TENDENCY TOWARD TOUGHNESS NO ACCIDENT TONY ORTIZ'S GRIT HELPS RETURN FROM CAR CRASH THAT ALMOST ENDED HIS LIFE.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The advice came from a highly respected source. Tony Ortiz and his first cousin Art Ortiz both were only 11-year-olds, but their talents already stood out at a baseball development camp. Former Dodgers outfielder Reggie Smith, who was hosting the camp, noticed, and had a simple message for them: ``Stick together.''

Said Art Ortiz: ``He told us to stick together as much as we could because we'd get noticed more that way.''

They took Smith's advice. Art, who began his career at Palmdale High, transferred to Lancaster for his senior year so he could play with Tony, and both were instrumental in leading Eagles to a Golden League title in 2001.

Art, a slugging converted infielder who played the outfield for Lancaster, was the league MVP, and Tony, a slick-fielding shortstop, was a first-team all-league and first-team All-Southern Section selection. A two- sport star, Tony also was a first-team all-Southern Section running back.

Later that year, the Ortiz cousins enrolled at College of the Canyons. They already had began playing on the school's Fall-ball team when they narrowly escaped tragedy.

Just weeks into the semester, the two were carpooling back to the Antelope Valley after a game when Art lost control his early-1990s raised Toyota pickup truck. He had been trying to corral some items that were blowing around the cabin, and the vehicle veered off Sierra Highway near Vasquez Canyon Road.

He said he'd have let his truck crash into adjacent mailboxes, but he noticed women and children playing nearby and wanted to get back onto the road. Tony had been napping but quickly awoke, and both tried to turn the wheel.

That's when a truck pulled out in front of them.

Before they could think of a next move, a rear tire blew, the force sucking Tony out of the open window. The truck was sent tumbling, tearing out a chunk of asphalt that still hasn't been replaced. Art believes his truck rolled six times while he was in it.

Art suffered only mild scrapes, but Tony was less fortunate. In addition to a broken shoulder and broken hip, he suffered head wounds that left medical officials wondering whether he'd survive, much less lead a normal life.

The two were taken to Henry Mayo hospital. Art soon was released, but Tony remained in intensive care for more than a week.

Family members waited at the hospital for clearance to visit him. Members of the Lancaster football team and the Canyons baseball team, among others, crowded the hospital's visiting room as well.

When his father, Tony Ortiz Sr., finally was allowed to visit, he made Tony pass along a note to his teammates on the baseball team telling them he'd be back out in a few days.

``It was a touching moment,'' Tony Ortiz Sr. said, ``He was laying there in a hospital bed with all these tubes in him, and he's telling them he'll be back in a couple of days; I really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.''

After a long and painful recovery, Tony has fully recovered and again is playing baseball.

``I think I'm stronger now than I was before the injury,'' he said.

Tony Ortiz is competing for the starting shortstop job at Canyons with freshmen Josh Shreck and Matt O'Conner. He's off to an impressive start, batting .500 (4 for 8) through his team's first four games.

``It's nothing short of a miracle,'' Canyons coach Chris Cota said. ``When we first heard about the injuries, baseball was the last thing on our minds.

``For him to come back the way he has, it shows that he loves to compete. He's just a tough kid.''

As far as Art Ortiz is concerned, however, that is no news flash.

``He's always been strong since he was a little kid,'' he said. ``If he didn't have the drive that he has, he wouldn't be here (playing) today. Any other person I could just see saying after the accident, `This isn't for me,' but for him it was just a little speed bump.''

Tony, who keeps his grade-point average above 3.0, insists he never considered the possibility his playing career was over.

``I'm going to keep trying and trying until I just don't make it; at least I'll know that I gave it my all,'' he said. ``I'm going to keep playing until someone tells me I have to stop.''

Art Ortiz said his cousin's inspirational comeback has reinforced that good advice he got from Smith.

``That's why I'll never give up,'' Art said. ``I always look back at what he (Smith) told me: `The guys who push through those barriers are the ones who keep going, and they become winners.' ''