El Camino Real’s Kim Redeems Himself in a Big Way, 4-1

As usual, it was a nickname born of necessity, if not ignorance. When El Camino Real High catcher Bobby Kim moved to the United States from South Korea at age 12, friends had trouble pronouncing his first name, Bomsu.

Everyone tried.

Everyone bombed.

“Nobody could say it,” Kim said. “It came out Bumso, Boomsa. Finally I told them to call me Boo Soo, because it was easier.”

In Tuesday’s Northwest Valley Conference game with San Fernando, Boo Soo’s boo-boos were responsible for San Fernando sending the game into extra innings. Yet in the bottom of the eighth, Kim slammed a two-out, three-run home run to give host El Camino Real a 4-1 victory.

“When I messed up, it was on my mind the whole game,” said Kim, who sometime ago decided Bobby was even easier to remember than Boo Soo. “I’m thinking, ‘If I don’t screw up, we win.’ ”

Kim’s first miscue took place in the first inning, when he was picked off first by San Fernando right-hander John Najar with the bases loaded, helping to kill a rally.

Kim’s throwing error in the third allowed San Fernando (8-2-2, 5-2-2 in conference play) to tie the score, 1-1. With runners on first and second, Kim attempted to pick Roy Aguilera off second. Kim’s throw was low and bounced into center, the runners advancing. Center fielder Jeff Marks’ return toss to the infield skidded into the San Fernando dugout and Aguilera scored.

For the next five innings, Najar (3-1) and El Camino Real right-hander Pat Treend battled. From the fourth through the seventh, Najar--who finished with a six-hitter--faced one batter over the minimum. Treend (5-0) threw a five-hitter--three of the hits were by Richard Sanchez--struck out five and walked two. Treend has allowed one earned run in 35 2/3 innings.

In the eighth, pinch-hitter Josh Massey of El Camino Real (7-0-1, 7-0-1) led off with a walk and was replaced by Gregg Sheren. Herman Merchan moved Sheren to second with a sacrifice bunt and with two out, Najar walked Ryan McGuire intentionally, bringing up Kim.

Najar jumped ahead in the count, 1 and 2. The next pitch, San Fernando Coach Steve Marden said, was supposed to be a fastball up and in to set up a curve low and away. Najar never threw the deuce.

“My waste pitch is out there,” said Marden, pointing across the street located beyond the fence in left, where Kim slammed Najar’s fastball.