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California Dreamin'
On a warm <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State> spring night in 1975, a rail thin freshman with bright eyes and a brighter future watched as his <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Clovis</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">East</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType> team lost the State Championship game to a powerhouse team from a little town outside <st1:City w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:City> called <st1:place w:st="on">Citrus Heights</st1:place>. <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Mesa</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Verde</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType> had easily handled the young <st1:place w:st="on">Clovis</st1:place> team in the finals en route to their 4th state title in a decade. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"I remember being crushed. Feeling like that was the most pain I would ever feel. But I also remember being in awe of their team. It felt like we were playing against my Dad's friends. They were just so much bigger and stronger than us. Especially Mel."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
That was the story that I heard last summer when I was interviewing Dale O'Hegarty, the Virginia Colonial's All-Star Shortstop about his High School experience.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"Woodbury was a man among boys out there. He pitched. He hit. He ran. That guy was a six-tool. Heck, he was probably 7 or 8 tool. He probably has some that we haven't even figured out yet. You think he's been good as a Pro? He was like that as a kid."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
After our conversation, I was left with no doubt that O'Hegarty had a ton of respect... almost an awe of the kid who would go on to win "Mr. Baseball" in the State of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> that season, his junior year, as well as the following. That's why he was the first call I made upon hearing the news out of the BLB Winter Meetings that Woodbury had been traded to the Colonials in a blockbuster deal earlier today.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"For real? Wow. Mel is a great guy. Any team would love to have him on their team. Wow. I don't even know what to say. You don't usually get a team's franchise player. That couldn't have been cheap. Wait! They didn't trade me did they?"<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I explained to O'Hegarty, who was taking my call from his hotel room in Nicaragua where he was set to play some Winter Ball, that his team had moved their ACE, Joe Arrendondo, as well as three prospects - Orinsusuke Takahashi, Joe Lukies and Jerry Singleton in the deal.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"Yeah... that's not cheap. Man. I love Joe. Tough to see him leave. He's such a great guy. Tough. I know the young guys love him. They're going to love him in Philly. Man, that Staff is going to be nasty."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
His feelings on the young guys who were leaving were equally strong.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"Luk is a great dude. Love him around in Spring Training. He needs a chance to play. I hope he gets it there. Tak? Tak is funny. Doesn't speak much English yet. I know Maeda was helping him learn, but he didn't have it yet. That kid is crazy strong. He's going to be good. Real good." <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
We talked for a few more minutes before he had to run to catch his bus to the stadium. He left me with a few more words on Woodbury.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"I think it's huge. Do you know why they call him Doorbell? Somebody told me once that it had something to do with him delivering or something. I don't know. I never got the whole story. Guess I'll ask him, right? We're teammates now. Wow."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Time goes on. Kids grow into men. Men become Superstars. But in his voice that day, you could still picture that 15 year old in the dugout. Just a little bit in awe.<o:p></o:p>
California Dreamin'
On a warm <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State> spring night in 1975, a rail thin freshman with bright eyes and a brighter future watched as his <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Clovis</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">East</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType> team lost the State Championship game to a powerhouse team from a little town outside <st1:City w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:City> called <st1:place w:st="on">Citrus Heights</st1:place>. <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Mesa</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Verde</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType> had easily handled the young <st1:place w:st="on">Clovis</st1:place> team in the finals en route to their 4th state title in a decade. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"I remember being crushed. Feeling like that was the most pain I would ever feel. But I also remember being in awe of their team. It felt like we were playing against my Dad's friends. They were just so much bigger and stronger than us. Especially Mel."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
That was the story that I heard last summer when I was interviewing Dale O'Hegarty, the Virginia Colonial's All-Star Shortstop about his High School experience.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"Woodbury was a man among boys out there. He pitched. He hit. He ran. That guy was a six-tool. Heck, he was probably 7 or 8 tool. He probably has some that we haven't even figured out yet. You think he's been good as a Pro? He was like that as a kid."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
After our conversation, I was left with no doubt that O'Hegarty had a ton of respect... almost an awe of the kid who would go on to win "Mr. Baseball" in the State of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> that season, his junior year, as well as the following. That's why he was the first call I made upon hearing the news out of the BLB Winter Meetings that Woodbury had been traded to the Colonials in a blockbuster deal earlier today.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"For real? Wow. Mel is a great guy. Any team would love to have him on their team. Wow. I don't even know what to say. You don't usually get a team's franchise player. That couldn't have been cheap. Wait! They didn't trade me did they?"<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I explained to O'Hegarty, who was taking my call from his hotel room in Nicaragua where he was set to play some Winter Ball, that his team had moved their ACE, Joe Arrendondo, as well as three prospects - Orinsusuke Takahashi, Joe Lukies and Jerry Singleton in the deal.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"Yeah... that's not cheap. Man. I love Joe. Tough to see him leave. He's such a great guy. Tough. I know the young guys love him. They're going to love him in Philly. Man, that Staff is going to be nasty."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
His feelings on the young guys who were leaving were equally strong.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"Luk is a great dude. Love him around in Spring Training. He needs a chance to play. I hope he gets it there. Tak? Tak is funny. Doesn't speak much English yet. I know Maeda was helping him learn, but he didn't have it yet. That kid is crazy strong. He's going to be good. Real good." <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
We talked for a few more minutes before he had to run to catch his bus to the stadium. He left me with a few more words on Woodbury.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
"I think it's huge. Do you know why they call him Doorbell? Somebody told me once that it had something to do with him delivering or something. I don't know. I never got the whole story. Guess I'll ask him, right? We're teammates now. Wow."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Time goes on. Kids grow into men. Men become Superstars. But in his voice that day, you could still picture that 15 year old in the dugout. Just a little bit in awe.<o:p></o:p>
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