Grads make call to play baseball

San Luis' Heriberto Ron, and Kofa teammates Anthony Ortiz and Mark Wright had to choose between two once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

The three local prep baseball players were selected by Arizona coaches to play in the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association's 5A all-star game - a showcase of the best seniors in the state.

The rub? The game coincides with their high school graduation.

All three players decided on their own, and with support from their families, to forgo their graduation ceremonies to play in one last high school baseball game today at 7 p.m. at Surprise Stadium.

"It was a pretty difficult decision. I wanted to do both, but it's all on the same day," Wright said. "But we're baseball junkies. We'd rather play baseball than do anything else."

Ron said he was conflicted about the decision when he first heard he made the team, but he added it didn't last long.

"Coach (Cesar Castillo) said to me, 'I have good news and bad news.'" Ron said. "I wanted the bad news first.

"At first it was hard because I was thinking of walking in line with my friends at graduation, but at the same time, this game is an honor. Not many people get selected to this game."

Ron, Wright and Ortiz will represent the South all-stars, which is also made up of players from schools in Tucson, South Phoenix, Chandler and Mesa.

Coaches from every conference and region in the state assembled for a meeting, where they nominated players, compared statistics, debated qualifications and narrowed it down to a team of 20 5A players to represent the South and another 20 for the North.

"It's about a three-and-a-half hour meeting where we pretty much try to sell our kids to the other coaches about why they deserve to be out there," said Castillo, who was selected to coach the South all stars. "This year, with the three guys we got in, there was really no debate because their stats stood out among the rest of the guys that were put up there."

Castillo went through the same selection process to coach the team as the players. He was nominated by Kofa coach Richy Leon and voted in by 5A coaches throughout the state.

"It's the cream of the crop going out there," Castillo said. "For me it's an honor to be on the same field with these kids and coach the best in the state."

Ron was the ace of a San Luis team that reached the 5A Division II state quarterfinals, while Ortiz, a shortstop, and Wright, a catcher, led the Kings to the Gila Valley Region title.

"When I first found out I got selected, in my head I was like, 'I want to go to this over graduation,'" Ortiz said. "But I decided to wait and talk to my family first. Most of my family said I should go to the game."

The three local products are all planning to take their game to the next level.

Ron will be staying close to home, pitching for Arizona Western College next year, Ortiz said he has the choice to play for either Phoenix College or Palomar College near San Diego and Wright is making a weekend trip out of the game. While in the Valley, he will sign to play for Phoenix College and take in an Arizona State regional baseball game.

"It speaks loudly that these kids are skipping out on graduation after four years of hard work to play in a baseball game," Castillo said. "It shows what kind of dedication they have to the sport."

Local all-stars at a glance:

Anthony Ortiz, Kofa. Position: Shortstop. Avg: 422, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 33 runs. Was the Gila Valley Region Player of the Year and The Sun/Yuma Rotary Club Player of the Year.

Mark Wright, Kofa. Position: Catcher. Avg: .440, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 26 runs. Had 20 extra base hits on the season. Was Kofa's offensive player of the year.

Heriberto Ron, San Luis. Position: Pitcher. Record: 6-1. ERA: 1.60. 4 complete games on the season. Avg. .378, 1 HR at the plate. Was the team MVP.

Cesar Castillo, San Luis. Position: Coach. Was a finalist for The Sun/Yuma Rotary Club's Coach of the Year award. The Sidewinders won two playoff games, reached the state quarterfinals and kept their season going all the way down to the last week.