New faces pummel alumni, annual event bridges gap

Ex-Comet baseball players suited up and got beat by the men’s baseball team 8-1 in the annual Alumni Game on Saturday.

Although the Comets won by a landslide they were still intrigued by the way the alumni played the game. They also learned a few good things about baseball from the former players.

“It was interesting seeing different techniques from them,” freshman pitcher Dominic Copper said.  “(Their) speed wasn’t there but they still had the fundamentals and mechanics of playing their positions.”

The alumni players this year included Jimmy Porter, Esteban Marquez and Bill Way, all former players of Contra Costa College before 2008.

In the first inning both teams were held scoreless, but in the second freshman first baseman/pitcher Maxwell Phillipsheck hit a double, driving in two runs. He also hit another double in the fifth inning off of one of the coaches.

“(On the first double) It was a full count pitch,” Phillipsheck said. “(The pitcher threw) a fastball and I got a good hit on it. (The game) was fun and it was good to play against coach Ivory (Jones).”

Jimmy Porter, who played center field and right field for the Comets in 2008, wanted to improve the current players’ knowledge of the game. He also wants to see the players succeed by getting to a four-year college and maybe one day making it to the major leagues.

“I came back to show the players how to play baseball,” Porter said.

“To (help them) transfer out and get a degree and better themselves.”

Although this game does not hold any value in terms of conference standings or win percentages, it offers passionate players a chance to indulge.

Way said he loves the game and is always looking for a reason to play it.

“I played baseball my whole life and I was trying to touch some roots and play the game of baseball once again,” he said of his decision to play in the alumni game.

Way played second base when he played for CCC in 1985 and is currently a television station manager in Fairfield.

There was some friendly trash talk going back and forth from both sides, but it was just part of the game. The smack talk made the game more interesting for the current players and did not throw them off their game.

“The (alumni) talked smack to get into the other players heads,” freshman Ryan Tuck said.

He also said that it was a good experience to play with the former players and they play the game with a lot of passion. Comet baseball coach Marvin Webb organizes the Alumni Game every year.

“I do this game to connect the old players with the new,” Webb said.

“Every one of the guys who plays today is successful.”