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View Winners → Garriola of Pasadena on hitting tear
Monrovia Weekly Apr 02, 2014
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By SHEL SEGAL
Pasadena High third baseman Frank Garriola has started the 2014 season on an absolute hitting tear.
Through last week, Garriola is hitting a whopping .526 with one home run, 12 RBIs, three doubles and four triples.
Garriola said he has changed his approach at the plate and is no longer trying to just pull the ball to left field.
“I’m just trying to drive the ball up the middle and forget about the short porch in left field,” said Garriola, a junior. “Try to stay balanced through everything.”
Garriola added he’s been working hard to get the numbers he’s putting up now.
“I’ve been hitting with my hitting coach for like the past year,” he said. “He’s been helping me. He’s fixed my swing. I changed my stance and widened my base a little bit. Just focused on keeping my head down and driving everything up the middle.”
He said he’s also working on his defense at the hot corner.
“I’m working on keeping the ball in front, trying not to let anything get past me,” Garriola said.
He also said he’s looking to the future with the Bulldogs.
“I’m already looking forward to next year and becoming more of a leader and helping our team do well again,” he said.
However, he said the team should be able to win the Pacific League championship this season if they can cut out mental mistakes and just stay focused.
“This year we should win it,” he said. “We’re the best team in the area.”
Pasadena coach Mike Parisi had words of praise for Garriola.
“He’s off to a great start,” Parisi said of Garriola. “He’s doing what he needs to be doing. He’s the leader of our offense. He’s one of the best defensive third baseman I’ve ever coached.”
(Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews.com. Follow him via Twitter @segallanded.)
