SIMI VALLEY : Radinsky Hits Homers During Visit with Kids

With a big grin on his face, Chicago White Sox pitcher Scott Radinsky stepped up to the mound and began firing balls over home plate.

Comiskey Park? Not quite. Try Simi Valley’s Houghton Schreiber Park.

A Simi Valley native, Radinsky visited Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District’s youth baseball camp Thursday to toss a few pitches, sign autographs and mostly smile a lot as 40 thrilled baseball fiends--ages 7 to 12--watched his every move.

“Throw from second base,” his young friends urged. “Faster. Faster. Wow!”

By the end of Radinsky’s pitching demonstration, about 20 kids were racing back and forth in the park’s small outfield, chasing line drives, fly balls and even an occasional home run.

“That was fun,” Radinsky said as he walked off the field with a horde of followers. “I’d much rather do this than stand up and make some sort of presentation.”

The 26-year-old relief pitcher was sidelined by Hodgkin’s disease this spring and has been going through chemotherapy sessions at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

He said he has two treatments to go before he returns to Chicago and professional baseball.

“I’m tired of getting the treatments,” Radinsky said. “But I’ve been feeling good the whole time.”

As a favor to the baseball program he grew up with, Radinsky dropped by the camp to tell players about his own career and answer a few questions.

“They asked me if I played with Babe Ruth,” he said, shaking his head and adjusting his cap.

Adam Kime, 7, stood nearby with his friend Robby Ehlers, also 7, blowing on a freshly autographed baseball card with Radinsky’s picture on the front.

“I’m going to get a lot of money for it,” Adam said.

Devra Lane, 11, had a squiggled “Scott” autograph written in magic marker on her T-shirt.

Radinsky, she announced, was “nice.” He had autographed her glove, hat and a baseball card as well.

This is Devra’s second year at the three-week camp, which is sponsored by the park district and costs $55 per student.

Her friend Chris Johnson, 10, said she had already hit a home run in this summer’s session. Looking at Radinsky, she wondered whether she could hit a pitch from him.

“Yes,” she concluded. “If he pitched it slow enough I could.”