Mitch Martinez knows the Sobrato High baseball program is a budding one. Martinez, who coached the Bulldogs junior varsity team the previous two seasons, feels optimistic about the team’s chances this season and beyond.
“Our program is headed in the right direction,” he said. “Last year’s freshmen group was really good, and this year’s group is probably even better. A lot of these kids have been playing together for a while, and Morgan Hill growing (in population has a) lot to do with that. I’ve been coaching a lot of these kids for the last 6, 7 years, and next year we’ll only have one senior on the team.”
That means the best is yet to come for the Bulldogs, who despite entering the week at 0-3 are still poised to turn things around and make a run for the Blossom Valley League’s Santa Teresa Division championship. Martinez has talent to work with, including John Bell, Patrick Salsbury, Cooper Callison, Kyle Weseloh, Marcus Hernandez, Jared Jones and Justin Rashid.
Bell, a pitcher and shortstop, is a tremendous four-year varsity player.
He’ll hit in the three spot with Weseloh hitting cleanup. Weseloh, a senior third baseman, also has the capability to hit with power. Hernandez, a senior catcher, hits in the No. 2 spot, while Jones, a senior centerfielder, hits leadoff.
“Jared is a fast threat on the bases, has a good bat and a lot of power,” Martinez said. “The seniors will be my power guys.”
Callison, a pitcher and utility, and Rashid, a pitcher and infielder, are sophomores who Martinez expects a lot from. Rashid has batted fifth in the lineup early in the season. Salsbury and Bell will vie for the No. 1 starter’s role; however, expect both to see plenty of innings this season.
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, it’s little surprise Bell was a big boy at birth.
“I was 11 pounds at birth,” he said.
Bell, who was also the starting quarterback for Sobrato the previous two seasons while setting back-to-back records for single-season passing yards, utilizes his frame to his advantage. On the mound, Bell utilizes a mid to high 80 mph fastball along with a changeup and curveball. Even though Bell pitched and hit well last season, he’s always striving to improve.
“I would like to pitch a little better than I did last year and keep moving forward hitting-wise,” he said. “Last year I hit three home runs; this year I would like to hit a few more.”
Whether he’s on the football field or the baseball field, Bell stands out. Even though football is Bell’s favorite sport, baseball isn’t far behind.
“Football is my No. 1, but I’ve played baseball pretty much all my life,” he said.
Baseball-wise, Bell played all of one game on the junior varsity team his freshman year before being called up to the varsity squad in the second game of the season.
“I was super nervous for that first game, but I ended up getting two hits,” he said.
Like all multi-sport athletes, Bell stays busy. In the last several years, Bell has only taken two to three weeks off each year from working out, practicing or playing sports, either at the high school or the club level. Bell spent half his life in Massachusetts, moving there shortly after he was born in San Diego before his parents settled in Morgan Hill during his eighth grade year.
He credits his parents, Tom and Janelle, for being positive influences in his life and pushing him to be his best.
“They always pushed me to take the field even when I didn’t want to,” he said.
While in Massachusetts, Bell said he had the opportunity to work with some former pro coaches on a travel ball program.
“They pretty much taught me everything I know about how to play baseball,” he said.
Football-wise, Bell credits Sobrato’s Tony Holmes for mentoring him and showing him the ropes.
“Coach Holmes has loved me since my sophomore year,” Bell said. “He started working with me from the moment he saw me, and I’ve been fortunate to have him teach me everything about football.”
Bell said his greatest challenge athletically is getting up to speed—literally. After Bell’s sophomore season, he started training specifically to get faster, knowing it would help him in any sport he played.
“(Having good) speed has always been hard for me,” he said. “I’ve worked on it a lot and have also gotten stronger.”
With a blend of power, strength and athleticism, Bell hopes to lead Sobrato to a Central Coast Section playoff berth.
