Orange County Player of the Week : Kanegae’s Health Is Main Goal

Senior Jeff Kanegae of Garden Grove High School has only one goal for the rest of the season--to be healthy enough to play on a regular basis.

After all, he already has missed most of the preseason and part of league play.

Kanegae, the Argonauts’ leadoff hitter, didn’t practice with the team until three days before the first game because he was playing basketball for Garden Grove.

Kanegae’s frustrations mounted after basketball season when three games were canceled because of rain. Finally, the weather cleared about the time league started.

Then he suffered a sprained ankle in Garden Grove’s second league game--against La Quinta--on March 19th. Kanegae got caught in a rundown between first and second and jammed his right ankle trying to return to first.

He played the rest of the game, and further strained the ankle trying to run out a ground ball.

Kanegae was sidelined for one league game and the Santa Ana Elks tournament during spring break, missing six games.

When he returned last week, he wasn’t taking chances.

The ankle is taped, and Kanegae is wearing a plastic air splint during practice to help prevent a season-ending injury.

“It ruined my season almost,” Kanegae said. “Now, I just want to finish the season healthy. Missing those games made me realize how much I’d miss playing. I’m at 90 or 95% now and I feel good.”

Kanegae’s performance last week, for which he was named The Times Player of the Week, proved the three-year varsity performer was back.

Against Bolsa Grande on Friday, the left-handed Kanegae pitched a two-hit complete game, walked two and had 11 strikeouts in the Argonauts’ 11-0 win.

He was 2 for 2 with a fifth-inning grand slam for first-place Garden Grove.

On Wednesday, he was 2 for 4, scored a run and had a RBI in the Argonauts’ 5-2 win over Los Amigos.

“He is back healthy and we’re glad to have him,” Coach Jim Rawls said.

Jeff Kanegae

Garden Grove High School

Position: Pitcher/first base

Height, Class: 6-1, Sr.

Last Week: Pitched a two-hitter, had 11 strikeouts and hit a grand slam in the Argonauts’ 11-0 win over Bolsa Grande.

Season: Is 2-1 as a pitcher and is hitting .667 (6-9) in league and .545 (6-11) overall with one home run.