Only Dad Can Keep This Kid in the Ballpark

So far, only one pitcher in Orange County has kept Donald Christian (D.C.) Olsen from launching home runs this season at the Fullerton High School baseball diamond.

His father, Don.

Every Sunday afternoon, Don throws two hours of batting practice to his son, who is closing in on the county single-season home run record.

“I’ve been doing that (taking batting practice) since Little League,” said Olsen, The Times’ athlete of the week. “Dad can pitch pretty good batting practice. I don’t swing for the fence against him. He gets mad if I do.”

Other pitchers haven’t been as fortunate. Olsen, a 6-foot, 220-pound junior, has tied the county single-season home run record of 12 set in 1986 by Valencia’s Andy Ruscitto.

“When I’m not playing, I really think about (the record),” Olsen said. “I try (not to), but it’s not too easy. Swinging for the fence has been tough. It has just killed me.”

Olsen, a catcher, failed to hit a homer in his last three games, but his “weak” week still was full of impressive statistics.

Against Sonora Friday, he led a 16-hit attack with two doubles and a single, raising his county-leading batting average to .623. He drove in his 37th run of the season, marking the 22nd time in 23 games he has driven in at least one run.

“He’s only 17 years old and I hope all of this isn’t going to his head,” Fullerton Coach Dolf Hes said. “I don’t want him thinking about hitting home runs all the time. They will come naturally.”

Olsen’s season statistics include 41 runs scored and 13 doubles--four of which came in two games against Sonora last week. He will likely break county marks for batting average (.585, Steve Evans, Anaheim, 1980) and hits (51, Robbie Katzaroff, Los Alamitos, 1985) with games remaining at home against Troy today and at Troy Thursday.

Olsen says he has a simple philosophy on hitting: “I see the ball; I hit the ball.”

Well, maybe not that simple . . .

“When the count’s 0-0, I try not to swing at the junk,” Olsen said. “I stay away from the curve. I usually don’t swing unless I’m behind on the count.”

Hes said Olsen has “a good knowledge of the game.”

“His dad helps him out with the batting practice,” Hes said. “He gets a lot of encouragement from that. That discipline has rubbed off on him.”

Don Olsen, vice president of the YMCAs of Orange County, played football and baseball in high school and later at Southern Utah State, a Division I-AA school in Cedar City.

D.C. Olsen is a two-year starter in both football and baseball. He was a second-team all-county selection at linebacker last season.

“I wasn’t too sure about baseball until this year,” he said. “I had a pretty good football season this year and only a so-so baseball season last year (.494 with five homers). Now it’s definitely baseball.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Dain Blanton had a career-high 46 kills as second-ranked Laguna Beach defeated third-ranked Huntington Beach, 11-15, 15-10, 15-8, 13-15, 15-11, in a nonleague match at Huntington Beach April 30.

Chris Buckels, a senior left-hander, threw a five-inning no-hitter Thursday, striking out 11 and facing the minimum 15 batters to lead Liberty Christian to an 18-0 victory over St. Michaels.

Buckels (5-5) also was four for four at the plate with five runs batted in. The victory assured the Minutemen of at least a tie for the Academy League title.

Kevin Lovingier of Laguna Hills pitched his second no-hitter of the season Tuesday in a 4-0 victory over Trabuco Hills. Lovingier (12-1), a senior left-hander, struck out 14 and walked three as the Hawks clinched at least a tie for the Pacific Coast League championship. He also pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief Friday against Trabuco Hills to earn the victory.

Jason Williams hit a grand slam in his fourth varsity at-bat and a two-run homer in his next at-bat Wednesday to lead Valencia to a 7-6 victory over Savanna. The sophomore was one for three Friday against Magnolia.

D.C. Olsen

Fullerton High School

* Position: Catcher

* Height, Weight, Class: 6-0, 220, Junior.

* Last Week: Olsen raised his county-leading batting average to .623 in two victories over Sonora. He drove in his 37th run of the season, marking the 22nd time in 23 games he has driven in at least one run. He failed to hit a homer for the third consecutive game and remains tied with Andy Ruscitto for the county single-season mark at 12.

* Season: Olsen has scored 41 runs and has 48 hits, including 13 doubles--four in the Sonora series. With two games remaining, he could break county marks for batting average (.585, Steve Evans, Anaheim, 1980) and hits (51, Robbie Katzaroff, Los Alamitos, 1985).