By Gio Gaxiola — Reporter
With sports canceled left and right, athletes, coaches and trainers aren’t the only ones affected. Sports journalists, like myself, were hit as well.
This article will highlight the moments and experiences for the short time I did write about the San Jose State baseball team.
When this semester started, I wanted to be a beat writer for a team. I went to a San Jose State baseball game. I enjoyed covering it. I stuck with it.
Let’s be real. Spartan baseball got off to a slow start. The team was swept in its first series of the season at home against cross-town rival Santa Clara.
SJSU played 17 games before the season was called off because of coronavirus concerns. 14 of them were home games that I got the chance to cover. The Spartans only won five games — four at Excite Ballpark.
In fact, the 9-8 loss they suffered against Cal on March 10 was the final SJSU athletics event of the season.
Thursday, March 12 came along. The Mountain West board of directors delivered a statement that stormed through my Twitter feed.
“Given the current statues of COVID-19, the Mountain West Board of Directors has suspended all spring competitions.”
Seniors who had spent years training saw their season vanish in an instant.
Seniors like Troy Viola.
He was the first player on the team that I got to interview. Very well-spoken. Just a cool guy.
He became one of my favorite players to watch. He made some outstanding plays at third base. He also had a presence at the plate. The most memorable play of the year for me was his home run in the rain against LMU.
When the MW made the announcement of suspending the season, many seniors like Viola were hurt. They feel they got cheated out of their last year of college.
“I gave my life to baseball”, Viola told The Spear. “All this time and effort I exerted to make my dream of playing professional baseball a reality and in hopes of getting Spartan baseball their first Mountain West Championship in a long time … All to just have my senior year ripped out of my hands, it’s devastating.”
During the 17 games, the third baseman totaled 19 hits and hit for a .271 average. While the numbers don’t jump off the statsheet, his heart should.
Always on his toes at the hot corner, the Oregon native made one miraculous nimble play after another every series. He didn’t commit a single error as his fielding percentage was a perfect 1.000%.
On Valentine’s Day, I asked Viola if he believes he’s the best third baseman in the conference.
“I can line up with anyone at third base,” Viola said after the opening night loss to the Broncos. “I pride myself on my defense … I think I can hold my own with anyone.”
With a mentality like his, your heart has to go out to him. But Viola’s story is just one of thousands around the nation right now. Forget me interviewing him, could you imagine what he’s like when he’s by himself.
But in a way, we have Viola’s thoughts in all of us. Some of us right now are jobless or at risk of it. Some of us are urged to stay indoors, something that doesn’t feel routine at all.
And I, just a beat writer for SJSU’s baseball team, don’t get to go to Excite Ballpark anymore this spring.
With the season cut short, the only thing to look forward to is next season. The team will come back stronger and wiser, I hope.
Returning will be then-juniors Ruben Ibarra and James Shimashita, who look to do damage at the plate. Meanwhile, Wesley Clawson, Jonathan Clark, Kevin Kyle and Josh Caldwell will be back to rack up some strikeouts.
In my first season as a beat writer, I enjoyed the brief time I spent with the team. While I was adamant about the season not being canceled, it was for the best.
The health and safety of people is above playing a game. I never thought I would miss sitting in the bleachers of Excite Ballpark. Even in the freezing cold I did enjoy the experience.
To read Troy Viola’s full message, visit our website at thespearsjsu.com
Follow Gio on Twitter @GaxiolaGio