Why baseball means so much for Tahquitz High senior

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Why baseball means so much for Tahquitz High senior

Tahquitz High School senior Clayton Ellis, left, credits head coach Ron Savage with teaching him life lessons alongside the sport of baseball.

DIANE A. RHODES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

INLAND PEOPLE

CLAYTON ELLIS

Age: 17

Residence: Hemet

Notable: He finds mentorship and life lessons through the sport of baseball and his head coach. Tahquitz"s first game is Monday, Feb. 27, in Hemet.

Senior Clayton Ellis" love of Tahquitz High"s baseball program extends beyond the game.

clayton"s coach, ron savage, has not only taught him life lessons and pushed him academically, he"s also served as a father figure.

So says Clayton"s father, U.S. Marine Brandon Ellis, who says Savage also serves as a mentor. Brandon enlisted 24 years ago and has been deployed seven times, ranging in length from 7 to 11 months.

What makes him more than a coach is he doesn"t just teach us about the game of baseball or to become a better baseball player," said Clayton Ellis. "He teaches us about how to become a better person and shows us the importance of life and to not take anything for granted.

What sets him apart from the other coaches Ive had is how much time I spend with him; most of the time I see him five days out of the week ranging from an hour to five hours each day, Clayton continued.

Clayton started playing baseball when he was 4 years old and has been a varsity team starter for three years.

Last year, Clayton Ellis stepped into a leadership role because he felt his sophomore season hadnt been the best it could be.

So, my junior year I wanted to become a guy everyone can look up to and be a role model. Letting them know if they needed any help Im always there, said the third baseman.

He wants to continue playing after he graduates and said Savage has helped him be ready for what college baseball will be like.

Savage has been head coach at Tahquitz for the past 10 years and said from August through January the players are on the field five days a week and in the weight room three days a week.

Savage said Claytons even temperament and his work ethic caught his attention.

In baseball, we talk about staying off an emotional roller coaster and not letting your highs get too high or your lows get too low. In the three years I have coached him Clayton has maintained that composure, Savage said. Work ethic wise, he really cares about doing things the right way.

Clayton, it seems, has been listening.

Baseball is my favorite sport but its more than just a sport to me," Clayton said. "It taught me about having a better internal dialogue, how what I say to myself controls every action in my life.

Savage added that coaches need to be aware that players might need a little more emotional support if their dad is not constantly there.

What these players want, whether there is a dad present or not, is to know you care and that you will be there for them. When there is an absent father I believe the connection is greater but I don"t think I necessarily need to do anything different, Savage said. At the end of the day, Im responsible for all 32 kids.

Clayton wants to follow in his dads footsteps and join the military.

I want to go into the Navy to become a Navy SEAL. Theres nothing else I can see myself doing, he said.

Source: http://www.pe.com/articles/clayton-825977-game-beyond.html