Foes of Notre Dame Caught in Crossfire

Chris Cross comes across a little strange.

“I can’t exactly deny that,” Cross says. “Just look at me.”

Behold: Cross, a senior relief pitcher for Notre Dame High, dons thick-framed black eyeglasses while on the mound, complete with skull and crossbones over the bridge.

Check his delivery: Cross is a left-hander with a slinging sidearm style that often confounds batters.

“Left-handers, generally, are a little kookier than most people,” Cross said. “The way I throw, the whole get-up. . . . I’m probably the only person under 70 who plays the harmonica.”

Yet Cross plays the role of fireman to a T.

Cross, who has committed to Columbia, entered the week with a 3-2 record, one save and a 1.42 earned-run average in 29 2/3 innings. Last season, after converting to the sidearm delivery, Cross appeared in 15 games and recorded four saves. Teammates voted him the Knights’ most valuable player.

“I use him whenever I need him, basically, and he’s good when I go to him,” Notre Dame Coach Tom Dill said. “He’s really intense. He studies the game and he studies the hitters. He’ll ask me a million questions about how to pitch to a hitter.

“We call him ‘Wild Thing’ because he wears those dorky glasses.”

Cross, who wears more conservative-looking spectacles off the field, is always in search of adventure.

He wandered through shops in Venice before finding the right piece of jewelry to adorn his horned rims.

“I bought this little earring for eight bucks,” Cross said. “I took it home and hammered it and filed it and glued it on.”

Cross spends his spare time frequenting a popular blues club on Ventura Boulevard, where he often takes the stage with his harmonica during amateur night.

Next on Cross’ agenda is learning to sky dive.

As for the perceptions of others, Cross couldn’t care less.

“Whatever people want to see in you is fine,” he said.