Hometown Hero : Jaret Wright made O.C. proud with World Series performance

Sports is a unifying element in many communities. Orange County is also a place that provides a deep talent pool. When a local product makes good, as was the case with the swimmer Amanda Beard of Irvine during the Olympics, the whole community turns out to cheer on a friend or a neighbor.

That happened again in recent days as former coaches, associates and family of the 21-year-old Cleveland Indian pitching phenomenon Jaret Wright were glued to the big-screen TV cheering for Anaheim’s hometown boy. It has been a short ride to the top for a young man who only three years ago was The Times Orange County Edition’s player of the year at Katella High School. How many people, like Wright, reach the pinnacle of their chosen field so soon out of high school?

Wright began the season at the double-A level pitching for the Akron Aeros of the Eastern League and then found himself pitching for the World Series title in the deciding game last Sunday night in Miami. The game was eventually won in extra innings by the Florida Marlins.

Wright’s performance throughout the postseason was memorable, and he pitched very well in the final game, giving up only two hits in 6 1/3 innings. He became the second youngest pitcher ever to start a seventh game of the series.

His father, Clyde, a former Angel pitcher (by the way, how did the Angels ever pass on this young man?), was concerned about pressure. “I just hope he feels that he doesn’t have the weight of the world on his shoulders,” he said.

The youngster showed that indeed he could take the heat of the big time. He did it with a huge television audience watching, with a stadium full of partisans making noise for the other side and with the expectations of countless Cleveland fans, who had gone nearly a half century without a world championship, bearing down.

Wright impressed with his adaptability and straightforwardness, too. In Cleveland, he pitched in 38-degree temperature. When the series was over, he stayed to soak in the atmosphere. He said, “If you’re going to take in everything, you might as well sit there and see what the other side is like.” Even in a losing cause, this local pitcher was a winner.