20 july 19, 2015 high school sports AP IMAGES who fired off just one 91-mph sinkerball – smiling? For that matter, why were his teammates in the dugout laughing? The answer reveals a bit about what it’s like to be a relief pitcher in the in- FROM SERVITE TO THE tense, topsy-turvy pressure cooker that is Major League Baseball. It touches on what supreme confidence it takes to focus and compete in front of thousands of fans in a packed stadium and millions SERIES WITH SCRABBLE more in front of digital screens through- PRO RELIEVER MARC arc Rzepczynski didn’t even Terry Francona, patting him on the back out the world. And it illustrates how one RZEPCZYNSKI CONTINUES TO last one inning. The batter he as he left the field. outing – in some cases, an entire season M faced made contact on Marc’s So why was Rzepczynski (pro- – can hinge on one pitch. MAKE HIS MARK IN THE MAJORS one and only pitch, and he was immedi- nounced zep-chin-skee), a 6-foot, 2-inch, Here’s what happened: With his one ately pulled from the game. 220-pound left-handed relief pitcher toss, Rzepczynski, who competed on by larry urish “Tough day, Marc,” said his manager, for the Cleveland Indians – and the guy continued on page 22 22 july 19, 2015 high school sports STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILE AP IMAGES Servite High School’s varsity baseball that went to NCAA Division 1 schools. team from 2001 to 2003, got Houston [Being at Servite] truly readied me for a Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus to ground higher level of baseball.” out into a double play, ending the inning A.J. LaMonda, a high school team- CONOR O’BRIEN and helping the Indians to hold on to mate, concurs. “Some of the teams we their 1-0 lead. Francona and his players faced were great,” he says. “The league was FOOTBALL were joking; Rzepczynski (whose nick- just loaded with talent. Bishop Amat was JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL name, for obvious reasons, is “Scrabble,”) in our league then, and they were the na- did an outstanding job. tional champs in 2002. You just get better by jenelyn russo Mater Dei High School when Harti- However, that same pitch just a few by competing against the top talent.” gan was the Monarchs’ linebackers millimeters higher could’ve resulted in “The Serra League was one of the tough- ootball is synonymous with coach, and his uncle played for Santa a two-run homer. One pitch. One swing. est in the nation,” says Todd Cook, Servite’s the O’Brien family, and Conor Margarita Catholic High School when Game over. head baseball coach from 1999 to 2007. “It F O’Brien has been around the Hartigan coached there. Life was a lot less pressure-filled still is. You look at the talent that comes out gridiron all of his life. Hartigan now coaches O’Brien, when little Marc Rzepczynski first took of the Trinity League. Kids go on to play at “As soon as I could walk, my dad got along with his younger brother Riley, to the field as an OC youth in 1989. “I such high levels in every sport.” a football in my hands, and [he would and the two-way starter for JSerra is was 4 years old in the East Yorba Little Rzepczynski didn’t emerge as a bona play] with me and my brother out in impressive both on and off the field. League,” he says. Baseball came naturally fide star until his senior season, when he the yard,” says O’Brien. “Ever since then, “Conor is a tough kid with a relent- to him, and he loved it. learned to control his pitches. it’s been a passion and love of mine.” less passion to be the best at whatever Years later, as his skills grew along “He had problems with his command,” The JSerra Catholic High School he does,” says Hartigan. “He’s respect- with his affinity for the game, he pitched Cook says. “He had great movement on senior plays under the Lions varsity ful, compassionate and extremely on Servite High School’s varsity team. his pitches but walked a lot of batters.” football head coach, Jim Hartigan, and hardworking. And his parents have “There were a lot of really great players One outing had a lasting impression the ties between Hartigan, the Trin- done a magnificent job instilling in in the Serra League [which became the on the young pitcher. ity League and the O’Brien family run him and his brother the teachings of Trinity League in 2007],” Rzepczynski “During a summer league game after deep. O’Brien’s father played football at our Lord Jesus Christ.” says. “We had six guys on our team alone continued on page 23 SARAH REID july 19, 2015 23 high school sports his junior year, he couldn’t get out of As both a safety and receiver the inning,” Cook says. “I thought about for the Lions, lining up on both pulling him, but my assistant coaches sides of the ball suits the 18-year- said, ‘Leave him in. He has to learn.’ We old just fine. weren’t going to bail him out.” “I love getting the ball in my Although he struggled through the hands. I love tackling and I love inning, “It was amazing how he devel- hitting,” says O’Brien. oped after that,” Cook says. While JSerra’s football team Now able to control his pitches, may often be perceived as the Rzepczynski started his senior sea- league’s underdog, O’Brien enjoys son tossing a one-hitter. “And that the role and views it as a challenge was against Lakewood High,” Cook to prove their opponents wrong says. “They were a real powerhouse each week. He admits the commit- at the time.” ment to the sport is demanding, After graduating from Servite but the life lessons learned have in 2003, Rzepczynski attended UC been worth the hard days. Riverside, where he competed for “Football has taught me perse- the Highlanders from 2004 to 2007. verance. It has been a tough three There, he became a relief pitcher after years,” says O’Brien. “It teaches performing for years as a starter. Dur- me that every day it’s going to be ing his senior season, the squad won hard, but it’s going to make me a the Big West Conference champion- better person.” ship and appeared in that year’s NCAA To assist in keeping prepared Tournament. for the rigors of the football season, Rzepczynski was drafted in the O’Brien has turned to the track, be- fifth round by the Toronto Blue Jays. coming JSerra’s first official varsity He made his Major League debut in 110-meter high hurdler, an experi- 2009, against the defending Ameri- —— ence that O’Brien says has been can League champion Tampa Bay both surprising and beneficial. Rays, when he gave up two hits, His commitment to his cam- walked four and struck out seven in CARING FOR OUR pus extends beyond athletics, as six innings of work. O’Brien serves on Link Crew, a He became a world champion after SICK LOVED ONES mentorship program that pairs being traded to the St. Louis Cardi- AND WHY PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE upperclassmen with incoming nals in the summer of 2011. That fall, IS NOT THE ANSWER freshmen. Additionally, O’Brien the Cards won it all, beating the Texas was selected to be a member of Rangers in seven games. Rzepczynski —— Caritas Christi, a faith-based lead- appeared in four games, striking out ership group that represents the four of the 10 batters he faced. He was school within their community. traded to the Cleveland Indians, his cur- The San Clemente resident rent team, in July 2013. has his eyes on playing football This year he’ll make $2.4 million. in college, possibly at the United According to Cook, he’s earned every Join fellow community members, faith leaders and medical providers as we States Naval Academy, a goal that penny. discuss the pitfalls of assisted suicide and a more compassionate and effective he’s striving for with the support “Marc’s driving force was his work approach to end of life care. We will also discuss how as Catholics we are called WHEN: to approach the end of life with humility, courage and love. Speakers will include Friday, August 7, 2015 of his parents. ethic,” he says. “That, more than healthcare experts and faith and social justice leaders. “They are the backbone to our anything, is what got him to the next 6 pm - Pot Luck Dinner 7 pm – Presentation AGENDA family. They push us in every way— level.” 8 pm – Closing reception academically, athletically,” says Nevertheless, some things can’t be Welcome and pastoral care for the sick Rev. Edward Becker, Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra O’Brien of his mom and dad. “And taught. WHERE: Our Lady of Guadalupe The Promise of Palliative care [my dad], he’s our biggest critic and “God touches a few people with 900 W. La Habra Blvd. our biggest fan. Football is our life, certain gifts,” says LaMonda, “and La Habra, CA 90631 Assisted suicide and vulnerable populations Vincent Nguyen, MD, Palliative care specialist and he gets us through all the hard- throwing 90 miles an hour from the For more information visit ships. He’s really my motivation.” C left side is his.” www.rcbo.org Panel – Question and Answer Period Rev.