DiBetta big reason for Durango High’s success

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 20, 1999 | 10:23 a.m.

John DiBetta's offensive numbers practically jump off the Durango stats sheet: a .509 batting average, an .889 slugging percentage, 53 RBIs and an area-best 10 home runs.

For the Trailblazers' senior second baseman, though, the critical number this season has been three -- as in just three errors in his club's 36 games.

Because had it not been for a serious re-commitment to defense last summer, DiBetta may never have gotten the chance to provide his mighty offensive punch this spring.

And the Trailblazers (32-14), who will kick off the 4A State Baseball Tournament today at 4 p.m. against Reno (31-4) at UNLV's Wilson Stadium, might have seen their postseason dreams end sometime ago.

A second baseman all his life, DiBetta began the 1998 season at his familiar position before struggles in the field ultimately cost him his spot in the lineup.

"Last year he had a lot of problems defensively," Durango coach Mike Gomez said. "He put up decent numbers for us, but defensively he played himself out of the position."

Although his coaches considered moving him somewhere else in the infield, the 6-1, 175-pound DiBetta vowed to regain their trust and remain at second base. Doing that, he knew, would require serious off-season preparation -- something he admits he neglected in 1998.

"It was a reality check, and by the time I realized I didn't prepare myself well enough, it was too late," DiBetta said. "I knew I had the talent to play. I just didn't have the physical strength to keep up my energy for a full season."

That hasn't been an issue for DiBetta this season, thanks to a summer spent working on conditioning and defensive fundamentals. A first-team all-conference selection, the senior has been rock solid in the field and downright explosive at the plate.

"He bought into everything we were trying to get across to him," Gomez said. "He's been a pleasure to work with."

Now, DiBetta will try to cap his career year with his school's first state title. Winning certainly won't be easy for the Trailblazers, who will face Northern Zone champion Reno in round one for the right to face the winner of tonight's Cimarron-Memorial/Wooster game on Friday.

But Durango already has proven its mettle this postseason, winning four consecutive elimination games in the Southern Zone Tournament to earn its spot in this weekend's exclusive four-team state tourney.

"We have a chance to accomplish a lifelong goal," said DiBetta, who plans to play at the Community College of Southern Nevada next year. "There'd be nothing better than to end high school by winning the state championship."

Even if that doesn't happen for the Trailblazers, DiBetta isn't likely to spend this summer hanging his head. After all that he's accomplished this year, he'll always look back on his senior season with pride.

"Last year, I didn't deserve success because I didn't work at it," DiBetta said. "This year, it's a totally different ballgame. I feel I deserve all my success from what I accomplished in the preseason."