BASEBALL: As a Team Leader, Jon Wild Plays 'Just For the Love of the Game'

This week's Athlete of the Week is Jon Wild, a senior who plays on 's varsity baseball team. He's an outfielder and bats leadoff, and has been one of the major contributors to the team's success so far this season. San Bruno Patch sat down with Wild for a Q&A about his role on the team and how things look for the team this year.

San Bruno Patch: You’ve been described as leader, but how would you describe your role on and off the field?

Jon Wild: I’m definitely a leader, for sure, the kids on the team look up to me and I’m just a good role model, I guess. Usually, I just do a lot of yelling at them because they respect that. Yelling is probably the only thing that they listen to. I just give them good advice, always cheer them on. I’m always the loudest one on the bench when we’re up to bat.

Patch: So let’s talk about the team in general. What I’ve been told is the team has had some down years, but I guess the team is off to a good start this year, right?

JW: Yeah. Actually, the team had a little bit of a struggle. We were on a five-game losing streak, and then we started off against Crystal Springs. We put like 16 runs on them, and that started off our six-game win streak. And then losing to Washington (San Francisco) the other day was definitely a game we should have won.

Patch: Are you and your teammates getting the sense that the team can contend for the league title this year? Does this season feel different than last season?

JW: Oh, absolutely. Definitely, this season we have a chance to win the league title because we have a stronger team than last year. Last year, we didn’t do so hot. This year, we’re going to actually do a lot better. So I have a great feeling that we’re going to win the league.

Patch: Batting first or second, that’s an important spot in the lineup. Does that put any pressure on you?

JW: It’s kind of a lot of pressure on me because I’m the first person to start off the inning a lot of times. I’m the first person to bat, I’m the first guy to see the pitcher, and I’m the first person that can either get a hit or not get a hit.

Patch: How have you dealt with that over the years?

JW: Actually, my freshmen and sophomore year, I didn’t bat second or first. I batted like sixth or seventh. My junior year, I started off at leadoff and then got moved to sixth or seventh. And then this year I’m just hitting straight lead off. Now, there’s still a little bit of pressure, but not as much as the last couple of years.

Patch: What would you say are your biggest strengths on the field?

JW: Definitely my strengths are running after balls and catching them. Hitting is all right—I’m not the best at hitting. But if I don’t get a hit, I don’t really let it affect me because as long I play good defense it just goes both ways pretty much.

Patch: Can you remember your best play this year?

JW: I never really had any best plays so far. I remember a couple years ago I caught one ball I probably should have never caught. But I caught it anyways because I dove for it.

Patch: Describe to me that play.

JW: I was playing centerfield and the ball tailed and it kept going. I took my first step in, and I read the ball wrong so I had to run all the way back. And then I had to accidentally stick my glove out and jump and dive for the ball, and I barely caught it. I caught it at like the tip of my glove. It was like one of the luckiest catches I’ve ever had in my life.

Patch: We also know that you play multiple sports. You play football. Is it easy making the transition from football to baseball?

JW: Yeah, it’s pretty easy. I have a batting cage in my backyard. Hitting is not really that big of a deal because I can pretty much get in my cage and hit all day long. But going from football to baseball, I’d have to say that with football you do a lot more running and a lot more hitting and tackling. With baseball, you’re more like running after balls and catching them and hitting the baseball. I’ve done it for the past couple years, so it’s really not that big of a deal anymore.

Patch: Do you have a preference for which one you like better or maybe which one you’d like to pursue after you graduate?

JW: I love both sports. They’re both pretty fun. I play for fun. I don’t really play for anything else. I just have a good time when I play. Football always has been fun for me—baseball, the same way. So if I get a scholarship somewhere for baseball or football, I’ll probably just take that and go there. But I’d have to work a little bit harder to do whatever I want.

Patch: Let’s talk about your hair a little bit. It looks like you’ve got a Tim Lincecum thing going on. Did you grow it out specifically for sports or is that just how you rock it?

JW: I didn’t really grow it out for sports. It’s just that everyone likes long hair. So I was like, OK, I’ll grow out my hair. And I’ve been doing that for a year.

Patch: After watching your game against Washington and seeing you run the bases, I couldn't help but notice a little Pete Rose in your game. Do you have a baseball idol or anybody you try to emulate?

JW: Not really. I pretty much like all professional athletes—all those guys. Like Buster Posey. He’s a good ballplayer.

Patch: For all the San Bruno Little Leaguers out there hoping to be a varsity baseball player at Cap, what advice would you offer?

JW: Definitely work hard, do your best, and just practice, practice, practice. Because, eventually, that practice will get you to winning ball games.