Community college baseball: Packing a new punch

Steve Virgen

The rise and maturation of Scott Beerer has included a variety of

work as the means to success. Success that eventually resulted in a 23rd

round selection in the Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers.

Success that surpassed expectations that followed an injury riddled

senior season at Newport Harbor High.

Beerer garnered mental strength to overcome chronic back pain. He also

chose to play at Orange Coast College, where Coach John Altobelli has

helped in the Beerer building process. Then, after a standout season, he

added yet another platform to rise to the top.

Beerer stepped into the boxing ring to strengthen his body and improve

his hand-eye coordination this offseason. He didn’t fight competitively.

He trained like a boxer, though, bobbing and weaving, hitting and

sweating.

Beerer trained at the L.A. Boxing Club in Costa Mesa, where he

sparred, grunted with each swing at the bag and completed other drills

that improved his quickness.

“I’ve always loved boxing,” said Beerer, who took to the gloves at a

younger age. “I just started it up again. It has added to my quickness

and strength.”

A fighter’s mentality is precisely how Beerer is attacking this OCC

baseball season. He’s not concerned with statistics. He’s just aiming for

knockouts, whether it be in the outfield, on the mound or at the plate.

With confidence in his teammates, who include a talented freshman

class and experienced sophomores, Beerer has his sights set on

championships.

“We have the talent this year,” Beerer said of the Pirates. “I’m just

looking to get to Fresno (where the state’s final four will be played).

We have the talent to carry us there. Last year, I stressed a lot on my

results. I’m not going to worry about that this year. I’m just going to

go play like I know how to play.”

The Pirates were picked second in the Orange Empire Conference

preseason poll, two points behind defending state champion Riverside.

Beerer is the OEC’s preseason Player of the Year. He led all OEC freshmen

last season with a .370 batting average and had a team-high 60 hits in 40

games, earning first-team All-OEC honors. Beerer also played all nine

positions in a 10-1 win over Reedley in the College of the Sequoias

Tournament April 12.

“He’s definitely a special player,” Altobelli said. “He’s a guy who if

somebody goes down, he can fill the void at shortstop, second or third,

wherever we need him. He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever

coached here in 10 years, and probably in the last 15 years, even (as an

assistant) at UC Irvine.”

Beerer started a bit slowly out of the gate this season, but he has

picked up his game as the Pirates completed a successful run in the

Apache Classic, Friday through Sunday. His excitement and confidence has

also intensified because OCC has displayed its talents throughout the

young season.

“There’s a lot more excitement on the team than last year,” Beerer

said. “Last year, nobody knew each other. We didn’t know how we were

going to play together. This year, it’s a huge difference. We have the

pitching and we have the offense. A lot of scouts that we’ve been talking

to say that we’re the top offensive team (in the conference). We have a

lot bigger expectations this year than we did last year.”

The Pirates’ success this season will determine the future of several

OCC players, including Beerer, who has a scholarship to play for Texas

A&M; next year.

“I’m going to wait and see if I go in the (MLB) draft at a reasonable

round,” Beerer said. “If it’s not reasonable, I will go to school. I have

to wait and see what happens.”

Until then, Beerer will continue to look for the knockout.