Player of the Week : Damian’s Successful Wherever He Plays

Canyon High School’s Leonard Damian doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about--why there was so much ado made over his move from Saddleback to Canyon.

He didn’t care where he played this season, as long as he could do what he does as well as any prep in Orange County--pitch.

“I didn’t think it was a big deal,” Damian said. “People transfer all the time. But then reporters starting calling and asking a lot of questions about if I was recruited and things like that. I’ve been getting those questions all year.”

If Damian was just another player, there would be little to discuss, but when it comes to baseball, Damian is much anything but typical.

Last Monday, in the semifinals of the Anaheim Elks Easter Tournament, Damian pitched the first no-hitter of his high school career. He followed Tuesday with two home runs against Woodbridge in the consolation final. For his efforts, he was The Times’ Player of the Week.

Damian’s record is 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 41 strikeouts. Not only is he the ace of the Comanche staff, but he leads the team in home runs with 5 and RBIs with 15. He’s batting .341. But although he is undoubtedly one of the county’s top prospects, the biggest news surrounding Leonard Damian is where he’s pitching and why.

Damian left Saddleback when his father, Leonardo, moved the family from Santa Ana to Anaheim Hills.

“At first I was thinking of just driving to school every day and finishing out my career at Saddleback,” Damian said. “But then I thought of all the traffic and hassles. I figured I’d just go to Canyon.”

Under Rule 216 of the Southern Section Constitution, a player is eligible to attend either high school if his family moves from one attendance area to another.

For three seasons Damian was Saddleback baseball. Last season, he was named the team’s and the Sea View League’s Most Valuable Player.

How valuable was he? Damian was the winning pitcher in 9 of the Roadrunner’s 13 victories last season.

Damian’s pitching led Saddleback to a wild-card berth in the 2-A Southern Section playoffs. But Saddleback Coach Bob Mangram decided to start sophomore Jeff Rowe against Woodbridge in the wild-card game instead of Damian.

Saddleback lost the game, 1-0, as Rowe allowed only four hits. Mangram believes that his decision to save Damian for the following playoff game caused Damian’s parents to move out of the Saddleback district.

“I found out from people at the game that his mother and father were upset with me because I didn’t pitch Leonard,” Mangram said. “I know Leonard would rather be playing here this season. I think it’s his parents that made him go to Canyon. I’d do the same thing (start Rowe) if I had it to do all over.”

However, Leonardo Damian says he has no ill will about his son not pitching in the playoff game. He said that the family’s move was made for much more practical purposes.

“The only reason for the move was so I could be closer to my job,” said Leonardo, a foreman at Hamilton Materials at Anaheim.

“I thought the guy he pitched did pretty well,” Leonardo said. “He probably made the right move. That had nothing to do with our move. I have no hard feelings. I know it must be hard for him to lose a player like Leonard, but that’s the breaks.”

Saddleback, a 13-9 finisher last season, is 3-9 this season.