Guzman was star at the plate

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 1, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

1998 -- Mike Nannini, Green Valley

1999 -- Mike Esposito, Cimarron-Memorial

2000 -- Ryan Ruiz, Silverado

2001 -- Garrett Guzman, Green Valley

The pitch came in at eye level, but Garrett Guzman wasn't content taking it for a ball. Instead, the Green Valley senior pounced on the high offering, instantly generating the bat speed and strength to club it over the high center-field wall in the deepest part of Peccole Park.

"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life," Durango coach Mike Gomez said after witnessing the event from the opposing dugout during the teams' state tournament game.

As incredible as the physical feat itself may have been, it takes on the stuff of legend when you consider that it came on the heels of a homer in Guzman's previous at-bat and was followed by another in his next plate appearance.

For Guzman, the Sun's 2001 State Player of the Year, it was simply par for the course for an athlete whose exploits in the batter's box won't soon be forgotten.

"The kid is hands down the best hitter in town, and in my opinion he's the best player in the state," Gators coach Nick Garritano said.

Guzman began his career as the lone freshman on Green Valley's 1998 title team -- the last coached by Rodger Fairless -- then took center stage over the next three years, ultimately helping Garritano's Gators reclaim the trophy in May.

"Garrett is Green Valley baseball," Garritano said. "He's been getting it done his whole career."

Guzman's statistics are so gaudy, they appear too good to be true. But anyone who has seen him play can attest to their legitimacy.

For starters, there's his four-year varsity career batting average of .535 -- quite a feat considering the Gators generally faced their opponents' top pitchers.

In six 4A State Tournament games this year, the outfielder went 14-for-19 (.737), drew nine walks, drove in 11 runs and scored 13 more. Despite batting leadoff all season, he finished with 55 RBIs, belting 12 homers and 15 doubles to go along with 56 runs scored.

"He hits the ball where it's pitched, and that's what you try to preach to high school players," Garritano said. "He wants to succeed every time he's hitting, and he's the type of hitter, whenever he gets going and gets his confidence up, he's awfully hard to get out."

For his part, Guzman doesn't try to analyze his success at the plate. He prefers to keep it simple.

"I just go up there and swing it. Sometimes I get in a groove."

His latest groove is at four years and counting.