Spencer belts away at ASU

Casa Grande High graduate and Arizona State freshman Spencer Torkelson didn’t disappoint a contingent of his Petaluma fans who watched him hit two more home runs in a game against Stanford.|

Casa Grande High School All-League baseball player Spencer Torkelson is creating his own baseball fantasy world at Arizona State University, much to the delight and amazement of those who have followed him from Little League All-Star to North Bay League Most Valuable Player.

Torkelson has already obliterated Barry Bonds’ school record of 11 home runs for a freshman. Through last weekend, the former Gaucho led the nation with 18 home runs. He ranked sixth with a .770 slugging average and seventh with 104 total bases.

According to a story on the ASU website, it took a Sun Devil player 29 games to hit four home runs last season. Torkelson did it in six this year.

Torkelson’s family and friends had an opportunity to see what all the excitement is about in person last weekend when they traveled to Stanford to see Arizona State play the Cardinal. True to form, Torkelson didn’t disappoint, hitting two home runs against one of the best baseball teams in the nation, much to the delight of his Petaluma cheering section.

For the weekend series, Torkelson was 4-for-11, walked twice, scored three runs and drove in three.

Torkelson’s former coach at Casa Grande, Paul Maytorena, isn’t surprised that the Gaucho grad came through under the pressure of a hometown crowd.

“He always did come through when it counted most,” Maytorena said. “Some players put up big stats against ordinary teams, but Spenny always played great in big games.”

But even Maytorena is shocked by what Torkelson has done at Arizona State. “No one could see this coming,” he said, “but if you could see it coming from anyone, it was him.”

Maytorena pointed out that Torkelson was in his rookie season.

“A year ago he was getting ready to play Montgomery High School, now he’s hitting home runs against one of the best teams in the country,” the coach pointed out. “It’s amazing.”

Maytorena said for the four years he coached Torkelson on the Casa Grande varsity team, Spencer always “played the game the right way.”

“He respected the process,” Maytorena explained. “His attitude was, ‘Let’s get better today.’ He made us good coaches.

“What I’m most proud of is that he is not only a good player, but he is also a good man.”

Currently Torkelson’s top competition in the quest to become the first freshman ever to be the collegiate home run champion is University of California, Berkeley sophomore Andrew Vaughn, a Maria Carrillo High School graduate. As of last weekend, Vaughn had 15 home runs and Torkelson 18.

“That says a lot about baseball in our area,” said Maytorena. “Our area doesn’t get the credit it deserves for the quality of our baseball.”

Maybe that is changing, thanks to two former North Bay League players.

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