Phenoms : With Talent Beyond Their Years, These Athletes Will Likely Leave Their Marks : Sean Ireland: Baseball

Baseball is a family affair this season at Brethren Christian.

Aaron Ireland is the starting varsity catcher. He has five home runs and is getting attention from Pepperdine, among other schools. Cousin Keith Witt is playing shortstop on the freshman team.

Ireland’s younger brother, Sean--a sophomore varsity first baseman--could be the best of the three. He is definitely among the best sophomore athletes in the county. As this week begins, Sean Ireland is among the Times’ statistical leaders in average (.510), home runs (three) and runs batted in (20).

Equally impressive is that Sean has struck out only five times in 56 at-bats.

And opponents have yet to see the best of Ireland, 16. At 6 feet, 185 pounds, he should get bigger and stronger, although in the words of Calvary Chapel Coach Joe Walters, “He’s a pretty strong kid now.”

Brethren Christian Coach Dave Posthuma said if Ireland keeps improving, he could wind up the best player in school history.

“Already I compare him to Chris Beck, the best-known player from here,” Posthuma said. Beck, who graduated from Brethren Christian in 1989, has pitched in the Seattle Mariners organization the past three seasons.

Sean, who saw limited time on varsity as a freshman, said his improvement has come from hard work in the summer and winter leagues, and help from Aaron, “who always played catch with me and taught me things.

“This year I’m seeing the ball better and I’m more confident,” Sean Ireland said.

That might be an understatement.

In a recent spring-break tournament hosted by San Pedro Mary Star, Sean Ireland was a one-man wrecking crew. In three games he had 12 hits, including four doubles and a home run, in 15 at-bats. He scored eight runs and drove in 10.

He also had a two-homer game against Cerritos Whitney this season.

More than anything, Sean has played like a senior rather than a sophomore.

“Last year he showed flashes, so I was expecting this,” Posthuma said. “The one thing about him, he is pretty fearless at the plate. A real competitor. They may get him out at times, but he is not afraid of any pitch they throw up there.”

Although he also plays soccer--”mainly to keep in shape”--Sean said baseball is his favorite.

“I liked baseball right away,” Sean said. And I’ve gotten better at as I’ve gotten older.”

He dreams of one day playing professionally, and hitting home runs like his favorite major leaguer, the Yankees’ Cecil Fielder. But for the moment Sean is happy to hit line drives for Brethren Christian, and get the Warriors into the playoffs, something they’ve only done twice (1993 and 1996) since 1979.

And opponents can look forward to trying to stop Sean at least two more years.

“Usually by the junior year you have an idea what a kid can do,” Walters said. “We already know about Sean. He still needs some work on his game but his size and strength are going to work in his favor.”