A former San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley high school baseball player was recently signed by a professional baseball team that plays in an independent league in Texas.
Adrian DeMar, a 2008 San Lorenzo Valley High School graduate, was signed Aug. 9 by the Airhogs of Grand Prairie, Texas. The right-handed pitcher joined the team last week and has seen action in two games as a middle reliever.
“It’s a dream come true,” DeMar said from Texas on Monday, Aug. 13. “I’m chasing my dream. It’s my job now, and I love it. It’s unreal.”
DeMar, 22, played baseball at Simpson University in Redding before joining the Western Baseball Association’s San Diego Force, which he helped reach the National Baseball Congress World Series in July.
With the Force, DeMar sported a 1.78 earned-run average and a 7-0 record while striking out 79 batters in 65.2 innings pitched. During his final game with the team Aug. 5, DeMar pitched eight shutout innings in a no-decision.
After that strong performance, he was signed by the Airhogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball — a minor-league team not affiliated with any Major League Baseball teams.
“The stadium is amazing,” DeMar said. “I’m learning a lot every day.”
The 22 year-old throws 87 to 90 mph and has a nasty slider, he said.
He attended Scotts Valley High School for two years and played for Giuseppe Chiaramonte before transferring to SLV, where he played two years for Ross Parmenter.
But he dreams of playing in the big leagues.
“I’m hoping to get signed by a pro team,” he said. “Being the youngest guy on the team, that’s an advantage.”
For information: www.airhogsbaseball.com.
