Sierra's Andrew Gabriel wants a VOL title in his senior season.

Ike Dodson/Sun Post 

            When most high school students were still toying with their Christmas gifts, Sierra senior Andrew Gabriel was learning from the best.

            With the spring sport season looming, Gabriel took on personal mentoring from 2002 Sierra graduate, Matt Berezay, a 2006 selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Major League Baseball draft.

            The former University of Pacific Alumni and Dodgers prospect worked with Gabriel through the first two months of 2008, fine-tuning his protégé’s mechanics and work ethic in preparation for one last season with the Timbwerwolves.

            It’s safe to say the dedication has paid off.

            Gabriel is batting .500 through 18 games and 69 plate appearances this season. He sports 18 RBIs, 21 runs, 11 walks and nine extra base hits. His three home runs came in his last seven contests, with base hits in all but one Valley Oak League contest.

            Sierra has benefited greatly from his offensive output. The team sits with a 13-5 overall record and 5-1 stint in the Valley Oak League. If Sierra can finish league play strong, and work past Oakdale (6-0), Gabriel will see his team snag the league title they have been salivating for since the start of the season.

            “We talk about it everyday, during stretches, warm-ups and all through practice,” Gabriel said. “Winning league is really what we want, even though it’s going to be something difficult to get.”

            Sierra was undefeated in league play until an 11-6 loss to Manteca on Friday, April 11. It was the only league contest where Gabriel was held hitless, and though he still managed an offensive effort (two walks, two runs), he couldn’t push his team past a hard-hitting Buffaloes program.

            Oakdale meanwhile squeaked past Central Valley in a 1-0 victory, leaving the Mustangs atop the standings and highlighting the two program’s series on April 23 and 25.

            “Since my freshman year we have never won the VOL,” Gabriel said. “If we won this year and beat Oakdale it would be something special.”

            The senior has also seen eight appearances on the mound this season, managing a 4-1 record and 3.36 earned-run average with 54 strikeouts recorded and 21 walks allowed in over 35 innings of work.

            He knows his pitching could see some improvement, and with Berezay’s mentoring in mind, Gabriel is focused on improving the little things that will make him a better player.

            “With Matt Berezay working with you, you have to be a like a sponge and just soak up everything that you can,” Gabriel said. “It was a great experience to learn from him, and he taught me a lot about your work ethic needing to be great and how someone is always watching you play.”

            Gabriel will get seen a lot more at Delta College, where he plans to spend the next two years of his career before a scheduled introduction to professional baseball.

            He’s hoping his work with Sierra and his continued production at Delta will make him a hot pick for the 2010 draft.