Tustin’s Workhorse : Utility Man Burns Helps Tillers Reach Division II Playoffs

Brennan Burns’ body does not divulge that he’s an athlete.

But it’s a good bet that without him, Tustin would not be hosting today’s Southern Section Division II baseball playoff game against Moreno Valley Canyon Springs.

Burns is Tustin’s workhorse. You need a pitcher when others are sick or injured? Burns (3-2) has chipped in with 27 1/3 innings. How about an infielder? Burns has played second and third this season, and can play shortstop and first.

This season he’s supposed to play left field, where he has started most of the 27 games he has played. But Tiller Coach Tim O’Donoghue said he has no qualms about putting Burns in center or right if needed.

“I thought about that Troy kid [Chad Elliott] who played every position in one game and thought, ‘You know, Brennan can do that too,’ ” O’Donoghue said.

Burns can also hit--.318 with 11 doubles and 23 runs batted in.

But the most crucial thing he adds is selflessness. Not many seniors, looking to make an impression on college or pro scouts, would be willing to appear adequate at many positions instead of outstanding at one.

“I just want to play the game,” said Burns, who is 5 feet 10, 165 pounds. “And the more positions you can play, the more chances you get to play.

“One of the great things about baseball is you don’t have to be overly big or extremely tall to play. But hitting a round ball with a round bat is still one of the hardest things to do. When you succeed, it’s one of the best feelings.”

Burns has played on the Tustin varsity the last two years. He had a hard time breaking into a veteran lineup last season, although he played some at third and second. He worked out last summer preparing to start as a one-position player.

But he still had too much value as a utility man.

“To me, he is what high school baseball should be about,” O’Donoghue said. “He’s always been a good player, but I also think he’s a great leader. There is no stat for leadership, but if there was he’d be among the top. And he does most of it by example.

“The biggest compliment I can give him, and I tell him this all the time, is I would want my daughter to grow up to be like him.”

The best evidence of Burns’ worth to Tustin came May 3 against Santa Ana.

Both of O’Donoghue’s regular catchers, Mike Madrid and Todd Scott, were among seven players with the flu. O’Donoghue remembered Burns had done some catching with a fall league scout team, and asked if he could step in.

Burns quickly strapped on the gear, and wound up catching a no-hitter thrown by Greg Garcia.

“You couldn’t tell the difference between him and the regular catchers,” O’Donoghue said. “He’s smart and he knows the game.”

Burns described the experience as “awesome,” but gave all the credit to Garcia.

“Neither of us realized he was throwing a no-hitter until the end of the game, when everybody rushed us,” Burns said. “You don’t get to see a no-hitter often. When you see a teammate doing it, it’s as much fun as if you were doing it.”

Burns said his teammates have become a second family to him. Most of this season’s team has been together for four years, and Burns--who lives in Orange but came to Tustin on an inter-district transfer--said they never tire of each other’s company.

“We think of ourselves as a bunch of overachievers,” Burns said. “You can tell the camaraderie [since] we’ve been together four years. Even after practice we’ll stick around and play games. When the season ends, it’s going to be a sad day.

“We knew we were good this year, and it was still fun to be thought of as the underdogs of the Golden West League. As with Canyon Springs, everybody we’ll play from now on, it’s going to be a dogfight.”

Although an excellent student--he maintains a 3.7 grade-point average and scored 1,070 on the SAT--he has not attracted much attention from college teams. He has talked with UC Davis and Gonzaga.

Burns said if a college or university offered him an academic scholarship but said the best he could do is try out for the baseball team, he’s not sure he would accept it.

“I think I’d miss baseball too much,” Burns said.

“At the same time, I try not to let the game take over my life. I know there are other important things. It’s fun when I’m on the field. But when I’m off the field, it’s time for something else.”