CHAMINADE'S HAMILL MUSCLES WAY TO STARDOM.Byline: ERIC SONDHEIMER Ryan Hamill is Chaminade High School's teen-age Popeye. His biceps keep inflating like a balloon. The immense power he generates swinging an aluminum bat Aluminum bat may refer to:
Hamill, a senior catcher, always tries to oblige. He leads the area with 15 home runs, 52 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in and a .489 batting average batting average n. Baseball A measure of a batter's performance obtained by dividing the total of base hits by the number of times at bat, not including walks. Noun 1. . When he's not lifting weights or standing in line for a buffet, he's doing his homework to maintain a 3.7 grade-point average. Baseball, though, is what he dreams about day and night. And hitting home runs is what excites him most of all. ``I love it,'' he said. ``I'm still trying for one of those tape-measure, 500-foot bombs. I've had a couple 450, 430 shots. I want one of those I Want One of Those (also referred to as IWOOT) is a prominent online retailer offering a selection of gadgets, gizmos, toys, home and office accessories as well as organised adventures. where everybody goes, `Holy Hell.' '' Chaminade coach Scott Drootin jokes that Hamill's parents will be receiving a ``$1,400 bill for all the baseballs lost'' during batting practice as soon as their son graduates next month. Hamill has been dedicated to the game since he was 2 and swinging at Whiffle whif·fle v. whif·fled, whif·fling, whif·fles v.intr. 1. To move or think erratically; vacillate. 2. balls. During high school, he's had two hitting coaches, a running coach, a catcher's coach and a nutritionist nu·tri·tion·ist n. One who is trained or is an expert in the field of nutrition. nutritionist Dietitian, see there . About the only person missing from Team Hamill was a sports psychologist. ``My mom says if I ever have to give up the game, that's when I'm going to need a psychiatrist psychiatrist /psy·chi·a·trist/ (si-ki´ah-trist) a physician who specializes in psychiatry. psy·chi·a·trist n. A physician who specializes in psychiatry. ,'' he said. During the summer, he'd spend hour after hour lifting weights. Twice a week during the season, he lifts. At 6-foot and 195 pounds, he looks compact with little fat even though he eats as if he were an offensive lineman. ``Any other person who ate like I do and didn't work out would be 240 pounds,'' he said. ``You know how they say, `If you hit a home run, I'll buy you a cheeseburger?' They don't do it with me anymore because it's not enough.'' It's no wonder Hamill has signed a national letter of intent with Nevada-Las Vegas, because it's the city with the best buffets. ``The Rio is definitely awesome,'' said Vegas' newest restaurant critic. ``Excalibur is a 2.'' Said Drootin: ``Every time I mention buffet, he seems to hit the ball a little farther.'' Then there's Hamill's other specialty - dancing. During a talent show for school parents, he dressed up as a construction worker for a skit from the Village People's ``YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. .'' ``Some of the mothers were saying I don't have to worry about getting a job in Vegas,'' he said. The greatest improvement Hamill has made during high school is as a fielder. Not one Mission League player stole a base off him this season, demonstrating his improved arm strength. He also learned how to block balls, something that should come in handy Verb 1. come in handy - be useful for a certain purpose be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" whether he ends up at UNLV UNLV University of Nevada, Las Vegas or the pros. ``I think he's going to be a fun guy to watch when he leaves here,'' Eagles hitting coach Craig Wallenbrock said. Hamill's impact at Chaminade won't be forgotten. He has led the 25-2 Eagles to their first Mission League title. They are seeded No. 1 in the Southern Section Division III
Division III (or DIII) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States. playoffs and face host Burroughs today in a second-round game. ``He has caused some excitement at our school,'' Drootin said. Added Hamill: ``This is the best team I've ever played on. This is the most close-knit team I've ever played on.'' What motivates and inspires Hamill every day is the challenge baseball offers. ``I just don't like to fail,'' he said. ``I know in the game of baseball, it's really not a good thing because you fail more than you succeed, but I hate having an 0-for-3 day. If I have an 0-for-3 day, I'll go home and be devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. the whole night. But that's what makes me practice an hour after practice and keep hitting and hitting.'' Hamill's parents run an accounting business. His older brother is in law school. He's all set if he needs a lawyer to negotiate a pro contract and an accountant to handle his taxes. How far Hamill goes in baseball won't be known for several years, but no one will work harder to reach the top. ``It's a dream just like any other dream,'' he said of reaching the pros. ``You can't say it's reality until you're there.'' THE RYAN HAMILL FILE School: Chaminade. Position:Catcher. Interests:Eating, surfing, lifting weights, hitting home runs. Achievements:Has 15 home runs, 52 RBI, .489 batting average. Future: Has signed with Nevada-Las Vegas. CAPTION(S): Box Photo: THE RYAN HAMILL FILE (see text) |
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