Staff Report
For a lot of athletes, playing at the high school varsity level is the first time they encounter adversity. And how a young teenager handles adversity can make or break their prep careers.
Mainland Regional High senior baseball player Chase Camac dealt with his share of adversity a few years ago when he battled injuries as a sophomore, and his hot start to his varsity career quickly cooled. He went 3-for-10 with three RBIs and two runs scored in his first three varsity starts, but then had just two singles the rest of the season.
He lost his job as the starting shortstop and hit just .147 with four RBIs.
But instead of sulking, Camac reinvented himself as an outstanding outfielder and came on strong in his final two seasons as a Mustang. As a junior, he racked up 21 hits and 23 RBIs, hit .350, scored 15 runs, had 12 walks and added two home runs and nine stolen bases.
During his senior year, the lefty hitter had the best year of his career, setting personal highs in nearly every offensive category while leading the Mustangs to 17 wins and the prestigious Diamond Classic championship. In his final season in Kelly green-and-white, Camac had 35 hits, 22 RBIs, 24 runs scored and hit .380, including six doubles, two triples, 12 walks and 16 stolen bases.
Of his 61 hits, 56 of them came in his final two seasons, and he also finished his career with 49 RBIs, 44 runs scored, 30 walks and 28 stolen bases.
— Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer
