BHS Baseball: Sanchez represents U.S.A.

COMPTON • Barstow pitcher Aaron Sanchez is playing in the 2009 USA-Japan High School Baseball Games held at the MLB Urban Youth Academy from Saturday through today, representing his country.

Sanchez was a starting pitcher in the opening game on Saturday, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks in three innings. He struck out two batters.

He picked up the loss as his all-star team fell 8-5. The team is comprised of top high school prospects from California.

“I wasn’t getting calls and I got frustrated,” Sanchez said. “That’s never good.”

Despite his lackluster outing — reaching just 88 mph with his fastball, which goes up to 93, 94 mph — Sanchez left an impression.

“He’s a good pitcher,” Takashi Ofuchi, a Japanese professional scout, said through a translator. “His form is great.”
In Game 2 on Sunday, Sanchez pinch-hit in the bottom of the seventh at a critical situation when his team was trailing 1-0 with two outs. With a tying runner on third, he struck out. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.

But Sanchez has been experiencing more than just a ball game through this exhibition.

Both teams were introduced at Dodger Stadium before the Arizona-Los Angeles game on Wednesday night and they also got to practice at Angels Stadium.

Above all, the players are learning about a culture far different from their own.

“They are funny kids,” Sanchez said about a welcome party with Team Japan. “We joked a lot. We try to interact with sign language because they can’t speak English.”

Team Japan, consisting of top players who competed in the national high school tournament this summer, took off their caps and bowed to the field every time they stepped on and off the playing surface. The two teams lined up at home plate and exchanged bows and handshakes before and after the game as they do in Japan.

“They don’t make mistakes,” Sanchez said. “A lot of fundamentals.

“It’s huge. People say us and Japan are the best countries. It’s a big honor.”

Major Leaguers who have played in this tournament in the past include Hideki Matsui, Kosuke Fukudome, Torii Hunter and Nomar Garciaparra.

The tournament concludes with today’s Game 3, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Urban Youth Academy in Compton.

Tomoya Shimura can be reached at 951-6281 or at tshimura@vvdailypress.com.