Nick Esparza on mound. By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Nick Esparza has excelled as the closer for the record breaking Pasadena City College baseball program. The former Monrovia High pitcher is 3-0 with 9 saves this season in that role, with a 3.88 ERA. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is almost 3-to-1, and he’s somebody coach Pat […]
Nick Esparza on mound.
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Nick Esparza has excelled as the closer for the record breaking Pasadena City College baseball program.
The former Monrovia High pitcher is 3-0 with 9 saves this season in that role, with a 3.88 ERA.
His strikeout-to-walk ratio is almost 3-to-1, and he’s somebody coach Pat McGee says is the ultimate competitor.
PCC is competing in the Super Regionals at El Camino College in a best-of-three series that began today.
After dropping game one 8-1, PCC will need victories Saturday at 1 and Sunday and noon to prolong their magical season.
The Lancers won their first SCC (North Division) title in 45 years, and last weekend, PCC won its first playoff series in literally 50 years by sweeping Riverside City College in two games.
In the first game of that series, both the RCC and PCC offenses’ had a combined 17 runs and 20 hits in just the first three innings.
For those who aren’t baseball aficionado’s, a ‘closer’ usually is called on to get the last three outs, and on a rare occasion, six outs to finish off a win.
But in game one of their first playoff series since 1972, McGee brought Esparza into the game in the fourth inning.
The Lancers sophomore proceeded to go the next six innings and gave up just one earned run on seven hits.
Jeremy Conant, the record-shattering first baseman earned PCC and Esparza the win with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The next day, PCC held off RCC behind Race Gardner’s complete game effort and the Lancers hope to make even more history in Torrance this weekend.
To even get to this point, Esparza had to accept the role of a closer, and not getting that start every four or five days for the Lancers.
It would mean less innings and pitches, but the drama would almost always be at its highest.
“This year my role was to be someone Coach McGee and the rest of the coaches could trust to come out of the bullpen and shut the opponent down, and help us win the game,” Esparza said. “I feel like I’m a closer, and I feel like every time I get the ball, I can do damage to the other team, and have the confidence I can come in and get key outs to help us win games.”
Esparza will be attending Georgetown College in Kentucky next season to continue his baseball career.
So, everything sounds perfect for the Lancers’ closer, right?
Not even close.
Esparza’s mom, Jodi, is battling cancer and has moved back into her parents home to help her deal with the condition.
He became ineligible in the spring of 2016 when he let his grades slip and it cost him a scholarship at the time, and he’s been without a car and has had to find ways to get to school, practice and games.
“It’s affected me a lot, but I believe it’s also made a stronger person and it’s made me appreciate life even more, because you just never know what can happen to you,” Esparza said.
In the PCC resurgence that started three years ago when the school hired coach Pat McGee, Nick Esparza was one of McGee’s first recruits.
“Nick was attractive to us for a number of reasons, but none more so than his competitive nature,” McGee said. “He always wants the ball in his hand. Nick has persevered as a player and a son, and that’s why we take such personal satisfaction and pride in his achievements.”
Esparza doesn’t look like your typical, 6-foot-4 210-pound closer.
He stands about 5-foot-10 and weighs about 160 pounds.
But that’s what makes his numbers and success so special for Esparza and his teammates.
“There is no one I want on the mound with the game on the line more than Nick,” McGee said. “His teammates call him ‘shady,’ and I call him ‘scrappy.’ He has been all in with this program and coaching staff from day one. He has the loyalty you want from your players, but rarely see outside of this team.”
How did it feel to let down his coaches and teammates when he failed to maintain his grades?
“Last season in the spring of 2016, I was ineligible and it crushed me, but at the time I was dealing with some family issues. My grandpa had a stroke and that affected me emotionally and my head wasn’t in school,” Esparza said.
“Losing the game for that spring hurt, because I couldn’t go out there and compete on the field each and every day, and it made me think about how I should have done everything possible to keep my grades up, and I regret that. But you live and learn, and all you can do from there is grow.”
Esparza went 9-5 with a 1.95 ERA in his final two seasons at Monrovia, and he seemed to fit the mold of undersized guys that make oversized contributions for coach Brad Blackmore.
As appreciative as Esparza is towards his coaching staff, McGee is just as thankful for guys like Nick Esparza.
Said McGee: “The wins are great, but at the end of the day, you want to do everything humanly possible to pay back the loyalty that all these young men showed me and my coaching staff by choosing to play at PCC. The best way we know how to do that is to making sure they become a better student, player & person as they continue on to the four-year level.”
Whether Esparza’s career ends Saturday, Sunday or next week, PCC is better off because of Nick Esparza and Nick Esparza is better off because of Pat McGee, his coaches and his players.
The 21-year old athlete is grateful to his coaches and teammates.
“I love you guys from the bottom of my heart, and I thank you for the support you’ve given me.”
And last but not least, Esparza had a special message to his 57-year old mother.
“Mom, please don’t stop fighting and don’t stop believing. I am here for you, and I will always be there for you. You give me the inspiration to be the best I can be. I work as hard as I can because I want to make you proud and make your life happier.”
Quotable:
PCC coach Pat McGee: “He has been here for the tough times and now he’s experiencing the fruits of hard labor. I’m thankful that he (along with Chris Brown, both sophomores) get to experience the transformation of the program, but I will always take more pride as a father and coach when it comes to watching this young man evolve in to a more prepared student-athlete, that has received a scholarship to further his education and playing career.”
Monrovia High School baseball coach Brad Blackmore: “Nick was a tremendous part of our program and overcame a lot of things to succeed. He had a fierce will to win and perform. He always laid his heart out on the field for me ”
PCC pitcher Nick Esparza: “Getting places without a car has been difficult, but I have some great friends and teammates and they would help me out with a ride to school and practice and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, my teammates had my back and are there for me, but a friend named Chase Pederson and I have been there for each other and I love him like a brother.”
Getting To Know Nick Esparza:
Favorite Player: Mike Trout
Favorite Team: Angels
Favorite Movie: The Rookie
Favorite Musical Artist: Logic
Musical Artist People Might Be Surprised To See On My Ipod: Blake Shelton
Someone Famous I’d Most Want A Conversation With: Marcus Stroman
