backing off of a pitch that's not there and be more selective."

Argaez put together three words to hit four shots.