ROCHA

From page 8 high school to college baseball was a drastic change for Rocha as the competition heightened.

Playing at the junior college level, Rocha initially viewed each game as a “last chance,” fixated on his mistakes instead of his accomplishments. However, as a more experienced player, Rocha focuses on being more comfortable on the field and calming his mindset.

“Don’t let the game speed you up,” described Rocha. “Find ways to bring yourself back to what we call green, which is ‘be calm.’”

Rocha’s role on the team has evolved in his second year, from a designated hitter to leading roles both offensively and defensively. Now, Rocha plays as a catcher with a secondary position as an outfielder but did not know this would be where his season would begin.

The team faced multiple injuries at the top of the season, leaving vacant positions and quick replacements. Rocha was now behind the plate as he stepped up to be a catcher. Working with his assistant coach took him out of his comfort zone and built up the skills in his new position.

“He completely changed how I thought about catching, and I feel that improved how I received the ball and my whole perspective,” said Rocha.

Halfway through their 202223 season, Rocha describes the start of their season as a “learning curve,” with a new coaching staff and roles to fill on the team. Yet, despite the changes, Los Medanos holds a 10-6 record, leading with the most wins in the Bay Valley

Quotable

“There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.” — Pythagoras