2008 Woodie Awards
Player of the Week
Luis Cardenas
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Sports
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Age: 20
Major: Business Administration
Position: Left Field
Dream School: Cal Poly
Favorite Pro Athlete: Chipper Jones, "I used to wear my socks up as a kid and played third base just like him."
Most memorable baseball moment: "At Saint Francis, only getting to enjoy 30 minutes of my senior prom because we had a CCS playoff game against Serra High School. We lost, and afterward we drove fast to the hotel that the prom was being held at. We made it just in time to take pictures and dance a few songs."
Brian Roby decided to attend De Anza College to play baseball here after he met with Baseball Coach Scott Hertler, who he says, "seemed like a guy with good character and a guy I would like to play for. I also hoped to transfer to Santa Clara University for baseball because De Anza and (Santa Clara University) have a transfer agreement," says Roby.
Coach Scott Hertler says, "He's been our best offensive player from the minute we've started practice in September. He solidified himself as the number three hitter for us."
So far this season, Roby has a .333 batting average, with 3 doubles and 2 runs batted in.
But Hertler feels that he is a more consistent hitter than his statistics reveal. "He's one of those guys that has been victimized by the at 'em ball. He's hit the ball extremely hard all season long, but unfortunately just can't find the gap." An "at 'em ball" is a baseball hit right at a defender.
When asked how it feels to be the third hitter in the lineup, Roby responded saying, "It feels nice because you know the other team will respect you as a hitter, but I have to expect more off-speed pitches and I'm not going to see the pitches I want to see."
Roby also feels more pressure in this position in the lineup, "because the three hitter is supposed to be reliable and I feel I have to step up and produce the majority of the time. But all in all, I like hitting three. It is a challenge because you have to take what you're given and I hate to lose."
Roby attributes his success to everyone who has believed in him from the first day he threw a ball and never doubted him. "The people who doubted me pushed me harder to prove that they're wrong. My ambition is just succeeding, being me and understanding my limits."
Hertler also says of Roby, "He's had great leadership for us on this club, and has worked extremely hard and he's done great in school. He's been a pleasure all season long."
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