FLASH BACK

Jose Gutierrez came out of nowhere.

He walked onto the Fillmore High baseball field in January, and soon the Flashes became the team that came out of nowhere.

But Gutierrez’s journey was more complicated than taking the field and making magic out of infield dirt.

He struggled through three years in continuation school to meet academic standards before returning this year to Fillmore, where he has led the Flashes from last place to the brink of a Tri-Valley League championship.

“This is a kid who has said maybe 10 or 15 words all season,” said Matt Suttle, Fillmore’s coach. “He showed up and we were happy he was back.”

Gutierrez, a 5-foot-8 left-hander, had never played high school baseball until this season. He was a small-town sandlot secret whose abilities were hidden by his battle to make grades.

“You know, the joke in Fillmore and [neighboring] Santa Paula is that everyone is related to everyone,” said Suttle, who played baseball at Fillmore and graduated in 1982.

“There are no secrets. Kids grow up and play together from Little League to high school here. Jose wasn’t here, but everyone knew what kind of player he was. The question was if he was going to be able to get his grades.”

Gutierrez was declared academically ineligible during his freshman year. He was sent to continuation school and spent almost three years away from baseball.

When he returned, his reward for making up credits, Gutierrez fulfilled the baseball daydreams that haunted him while he was away.

“That’s all I wanted to do,” he said. “I’d stay after class, I’d go to night classes. I didn’t always care like I should about school. I had to get better if I wanted to play baseball again.”

Gutierrez pitched a two-hitter and struck out six in a 5-0 victory over Carpinteria on Wednesday, helping Fillmore clinch a tie for its first league title since 1998.

Gutierrez improved to 6-3, lowered his earned-run average to 2.00 and recorded his ninth complete game. His .404 batting average ranks second on the team.

“I wish we had him for four years,” Suttle said. “But I’m glad we had him for one.”

Gutierrez was gone but not forgotten by the team, which rallied around him when he returned.

Though he attended continuation school, he worked out with Fillmore players and maintained close friendships.

Last season, Gutierrez watched as Fillmore won only two league games and finished 4-17. The Flashes were hindered by infighting and academic problems.

With a victory today at Carpinteria, Fillmore (12-6, 9-2 in league play) will clinch the Tri-Valley title outright and complete a 180-degree turnaround from last year.

Gutierrez has become a motivating presence and the team’s top all-around player.

“If we see him doing his job, we should all be doing ours,” pitcher Jesse Avila said. “I’ve been playing with him my whole life. It feels good to finally have him here.”

Gutierrez wasn’t sure if he would make it back. He struggled academically in his sophomore year at the continuation school. But baseball was never far from his heart.

“These are the guys I’ve always played with,” he said.

Gutierrez doesn’t overpower hitters, mixing his pitches and keeping hitters off-balance.

When he showed up on the field in January, it was a pleasant surprise for Suttle, who had encouraged Gutierrez to finish his education at Fillmore.

“He’s battled,” Suttle said. “It’s gonna be close for him [to graduate] at the end of the year and he has to keep working. But he’s put forth a huge effort.”

One hurdle remains. Gutierrez would like to graduate in June with his teammates.

“I didn’t want to graduate with the little ceremony at the [continuation] school,” he said. “I wanted to be able to graduate in the big ceremony with my whole family there.”

Gutierrez hopes to go from nowhere to somewhere. A secret no more, he wants his future to be in baseball. He hopes to play at a junior college.

“You have to work hard,” he said. “There’s no other way.”