Legaspi Writes Ticket to USC

As he walked off baseball fields this season, Dale Legaspi of Crespi High could have granted interviews after every game . . . to Dale Legaspi.

It might have been surreal, but not far-fetched.

Legaspi, who is headed for USC on an academic scholarship to major in communications, was sports editor of the Crespi student newspaper and editor of the school’s yearbook.

Which, combined with the baseball schedule and other responsibilities, was a huge burden for Legaspi.

“At times I thought, ‘Oh, man, what have I done to myself?’ ” Legaspi said.

Legaspi has one more chance to pull off an unorthodox one-on-one interview when he plays for the West against the East in the Bernie Milligan All-Star game at 2 p.m. today at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

The game features some of the top seniors in the region and caps Legaspi’s stellar high school career.

At least one person is happy to see Legaspi leave Crespi and the Mission League. Scott Drootin, who guided Chaminade to the league title with a 12-0 record and is co-coach of the West with Joe Cascione of Cleveland, saw enough of the versatile Legaspi.

“Over the last two years, he scared me the most of all the players [Crespi] had,” Drootin said. “He can beat you with his glove and he can beat you on the mound and he can beat you with his baserunning.”

Legaspi pitched and played shortstop this season, batting .388 with seven doubles and two home runs. He led the Celts with 32 runs and 13 stolen bases.

Although 5 feet 9 and 150 pounds, Legaspi struck out 44 batters in 45 innings, walked only 15 and had a 2.02 earned-run average. His 6-3 record was no small feat on an inconsistent team that finished 16-11.

That’s not bad for a guy who had surgery in October to stabilize growth plates in his right elbow. Still, Legaspi, who was selected to the all-league team, was disappointed because Crespi struggled.

“We didn’t have the level of success we had in previous years, but it doesn’t take away from the fun and success that I had at Crespi,” Legaspi said.

Much of that success came in the classroom. Legaspi leaves Crespi with a 4.27 cumulative grade-point average and ready for the challenge of four years at USC, where he plans to compete for a spot on the baseball team as a recruited walk-on.

Legaspi said the last few months, in particular, were an excellent primer for what likely lies ahead.

“Being flexible is one of the lessons I learned this year with all the responsibilities I had,” Legaspi said. “You have to deal with all kinds of people.

“Some you are going to like, some you are not going to like. You just learn flexibility so you can function.”

Besides writing, Legaspi is interested in broadcasting and might explore that field. He appeared on a local sports TV show last year and enjoyed the experience.

“I was a little nervous at first, but I got pretty comfortable as the show went on,” Legaspi said. “I can think quick on my feet, so it appealed to me.”

For now, Legaspi is looking for a good time at the all-star game.

“It’s been fun practicing with [the all-stars],” Legaspi said. “You see their names in the paper and now we are all playing together. I’m definitely looking forward to playing.”