TORRANCE TRIBUNE July 6, 2017 Page 3 Up and Adam From Torrance High School All the Way to the Bigs By Adam Serrao There’s no doubting that California is known for its baseball, especially when it comes to the high school level. Perhaps no school in the South Bay has been more prominent in recent years than the Torrance Tartars. Torrance proved again last month why it can be viewed as one of the state’s preeminent pipelines for sending young talent to the Major Leagues. On the third day of the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, both Dante Mendoza and Alex Gallegos witnessed their dreams come true as the two players were selected to play ball for big league organizations. “We’re fired up around here,” a proud and excited Torrance head baseball coach Terry DeWan expressed about his two star players making it to the MLB. The Cleveland Indians were the lucky team that took Mendoza in the 12th round with the 372nd overall pick. Gallegos had to wait around until the 35th round to hear his name called, but the wait was well worth it once the St. Louis Cardinals called in with the 1,054th overall pick in the draft. Mendoza was an instrumental piece of the Tartars ballclub for the entirety of his tenure with the school, but most specifically last season when he led the team to a 22-10 overall record--which was good enough for a first place finish and Pioneer League championship. Mendoza’s last game with the Tartars came in a playoff matchup against the Santa Fe Chiefs. The six-foot-six starter went four innings while allowing five hits and two earned runs. Mendoza’s final game with Torrance wasn’t necessarily indicative of the stellar season that the senior had. He finished the year with a 1.42 ERA, notching 62 strikeouts in 49 innings. As good as Mendoza was, Gallegos put up numbers that were even better in his limited action with the Tartars this season. A 4-0 record with a 1.03 ERA had the sixfoot three pitcher sitting pretty as one of California’s greatest talents on the mound. A seven-inning, two-hit shutout in a 2-0 win against Palos Verdes and a seven-inning, two-hit outing in a 9-1 victory over his rivals from South were among Gallegos’s standout performances of the year. Unfortunately for the young, budding star, Gallegos tore his ACL just about two months ago, putting a dent in his potential draft stock. The star pitcher has successfully overcome the adversity, however, Despite being picked later in the draft than he otherwise would have preferred, Gallegos will rehab with the intent of getting back to baseball very soon. Mendoza and Gallegos are just the latest in a long line of skilled Torrance High players to be selected in the MLB draft. As far back as 1966, the Tartars witnessed pitcher Robert Sharp find a selection in the 22nd round of the draft. Sharp was followed by a more prominent name the very next year when catcher Fred Kendall was selected in the fourth round of the draft and went on to enjoy an illustrious career in the big leagues, playing mostly with the San Diego Padres. If you’ve heard of Fred Kendall, then you’ve most certainly heard of his son, Jason Kendall. Jason was drafted from Torrance High to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992 and went on to enjoy a 20-year career in the MLB. Most recently, the Tartars have sent some names to the majors over the last decade that might also be recognizable to high school fans living in the South Bay. In 2010, shortstop Angelo Gumbs went in the second round to the Cincinnati Reds. Gumbs is currently in Pensacola at the AA level. The following year saw shortstop Trent Gilbert go to the Oakland Athletics, where he currently remains at the minor league level. Tyrone Taylor took off in the second round of the 2012 draft when the Milwaukee Brewers selected the outfielder. Taylor is still in the Brewers minor league organization in Arizona. Just three years ago in 2014, the Kansas City Royals saw third baseman Manny Olloque as the perfect fit for their organization. Olloque is currently with the Class A Royals in the minors. The players listed, as well as many others, highlight precisely why the Torrance Tartars have been at the top of the class when it comes to high school baseball. Torrance and coach DeWam don’t plan on slowing down either. Next season, the team will be loaded with seniors who will undoubtedly be looking to take the next step and follow in the footsteps of the great players who came before them. Second