C SCAPE The Troy Coach Percival

Most remember him as — and rightly so, as his the Angels’ , a resume touches every level with a 100-mph , of the game. He coached four All-Star appearances, his son’s youth travel ball and 358 career saves. But team, which ranked ninth in Troy Percival is also a father, the nation. He helped Cal son, husband and — as it Poly High School’s players turns out — one heck of improve their pitching skills a coach, who continues to and led Moreno Valley High play and teach the game he School’s baseball team to the ardently loves. playoffs, a feat they hadn’t “Baseball chose me,” says accomplished in 30 years. Percival, now head baseball He also served as a pitching coach for the UC Riverside coach for the Angels, not Highlanders, his college BY KOREN WETMORE to mention the 20 years he team before being drafted spent playing professional in 1990 by the Angels. “It’s ball. not that I was superior “I wrestled, played football Still, he knows many more to everyone else growing lessons lie ahead. up, but I was always one and basketball, but nothing “The college game on the of the better players. I West Coast has become very wrestled, played football stimulated my mind and my bunt happy and always tries and basketball, but nothing body like baseball.” to do some kind of trick stimulated my mind and my play. I want us to show that body like baseball.” you can play traditional Percival began playing baseball in the Big West and ball when he was 6 on a Riverside Little Since then, he’s been coached by the win,” he says. “That’s not to say we’re League team coached by his dad, Richard. best, including , Tony going to win the championship right out His father instilled a desire to excel and LaRussa, Jim Leyland, and UCR’s Doug of the chute, but I’m expecting big things gave sage advice — “Hold nothing back Smith, who retired last year yet continues from us.” and go full throttle till the game’s over” — to offer guidance and support. Because no matter at which level that Percival carried into his professional Percival has taken up Smith’s mantle he may play or coach, the game is still career. with a mix of humility and confdence baseball – the sport that chose him.

44 | UCR Fall 2015 Illustration by Mike Tofanelli