Hide Article Text (OCR)
The Reglster/Charlaine Brown, Robert Shauif -i•V.David Harris may not get achance to do any swinging tonight at Glover Stadium, but he'll be the South’s starting pitcher in the 14th All-Star gamestrikingon moundBy Dan NllsenRegister sports writer You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t puli the mask off that ol’ Lone Ranger ... and you don’t wait for a walk from David Harris.Let that serve as a warning to the North team in tonight’s Orange County All-Star baseball game. When Harris takes the mound for the South squad in the 14th Annual charity classic, opposing hitters had better be prepared to swing the bats.Harris simply doesn’t hand out free passes. In 93 innings for Westminster High this spring, the senior right-hander gave up 18 walks, an average of 1.35 per game.It was perhaps the biggest factor in Harris’ 12-2 record and 1.64 earned-run average, and it was a major reasonWestminster captured the CIF 4-A Division title .10 daysago at Anaheim Stadium. Harris walked none that nightand the Lions beat Edison, 3-0.Control. From the time a Little League pitcher makes his first windup, he is told to throw strikes. Harris has always listened to that advioe.“It’s something I’ve always been able to do,’’ said the 64/205rpounder, -‘Even when I’m riot on some days, I’m still able to hit the spots I want.”Harris Should be' hitting the spots for Stanford University next year. He has won a tuition-paid scholarship, based as! much on his pitching feats as on his 3.67 grhde-ppint.• Wv.-. ■ ' ' •• • ' !! - ■:'* ’ s' ' .- '• •• • • •average, and he seems over joyed at the prospect.“I just had good feelings there,” he said, explaining hischoice, “They have a good academic reputation, and they play competitive ball. I felt like I belonged there.”Though he quarterbacked Westminster’s football team last fall, he will skip that sport at Stanford, at least for his freshman year. “Maybe I’ll get into football later, butright now I’m just thinking about baseball.”And that includes the upcoming All-Star game. He 11 face a murderous lineup in the North team, with hitters like Villa Park’s Dave Alarid, Loara’s John Fishel andKatella’s David Tinoco.But it won’t be anything like toeing the rubber at Anaheim Stadium. “This (All-Star game) will be more relaxed,” Harris said. “It’s more to have fun, and I’ll just go in there with a clear head and be at ease. ”That’s not to say Harris was a bundle of nerves in the 4-A title game. “I really didn’t know how exciting it would be until we got there and saw the other teams playing. ButI just felt really confident and relaxed.”He appeared that way, too, mowing down the hardhitting Chargers on seven hits and pitching out of severalsaidjams.“He made the.crucial pitches at the right times.Rick Hayesj' the Lions! coach.- “Ever since he settled on going he’s beennayesj tne Luons coacn.;s avci suuvc to Stanford, getting that big choice out of the way, een dearly unbeatable; ^d I I!ll' tell you somethingelse: if David Harris isn’t the most valuable player in CIF this year, I don’t know who is.”Harris will probably pursue an engineering degree al Stanford while playing baseball. He has professional aspi rations in each field and the tools to excel in both.There have been informal contacts with major league scouts; “but nothing significant was discussed,” he said.“The scouts weren’t pleased with him the first part ol the year, and neither were we,” Hayes said. “He was 54 but he was struggling. He was Visiting colleges all over the country and concerned about where he would end up.” The real turning point, Hayes said, came late in th* Sunset League season on a cool Saturday night at Millt; Square Park. The Lions were battling for the league title needing one win to clinch a tie;f Harris was almost perfect through five innings agains Fountain Valley, allowing one hit and, of course, no walks Two errors opened the gates for five Baron runs in thlt; sixth, but Harris pitched 10 innings, striking out 12 am nailing down a critical 6-5 Victory;“That was the one night he started firing the ball,’ Hayes said.The rest is history, Westminster winning its final eigh games and ifs first-ever CIF baseball crownThat; accomplished, Harris sets his sights on a promisinicollegiate career. He says he’s still not sure about en gineering, but whatever hisfafe in the classroom, Harri is smart enough to know what ipakes a good pitcher . ,
Newspaper Details
Santa Ana Orange County Register
Santa Ana, California, US
Tue, Jun 09, 1981
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 31 Jul 2021
Other Publications Near Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana Pacific Weekly Blade
Santa Ana Excelsior
Santa Ana News
Santa Ana Evening Blade
Santa Ana Orange County Register Evening
