Fresno State Athletics
Anything For The Team
5/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Third baseman Nick Garcia always has known how to succeed. He did so in high school and now he is doing it in college as a member of the nationally-ranked Fresno State baseball team.
The Lakewood, Calif., product attended Banning High School in Wilmington, Calif. Garcia started at shortstop for three seasons. As a senior in 1997, Garcia hit .505 with 19 doubles and 49 RBIs and was named to the All-Los Angeles City first team.
Praise came from Cal State Northridge, as it offered Garcia a spot on its team. However, the school was forced to drop its program due gender equity, leading Garcia to Fresno State. The door was opened for Garcia's return to Northridge when it reinstated the program late in summer 1997, but Garcia said he knew Fresno State was right for him.
"I liked the school and the facility, so I figured it was a good option," Garcia said. "The situation was very favorable for me and I believed I could make an immediate impact."
There is no doubt Garcia's game has developed offensively. He has been one of the most consistent players in the Bulldog lineup, settling smoothly into the fifth slot in the order behind clean-up hitter Brandon Gemoll. Garcia has started at third base in all 48 games this season and is hitting a steady .317 with 41 runs scored, 13 doubles and 26 RBIs. He is among the WAC leaders in runs scored, hits, doubles and walks.
"His growth as a ballplayer has been tremendous," head coach Bob Bennett said. "Initially, he came to us with normal strengths and weaknesses, but he has learned to sharpen his skills. He's a smart baserunner and has good knowledge of the game."
Garcia made a good first impression with his willingness to play where he was needed. During his freshman campaign, he appeared in 34 games, starting 21. He received most of his action at second base but played first base as well. In a victory against Arizona State on March 17, 1998, Garcia hit a grand slam for his first home run as a Bulldog.
"My first year, I just wanted to get on the field," Garcia said. "It really didn't matter where I played, as long as I got the chance to play."
In his second season, Garcia continued to show more promise. In fact, he was one of the most consistent players on the squad, finishing the year with a stellar .349 batting average. He had nearly perfect games from the plate when he went 6-for-7 with five RBIs at New Mexico on April 1 -- tying the school record for hits in a game -- and 5-for-5 with five RBIs at San Diego State on April 23.
However, his greatest contributions came in the field. After playing most of the season at second, Garcia made the adjustment to third base and established himself as a cornerstone in the Fresno State defense.
"At the time, Jason Fanconi had the job at shortstop sewn up," Garcia said. "So third base looked like the best opportunity for me to contribute."
Garcia's improvement did not go unnoticed, as he was named the teams' Most Improved Player at last year's awards banquet.
"I've definitely improved offensively," Garcia said. "But most all, I've improved mentally. Before, I wasn't real sharp in the mental part of the game, but working with the coaching staff has helped me gain better toughness."
Bennett said Garcia has developed in all aspects of the game, noting that he is a fine baserunner in addition to his prowess at the plate and at the hot corner.
"With him originally being a shortstop, he already had good athleticism," Bennett said. "Third base ended up being a good fit for both Nick and the team."
Now the 6-foot-1 right-hander wants to help the team to the next level. He said he feels confident in the team's ability to win the WAC championship this season. The squad's success is a result of its strong team chemistry. Each subsequent year Garcia has played for the Bulldogs, he said he has felt the team grow closer as a unit. But he knows the team still has a long road ahead and its going to come down to a battle.
"There's always room from improvement," Garcia said. "As a team were confident, but we won't be satisfied until we reach our potential. We still have goals to accomplish this year."
-- Curtis Webb, Fresno State Media Relations
