Boys’ Prep Player of the Week : Hitting Lessons Provide Some Powerful Results

Josh Bammer of Edison High School is very ambitious about his senior baseball season.

Consider his goal of 16 home runs. Sound a bit arrogant? After all, the county record is 12.

Well, Bammer, The Times’ player of the week, hit five home runs last week--in only five games.

“I really didn’t think about what the county record was, 16 is just my goal,” Bammer said. “I have a goal for each base--21 singles, 17 doubles, 3 triples . . . “

And 16 home runs, four more than Andy Ruscitto hit for Valencia in 1985.

Bammer, a senior third baseman, has worked to improve his performance and his confidence during the last year.

After hitting .292 with just three home runs in 1987, Bammer decided to seek personalized instruction.

“I really wanted to have a big senior season,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been looking forward to all through high school. A teammate of mine (John Martin) told me about this guy who could help.”

The guy was Jim Actin, Sunny Hills pitching coach who also gives individual lessons on hitting and pitching.

“He really changed me as a hitter, showed me how to take advantage of my power,” Bammer said. “I now see the ball and drive it. That’s Coach Actin’s big thing--see it and drive it.”

Almost every Sunday since last summer, Bammer has made the trek to Sunny Hills for lessons.

“We started by going to the opposite field, to keep the weight off my front foot,” Bammer said. “He kept telling me to picture hitting the ball three times before coming to bat.”

Gradually, Bammer began noticing improvement. He was waiting on pitches better and, when he saw the ball, he drove it.

“About Christmas time I started crushing the ball,” he said. “I could tell I was doing things right because Coach Actin would start encouraging me and get all excited.”

Edison Coach Paul Harrell said: “I think high school kids need to get that type of specialized instruction. It’s difficult to do that during the season because there is not enough time. I just hope Josh can keep this up.”

Bammer thinks he can.

“I know pitchers are going to start looking for my weak spot now,” he said “But if they get the ball inside, it’s out of here.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Rob Boldt of El Toro was named the boys’ athlete of the meet in the Irvine Invitational after winning the 100 meters (11.22), the long jump (21-8 3/4) and the triple jump (44-5).

Chris Facione of El Dorado drove in eight runs during the Loara baseball tournament.

Jim Austin of Mater Dei drove in six runs with a home run, double and single in the Monarchs’ 17-1 victory over Foothill in the final of the Newport Elks tournament.

Eric Garcia of Foothill hit two home runs in the Knights’ 6-5 victory over Don Lugo in the semifinals of the Newport Elks tournament.

Josh Bammer

Edison High School

Position: Third base.

Height, Weight, Class: 6-3, 180, Sr.

Last Week: Bammer hit five home runs and drove in 14 runs for the Chargers during the El Segundo tournament.

Season: Bammer is hitting .500, with 5 home runs and 14 runs batted in.