Kyle Kirsch, a 2005 graduate of Sedona Red Rock High, continued to live the dream as his University of Arizona club baseball team fought their way to the National Club Baseball World Series in Fort Myers, Fla., from May 23 through May 29.
Kirsch, a third baseman on the team, was one of the founding players on the Wildcats inaugural club baseball team.
“For us to get to the World Series in our first season was incredible,” Kirsch said.
By Brian Bergner Jr.
Larson Newspapers
Kyle Kirsch, a 2005 graduate of Sedona Red Rock High, continued to live the dream as his University of Arizona club baseball team fought their way to the National Club Baseball World Series in Fort Myers, Fla., from May 23 through May 29.
Kirsch, a third baseman on the team, was one of the founding players on the Wildcats inaugural club baseball team.
“For us to get to the World Series in our first season was incredible,” Kirsch said.
Kirsch shared that he was one of the first to sign up for the team and was one of only 10 other players to start the season.
As the season went on, the roster grew to 25, and the Wildcats even found a skipper to call all the shots in Shane Folson.
Folson is also the head coach of a local school in Tucson, Catalina Magnet High.
Once the pieces fell together like an easy puzzle, the Wildcats took off to a 25-9 overall record and were 16-2 in their Southern Pacific Conference.
In the Southern Pacific Regional Tournament, the Wildcats took care of business against rival Arizona State University on May 4 in the championship game, 3-2, as the UA club baseball team claimed a spot in the World Series.
A few weeks later in Fort Myers, UA lost to North Carolina State on May 24 in a close one, 14-11, then lost to Virginia Tech on May 25 to end the Wildcats amazing run, 21-3.
“Even though we lost in the world series, the team had an outstanding year. I made a lot of new friends and had a lot of fun,” Kirsch said.
Kirsch believes his team made enough noise around the UA campus that tryouts will be needed next season and that they will be looking to return to the World Series once again.
Since the big senior year is coming up with a planned graduation in May 2009, Kirsch reflected on his time here in Sedona in high school.
Once a puny freshman playing baseball for the Scorpions, Kirsch quickly turned into a fine athlete on the diamond under the tutelage of then head coach Anthony Lo Duca.
Kirsch and his family moved into the area during his seventh grade season from Portola Valley, Calif., and signed up almost immediately for little league baseball.
Kirsch gives credit to his father, Hank, for putting the ball in his hands.
“I may have played on a team for the first time when I was six years old, but dad and I were playing catch by the time I was two,” Kirsch said.
All the hard work paid off as Kirsch starred in the local little league setting. In high school, he was named a second team all-region performer during his senior season.
He also played in the senior all-star game at Grand Canyon University with some of the best players in the state of Arizona at the time.
Now in college, Kirsch put the old ball and leather glove down for a few years, but has since picked it up for the UA club team.
Kirsch is hoping to one day get involved with the government and use his political science major and Spanish minor to be the best he can be.
He hopes to attend law school after graduation, but for now he’s enjoying college life.
Hanging out with friends, sharing pranks with his roommate and watching plenty of television is usually what takes up Kirsch’s time when he’s not in the classroom or on the diamond.
“Playing club baseball was completely worth it. I learned how to depend on my teammates, and they learned how to depend on me. The experience was amazing, and it was great to meet some new friends,” Kirsch said.
Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 131, or e-mail bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com