baseman Jacob Villareal, pitcher Colton Kruger and outfielder Kai Hershberger are just a few players who may just have next year’s draft on their minds. The Torrance Tartars have always been a great high school baseball team. Dante Mendoza and Alex Gallegos are just the latest proof that hard work and dedication truly can pay off. – Asixlion@earthlink.net • Calendar of Events Deadline for Calendar items is the prior Thursday by noon. Calendar items are $1 per word. Email listings to marketing@ heraldpublications.com. We take Visa and MasterCard. THURSDAY, JULY 6 • Propagation Society – Planting Seeds for the Future, 10:30 AM., Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, free to public, Call: 310- 782-3989. • “Out of the Wilds & Into the Garden, Magic Dragons”, 10:00 AM. – 12:00 PM., free, Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, Call: 310-782-3989. FRIDAY, JULY 7 • Free Advance Directive Workshop, 10:00 AM. – 11:00 AM., 5315 Torrance Blvd. Suite #B1, Call: 310-543-3402. • Friday Fun for Kids, 10:00 AM. – 12:00 PM., free, Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, Call: 310-782-3989. • CITY HALL CLOSED - (All Day) • Ticket to Paradise (Torrance Cultural Services Division and Susan Mann), 7:30 PM., Tickets: $12, James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Call: 310-781-7171. SATURDAY, JULY 8 • Torrance Certified Farmers’ Market at Wilson Park, 8:00 AM. – 1:00 PM., 2200 Crenshaw Blvd., Between Carson St. & Sepulveda, Call: 310-781-7520. • Ticket to Paradise (Torrance Cultural Services Division and Susan Mann), 2:00 PM. & 7:30 PM., Tickets: $12, James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Call: 310-781-7171. SUNDAY, JULY 9 • Bridge USA Japanese Summer Festival 2017, 10:00 AM. – 7:00 PM., Tickets: $6/$3, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Contact: www. bridgeusa.com. MONDAY, JULY 10 • Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve - CLOSED, 3201 Plaza Del Amo. • Reading By Design: Marble Mazes, 2:00 PM., free, Katy Geissert Civic Center Library, 3301 Torrance Blvd., Call: 310- 618-5964. TUESDAY, JULY 11 • Torrance Certified Farmers’ Market at Wilson Park, 8:00 AM. – 1:00 PM., 2200 Crenshaw Blvd., Between Carson St. & Sepulveda, Call: 310-781-7520. • City Council Meeting, 7:00 PM. – 9:00 PM., City Hall, Council Chamber, 3031 Torrance Blvd., Call: 310-618-2780. WEDNESDAY, JULY 12 • Armchair Traveler Book Group, 11:00 AM., free, Walteria Library, 3815 W. 242 Street, Call: 310-375-8418. THURSDAY, JULY 13 • Propagation Society – Planting Seeds for the Future, 10:30 AM., Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, free to public, Call: 310-782-3989. • Book Discussion: Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gointner, 10:00 AM., free, Henderson Library, 4805 Emerald Street, Call: 310-371-2075. • Biography and Memoirs Book Discussion Group, 10:30 AM. – 11:30 AM, free, Katy Geissert Civic Center Library, 3301 Torrance Blvd., Call: 310-618-5959. • Torrance Refinery from front page reported to their job sites as of Wednesday, July 5 to begin the four-week, on-the-job internship. Students will be required to work four days a week and dedicate one day to classroom workforce training activities. The students will be paid for 32 hours of work each week, but their classroom participation will earn them high school credits. In addition to the hands-on work experience, refinery employees will volunteer to assist students in identifying future career goals. The Torrance Refining Company will host a Career Pathway Day dedicated to having employees from a variety of disciplines share the journeys that led to their individual careers. Employees will also share experiences while providing college advice and highlighting the importance of seeking out internships. Refinery employees will also conduct mock interviews and present immediate feedback to help students develop valuable interviewing skills. “The City of Torrance appreciates the Torrance Refining Company’s generosity and support of the city’s youth and partnership with Torrance Refining Company and the Torrance Unified School District,” said Torrance Mayor Patrick J. Furey. • I live alone but I’m never alone. I have Life Alert. ® One press of a button sends help fast, 24/7, even when you AS SEEN ON TV Saving a life from a potential catastrophe EVERY 10 MINUTES! can’t reach a phone. For a FREE brochure call: 855-980-5453
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