‘Quiet Guy’ Is Making Big Noise

Steve Schenewerk has been known to strike out a batter, then pump his fist in a taunting fashion. He calls it celebrating. Opponents describe it differently.

The gesture doesn’t occur quite as frequently as it once did, but Schenewerk had it ready Friday in Fountain Valley’s Sunset League victory over Marina. The response was predictable. A few well-deserved glares from the other side.

“I hear I’m the most hated guy in the league,” said Schenewerk, a senior. “Guys think I’m some kind of egotist. Really, I’m just a quiet person.”

The quiet man, batting for only the fourth time this season, homered Saturday in the Barons’ 13-0 victory over Laguna Beach. He then high-tailed it around the bases as fast as those size 13 shoes could take him.

“A lot of jaws dropped in the dugout,” he said. “I think I only get to hit to make the guys laugh. They love it.”

So love him--as the Barons do--or hate him--as some around the league do--but there’s no denying who is pushing Fountain Valley toward a sixth league title in eight seasons.

This was a season for payback from the league’s other teams. They had not only seen the Barons dominate the league but also the Southern Section, winning back-to-back Division I championships.

Ah, but gone was Luke Hudson, the slick and steady right-hander. Off to USC was Dan Keller, whose wicked slider frustrated hitters. Out of here was Chris Ponchak, the Barons’ stomping, glaring reliever. If pitching is the key to baseball, the Barons would have to bang on the door.

They had as their ace a 5-foot-11, 155-pound kid with big feet and, as opponents saw it, a mouth large enough to accommodate them. In his first, and only, league start last season, Schenewerk was bombed by Huntington Beach. Opponents couldn’t wait.

Yet, this same guy is 6-0 in league games, including two victories over Marina, the league’s preseason favorite. In one game against Los Alamitos, he struck out 11 of 15 batters. Fountain Valley is 12-3, ranked second in Orange County, and again leads the Sunset League.

Overall, Schenewerk is 7-1 and has even toned down the fist-pumping act. A bit.

“We’ve worked on that,” Coach Ron La Ruffa said. “He’s a very emotional and gets real excited when he strikes people out. He was looking forward to stepping in and being the guy this season.”

There was some reason for optimism.

Schenewerk was 9-0 with a 2.08 ERA for the junior varsity in 1994. Even last season, there were flashes. His two victories were in relief, against Marina, in a key league game, and La Puente Bishop Amat, in the Division I title game.

“I knew if I kept my mouth shut and worked hard, I’d get my chance,” Schenewerk said.

It came and he almost botched it. Schenewerk struggled early, but it was a correctable problem.

“I was overthrowing, trying to impress the [professional] scouts,” he said. “I finally realized that what was impressive was winning.”

He beat Marina, in relief, then blew away Los Alamitos in a five-inning start.

“Ever since then, he’s been ungodly,” La Ruffa said.

So much so that the supernatural occurred. Schenewerk homered Saturday. His previous hitting highlight had been a ground out.

“My teammates were giving me high-fives, but no one could say anything,” he said.

That’s a problem Schenewerk, the self-described quiet guy, doesn’t seem to have.

“I know I’m an instigator,” Schenewerk said. “I can’t help it. I get such surge of adrenaline. It’s almost like some kind of drug and I’m an addict.”