San Diego Player of the Week : Confidence Pays Off in Big Way

Jerry Aldridge of El Capitan High School had a feeling something special was going to happen when his team played Fallbrook last Saturday.

“It was weird. The last few games I’d hit pretty well--I had a 2 for 3, a 2 for 4--but I hadn’t felt really comfortable at the plate,” said Aldridge. “(Before Saturday’s game) I felt so good about what I was going to do. . . . I felt confident.”

His confidence paid off in a 5-for-5 day, with five runs batted in, during the Lions tournament game that matched two 9-2 teams. And for good measure, Aldridge’s last hit drove in the game-winning run in El Capitan’s 18-17 victory.

Aldridge, The Times’ High School Player of the Week, already had a single, double and triple when he came up in the seventh, El Capitan trailing, 17-11.

Aldridge came up twice in the seventh. He singled earlier in the inning, then hit again with two out, runners at first and second and the score tied, 17-17.

Aldridge’s hit bounced off the embankment in center field, well behind the drawn-in outfielders, scoring Jason Phipps. The victory helped El Capitan keep its No. 1 ranking in the county.

“Even when the score was 15-5, we knew we had a chance to come back,” Aldridge said. “We had to show why we’re ranked No. 1.”

Aldridge is batting .460 with 2 home runs and 20 RBIs. But according to El Capitan Coach Steve Vickery, hitting is not Aldridge’s greatest asset.

“I think he’s improved more in the field than he has with the bat,” Vickery said. “He’s done an outstanding job at shortstop.”

Last season, Aldridge hit .290 as the team’s second baseman. Vickery attributed the senior’s success to weight training, long hours of batting practice and non-stop play.

After the end of last year’s high school season, Aldridge played Palomino League ball. During the fall, he participated in an instructional league run by scouts from the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers. In December, Aldridge was the leading hitter on a San Diego County All-Star team that played seven games in Australia.

“What he’s done in the last year is dedicate himself to baseball,” Vickery said. “He’s a self-made ballplayer. He’s a guy who’s always had to work hard to be at the top of his game. He’s not a real gifted athlete, but he makes up for it with hard work.”

Vickery said Aldridge is “definitely a Division I player,” but Aldridge wants to wait until the major league draft in June before committing himself.

“I do have a goal this season--to hit over .400,” Aldridge said. “I also hope to have 10 to 15 stolen bases, but I haven’t really had a chance to because of our scores. You can’t run against someone when you’re that far (ahead).”

Jerry Aldridge

El Capitan High

Position: Shortstop.

Height, Weight, Class: 5-9, 150, Sr.

Last Week: Went 5 for 5 with two doubles, a triple and five RBIs--including the game-winning RBI--in El Capitan’s 18-17 victory over Fallbrook Saturday in the Lions tournament. On Tuesday, went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored in El Capitan’s 9-8 victory over Grossmont.