College coaches and recruiters, San Benito manager Michael Luna
said, look not only at what a player is like today, but also at
what that player will look like come tomorrow.
In other words, it’s all about growth and potential.
For incoming senior Darin Gillies, the hard-throwing
right-hander for the San Benito Haybalers, the future has been
relatively bright ever since he tossed a five-inning no-hitter
against Alisal during his freshmen campaign.
But even with those lofty, first-year standards already set in
place, the senior-to-be has managed to up his game each season.
HOLLISTER
College coaches and recruiters, San Benito manager Michael Luna said, look not only at what a player is like today, but also at what that player will look like come tomorrow.
In other words, it’s all about growth and potential.
For incoming senior Darin Gillies, the hard-throwing right-hander for the San Benito Haybalers, the future has been relatively bright ever since he tossed a five-inning no-hitter against Alisal during his freshmen campaign.
But even with those lofty, first-year standards already set in place, the senior-to-be has managed to up his game each season.
“If there was a word I would use, it’s domination,” Luna said last month of Gillies’ performance through Tri-County Athletic League play. “He just dominated every single time he pitched.”
With an increase to his offseason workload, a newfound role as one of San Benito’s team leaders, a fastball consistently straddling the high 80s-low 90s threshold, and a desire to compete right away at the college level, Gillies officially came into his own this past season for the Balers, and is this year’s Free Lance/Pinnacle’s Most Outstanding Boys Spring Athlete as a result.
Although it’d be unfair to describe him as lanky, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound righty still has plenty of developing to do, which is part of the reason why, at one point earlier this season, interested college coaches wanted to know about each and every one of his starts.
After all, it’s all about growth and potential.
“He’s pitching beyond his years,” Luna said.
“He’s consistently in the high 80s and will touch 90 two or three times a game, and that’s the number that college scouts are looking at. With Darin, and talking with a lot of college scouts and pro scouts, they see huge upside.”
Upside means little if you can’t back it up with strong numbers, though. But Gillies showcased impressive statistics all season for San Benito, which went 21-7 this year.
Named Pitcher of the Year in the TCAL after going 6-0 with a 1.30 earned run average, Gillies finished his junior season with a 9-2 overall record and a 1.40 ERA. In 65 innings pitched, he allowed 13 earned runs, 31 walks, and fanned 97 batters as San Benito’s No. 1 option.
“I think I had a good year. Every outing, I just tried to keep my team in the game and give my team the best chance to win,” said Gillies, who thanked his family, his teammates and the San Benito coaching staff, including Billy Aviles, Mike Granger and Michael Luna.
“Luna is a great baseball coach and a great baseball mind,” Gillies said, “and I wouldn’t be anywhere without him.”
At the plate, which is not the hurler’s bread and butter, Gillies still managed to hit .268 for the Balers, knocking in 22 runs and connecting on a league-leading four homers.
“He was able to rise to the occasion and get the hit when there were runners on base,” Luna said.
It was on the bump where Gillies truly shined, however. In the season opener against Valley Christian, which was ranked No. 6 in California at the time by CalHiSports.com, Gillies had a no-hitter through five innings and was pulled in the sixth after reaching his pitch count of 65.
During league play, Gillies tossed a pair of one-hitters against Palma on March 27 and May 7, as well as a three-hitter against Salinas on April 30 — all victories for the Balers — before leading San Benito on to the field against Valley Christian once again in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
Although he walked four straight batters at one point in the second inning of that game, the righty improved and settled as the game wore on.
“One of his best assets is his composure and maturity on the mound,” Luna said, noting the regular-season finale against Gilroy as the only exception. “Talking with opposing coaches, they like how he handles himself on the mound and his makeup.”
In April, Gillies made a verbal commitment to play baseball at Arizona State University after he graduates — a team that has been ranked in the top three nationally all season. He noted the team’s winning tradition, its facilities and his liking for head coach Tim Esmay for the decision, which although may have put an end to much of the college recruiting, only further ignited Gillies’ offseason drive.
“My whole goal is to go there and contribute to their program as a freshman,” Gillies said. “That keeps me motivated a lot, to keep working hard and achieving my goals.”
Gillies increased his workout regimen this past offseason, hitting the weight room not to bulk up, but to strengthen his back, legs and core.
“Success is all about hard work,” he said.
During the season, Gillies would avoid the weight room and instead set up cones in the outfield after practice to run wind sprints.
“I upped it a lot last offseason after my sophomore year,” he said. “I was a little more disciplined, realizing I had a chance to play college ball and knowing that was what I wanted to do.”
Said Luna of Gillies’ post-practice workouts, “That takes a lot of discipline, but he had the discipline to do that. Obviously, it paid off with all the hard work he put in to make himself that much better.”
And right now, going 6-0 in the TCAL and earning Pitcher of the Year honors is only the tip of the iceberg for Gillies.
The 17-year-old just wrapped up a three-game series in the North vs. South all-star showcase in Santa Clara last weekend, in which he was one of just eight pitchers selected to represent Northern California. He started on the mound Saturday and tossed three innings, striking out one and allowing one unearned run in the process.
Last Wednesday, meanwhile, Gillies was invited to the 2010 Area Code Baseball Games, and will be one of 90 players to tryout for 60 spots in California, which is an honor in itself. The Area Code Games are considered to be one of the most exclusive showcases in the nation, as prospective players must be invited by professional scouts simply in order to compete — Gillies was invited by a scout from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Still, with one more prep season to go, the incoming senior at San Benito High is looking to perform better individually, and help lead his team to a sixth straight TCAL title.
Matching his junior-season output as a senior wouldn’t be a disappointment, he said, but it’s in his makeup to grow, perform and do better.
“When I was 13 I was in Arizona for a baseball tournament, and we got the chance to tour the facilities (at Arizona State),” Gillies said. “I remember me and my dad walked out onto their field, and I told my dad that was where I wanted to play college ball.
“And that’s been my mindset ever since.”
