Forever Pirates -- Drew Hillman

This week's installment of "Forever Pirates" comes from former Coast baseball player Drew Hillman, who played for OCC from 2007-09.

It is hard to fully describe what being a Pirate means to me without walking you through the entire process. I don't think I would be where I am today without the experience of attending Orange Coast College. I played baseball at OCC in 2008 and 2009 and I was fortunate enough to win a State Championship in 2009 with an incredible group of coaches and players.

My introduction to OCC actually began in the fall of 2006 when my high school baseball team (El Toro) played against Woodbridge HS in the Ryan Lemmon Fall League. During those days, the high school coaches were not allowed to coach their teams, so oftentimes, a parent or another volunteer would run the team for those games. Woodbridge's "volunteer" was Coach Altobelli. His son JJ, who was a sophomore at the time, played for Woodbridge and played shortstop for the team. Being a third baseman and Alto coaching from the third base coaching box, I was in close proximity to what probably was illegal recruiting. In the Spring of 2007, El Toro and Woodbridge were moved into the same league, meaning I got to play against JJ,who also was telling me to go play for his dad at OCC whenever I reached second base. Bob Flint who was in his final year at Woodbridge was sitting next to Mike Gonzales (El Toro Head Coach) in our dugout before one league game. I was called over by the both of them and Coach Flint asked -- or should I say told me -- that I need to attend OCC next year. During my senior season, there was one coach that called me more than anyone else and that was Alto. I guess you could say there were a lot of signs pointing to where I should continue playing the following year. Being a two-sport athlete in high school and feeling overlooked by a lot of schools, the recruitment by all those involved with Coast made me feel like certain people weren't overlooking me and I had something to prove at the next level. I eventually committed to OCC and Alto on May 8 which, during that phone call, I later found out was Alto's birthday.

I believe, like many athletes that attend junior college, that I was somewhat overlooked and was there to prove that I could play at that level and hopefully be able to compete with athletes at the next level as well. OCC and the coaching staff gave me that opportunity and I will forever be grateful to them for that opportunity. To Alto, Pia Sr. and Pia Jr., Bowman, Flint, and Sarge, thank you for the opportunity, guidance, and the great experience for those two years. Words will never really be able to describe how much I enjoyed that experience. However ... I will NOT be grateful or thankful for having to change out of my car in the parking lot, driving to Santa Anita Racetrack at 3 a.m. for a fundraiser, being called "soft" because I was from south county, listening to country, Pia's conditioning, Sarge's BP, using squeegees to get the water off the field, or taking the tarp off before 8 a.m. classes, JJ taking all the batting practice reps at State so the last group couldn't get their full rounds, and Snapp making fun of my tight jeans. That's the life of junior college baseball though. In all seriousness, I know it was all out of love and would do anything to go back and relive those two years at Coast with that staff and my teammates.

The spring season of 2008 was a "normal" season for the most part. We did well in the OEC, won Regionals and advanced to Super Regionals. We unfortunately went 0-2 at Super Regionals and were bused back on JC luxury to Costa Mesa (pretty sure we propped the emergency exit at the top of the bus open for our AC). One memorable note before leaving the hotel, my roommate for that trip, Ryan Sheeks, said, "I think we have the pieces to win state next year." I agreed, being non-confrontational, but thought to myself he was absolutely crazy and there was no shot.

Fast forward to 2009, Sheeks was right and we ended up winning the 2009 State Championship. 2009 should always have a special spot in OCC's baseball history for what took place. During the early part of the season, we lost a teammate in Jourdan Watanabe. For most of us, it was the first time we lost a friend which was difficult enough, add to it that we still had a season that needed to be played. But a season that we wanted to play to honor our teammate. Later in the season after playing at Chaffey College, Trevor McDonald came down with a flesh-eating bacteria after being cleated by an opposing player and was sent to the ICU and was dangerously in jeopardy of losing his own life. The 2009 team became a family, led by Alto and the coaching staff, we won a share of the OEC conference title, swept Regionals and Super Regionals and eventually beat Delta College to win the 2009 State Championship. As players, we won that for J-Wat and Alto, who was ultimately suspended from coaching the team because he had our backs one too many times. For everyone that was part of the Pirate Family in the two years I was there, I want to thank you for the incredible experience I had.

I was fortunate enough to go on and play at UCI in 2010 and 2011 and later get drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, but my favorite two years of playing baseball were at Coast. Having the opportunity to play at a JC gave me a completely different perspective on how things worked and I wouldn't change my path for anything. Currently as a high school teacher and a head coach of my own program, I know how fortunate I was to be able to play for a coach like Alto. I have taken aspects of his coaching into my current program (I try to leave Stormin' Norman at home, but sometimes as I learned, guys need to hear it) and hope one day that I will be half as successful as he was. Without having the Mike Gonzales', John Altobellis', Mike Gillespies' as my coaches and my role models, I would have never have chosen the career path that I did. I owe a lot to each of those guys and know how blessed I have been to play for three Hall of Fame coaches. Being a Pirate has shaped my life, guided me into my current profession, and I am extremely grateful for all those that I have met through my OCC experience, and I will Forever Be A Pirate! #22 #14

We are looking for more Pirate Athlete Alum to share their stories and memories of their time at OCC! Just email your story to Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli at aaltobelli@occ.cccd.edu. Please include any pics you'd like to share as well.