Catcher Luke Scherrer has right stuff for Inland Empire baseball power Yucaipa
YUCAIPA, Calif. – Drew Scherrer, the father of Yucaipa High star catcher Luke Scherrer, mans the public address system at Thunderbird baseball games.
He wears a Navy blue ballcap emblazoned with the T-Birds’ New York Yankee-inspired YH emblem. That’s fitting because Yucaipa is the gold standard when it comes to Citrus Belt League baseball. The T-Birds have won 24 league titles since 1980 and four section crowns. That includes the 2018 CIF-Southern Section Division 2 title under current coach Ralph Grajeda.
Drew, who is also the Beaumont High principal, dispenses classic rock ‘n’ roll and country songs over the sound system on this sun-splashed day as the T-Birds prepare to host Fullerton.
ROUGH START
The first inning goes badly for Yucaipa as Fullerton grabs a 2-0 lead.
Drew Scherrer smartly cues up “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
“I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?”
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
Comin’ down on a sunny day.”
The lyrics fit because the non-league season has been a minefield. Heading into this game the T-Birds were their typical 4-0 in CBL play, but a startling 0-5 in non-league.
Their woes persist. They score one run in the bottom of the first, but a groundout and a double play lets Fullerton off the hook.
HISTORY OF SUCCESS
In bucolic Yucaipa, just about every Little Leaguer dreams of playing for Yucaipa High. The school is famous for not only producing leggy 1969 Miss California Susan Anton, but major leaguers Matt Carson, Matt Davidson, Corky Miller, Mark Teahen, Taijuan Walker, Kent Walton, John Eshleman, and Tyler Wells.
Scherrer, who has already signed with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has pro aspirations as well. He hit .450 with three home runs and 27 runs batted in last season as a junior.
The Thunderbirds have had pockets of big success, going 28-5 Grajeda's first season in 2018 followed by a 26-6 campaign in 2019. They've won at least 20 games 11 times since 2004, including going 27-3 in 2009 and 227-7 in 2010 under Jeff Stout.
“I enjoy how hard (baseball) is,” Scherrer says. “You have to compete to get good. I love catching because you’re involved in every play. There’s a lot involved – receiving, blocking, and I call my own game so there’s a mental aspect too.”
No worries there as Scherrer has a 4.6 grade point average.
“He’s smart and probably the hardest working kid I’ve coached,” Grajeda says. “He’s physical, he can really hit, and he has a great arm.”
SPORTY
Jenna Scherrer, mom of the player, relaxes above the Yucaipa bleachers.
Asked what people don’t know about her son she says, “His cousin is Wes Hickey (the T-Birds’ star center fielder). They played whiffle ball when they were little and probably lost a million of them over the years.”
At home, the Scherrers enjoy the occasional game of poker.
“It gets pretty serious,” Jenna says. “I’d like to say I win most of the games, but it’s probably 50-50 between me and Luke. Luke’s dad never wins.” (Laughter).
The teen also enjoys golfing and fishing. He’s been deadly serious about sports practically since he learned to walk.
“When he was little and playing soccer, he got this real mean look on his face before a game,” Drew says. “We asked him what he was thinking about he said, ‘You’re going down, buddy.’”
WALK OFF
Speaking of going down, Yucaipa seems headed for its sixth consecutive non-league loss.
The T-Birds trail Fullerton 5-3 with one out in the seventh inning. But amazingly they tie the game on a two-out, two-run double by freshman Jesiah Andrade.
The game chugs into the eighth and comes down to a two-on, two-out at-bat for Scherrer.
Big Luke taps both his cleats with his bat and waits. Ping! His laser single to left sends Jordan Headley diving across the plate with the game-winning run. The T-Birds spill out of the dugout and deluge Scherrer (see video above and wait for the end).
“I was really excited to have the chance to get the team the win,” Scherrer says. “I just wanted to put something hard in play. I got a pitch I could hit, and I hit it.”
John Murphy is the sports editor for the Century Newspapers of Southern California and an SBLiveCA contributor. Twitter: @PrepDawg2
All photos below by John Murphy:
