MIDWEEK REPORT / HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATE : Hobby Left Teammates Cowed

Mike Devan is batting only .118, but he sure can rope one. Sometimes two or three.

Devan, a senior reserve infielder for Royal High, has been competing in rodeos since he was knee-high to a steer. On weekends, Devan saddles up and steps into a different set of stirrups for competition in school-sponsored events throughout the state.

Calf-roping is Devan’s specialty--chasing after young cattle on horseback and tying three of their legs together in about the time it takes to read this sentence.

“My fastest time is nine seconds,” Devan said. “Pros do it in about eight.”

Tempt Devan a-might and he’ll demonstrate his skills on two-legged critters.

During a recent delay at practice, Devan reached for his lariat and began horsing around. Before you could say Tex Ritter, he’d lassoed a pair of teammates.

“I came out to check on the guys and Devan was chasing around some of the JV kids,” Royal Coach Dan Maye said. “He roped one guy and was dragging him through the mud.”

Devan, a lifelong Simi Valley resident, is a suburban cowboy who grew up around horses on a family ranch in Somis.

“I started when I was about 5 or 6,” Devan said. “It was like tee ball for me.”

Teammates have dubbed him “Big Country.”

Rodeo is a big deal for Devan, who considers baseball a hobby and plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which has a rodeo team.

Injuries? Brushback pitches pale in comparison to the dangers of playing around the horns.

“I got it in the stomach once,” Devan said. “It didn’t feel good.”

Sounds frightening but it’s not, Devan said. Nor is mastering the rope as difficult as it appears.

“It’s mostly learning how to swing the rope right,” Devan said. “If you can swing the rope right, you can pretty much rope anything.”