Digging For Gold Nuggets On California’s Ball Diamonds
By Bob Otto / Yucaipa, CA

     The ball diamonds of southern California no longer produce gold nuggets as they once did in the 1950s to the mid-80s; a time that was rich in men’s fastpitch softball.

 Yet there are still some young gold nuggets to be found in this part of North America; it just takes some digging to uncover them.

 Let’s meet three of these young players who are rapidly rising to the top of the sport in southern California.

 JASON IULI, 22, pitcher. Bats right, throws right. Born and lives in San Diego.

 Iuli’s pitching career began in 1996 after watching his cousin, Samantha Iuli, pitch on a travel league team. He became enthralled with windmilling and practiced on the sideline with his cousin. He soon gave up baseball, saying, “baseball doesn’t give me the challenge that I get from fastpitch.”

 His progression has been rapid and in 1999 he helped the San Bernardino Aztecs finish second in the So. Calif. Fastpitch Assoc. travel league, where he emerged as one of the league’s top pitchers, leading the SCFA in strikeouts. He was also named to the All-Star team.

 “Jason has the ability to throw the ball hard,” said Rez Men 23-Under coach, Rich Markham of San Diego. “He is dedicated and calm on the mound, and for a young man, seems imperturbable. In the 18 months he’s played for me, I’ve never seen him get visibly upset about a call or play. He doesn’t bitch about anything on the field.”

 1999 was a busy season for Iuli. Besides SCFA league play, he pitched in the ASA 23-Under national tournament, the ASA B nationals as a pick up for Team Rainey, and with his Aztecs in the NAFA AA World Series.

 “Jason opened the 23-Under tournament with 17 strikeouts in a 6-0 win,” said Markham. “He lost to eventual champion, Munger, Mich., and Don Stram Logging, who finished fourth, but he had nine strikeouts in each of those losses.”

 Iuli’s most memorable moment: In 1998 facing Larry Miller Toyota the day after he arrived in Salt Lake City to join a 23-Under team. “Jason entered the game in the third inning and pitched four innings of relief,” said Markham. “He thought, ‘Now I’m in trouble. I’m going to get killed and they won’t believe I can pitch.’

 “During his four innings, Jason gave up only one hit and had six strikeouts,” said Markham. “This time the 23-Under team lost only 2-1.”

 Iuli will return to Salt Lake City in May to rejoin his 23-Under team. “Jason will get a chance to pitch against a high level of adult teams as well as the 23-Under teams in the area,” said Markham.

 RAY HYLOCK, 19, pitcher / multi-faceted player. Bats right, throws right.

     Blessed with a strong arm, good speed, and great instincts, Ray Hylock from Santee (near San Diego) is headed to the top, says Markham. “Ray mainly plays the infield, but he can play anywhere with exceptional skill. He has the fastest bat I’ve ever seen from an 18-year-old.” Talent probably inherited from his father, Ken Hylock, who played professional baseball at the AAA level.

Bobby Ysias, and his 16-Under California Bombers launched Hylock’s fastpitch softball career. Last season he played for Markham’s 23-Under Rez Men team, and at 18, was one of the team’s youngest players.

“He’s a manager’s dream,” Markham said. “He has an excellent glove in turning the double play and gets an excellent jump on the ball.”

  However, there’s one part of his game that Markham, a pitcher, is especially fond of. “Last year was the first time Ray worked at pitching,” said Markham. “He had some wild games early in the season and couldn’t play from June through August because of his work schedule, but at the end of the season Ray had two good outings in the Barona league.”

 Markham expects Hylock’s improvement to continue this season. With Iuli pitching in Utah, Hylock will get his shot on the mound with the Rez Men. “He has worked over the winter throwing against a fence,” said Markham. “None of his friends will catch him because of the speed and movement of his pitches.

 “Last Saturday, he, Jason (Iuli) and I worked out and Jason caught him sitting on a bucket. His ability to go from a ‘wild thrower’ to catching him while sitting on a bucket, shows Ray’s dedication as well as his ability to perform.”

 To hasten his development, Markham has Hylock slated to pitch on his men’s tournament team to “assure that he gets the game time to develop,” said Markham. Development Hylock will need when the Rez Men head for post-season play in the ISC and ASA national tournaments.

 As a freshman at Grossmont College, Hylock is taking calculus and is becoming an accomplished classical guitarist. “He plays that very well too,” said Markham.

 RAYMOND REAL, 21, shortstop / catcher. Bats right, throws right. Lives in Alpine, California with his wife Debbie and two children.

 Much like Hylock, Raymond Real is a versatile fastpitch performer. “He can play anywhere,” said Markham. “In the San Diego league, Raymond was Jason’s catcher.”

 But Real prefers shortstop said Markham, and as a number four hitter, he proved he’s the real ticket with a healthy .352 batting average in the ASA 23-Under national tournament.

 Real has a quick bat, is patient at the plate - and he’s unselfish. “In a tournament game last year, Raymond had two screamer outs,” said Markham. “He came to bat in the top of the seventh with a runner on second, one out, and the score tied.

 “Because of his power, the infield was back. Raymond laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first while the runner moved to third. The next batter hit a deep fly to the outfield to score the go-ahead run.” Proving that Real is talented and a team player.

 Should the So. California Fastpitch Association travel league be revived, Real will gain valuable experience batting against some of the state’s best pitching. “The SCAF will give Raymond the experience to further polish his already excellent game,” said Markham.

 And this ‘gold nugget’ has the dedication all top athletes possess. “Last season my men’s team played in the Escondido Sunday night league and Raymond drove from Alpine (over an hour’s drive one way) every week and didn’t miss a single game. “Raymond loves this game.” said Markham.

 Southern California ball diamonds may not be as blessed with gold nuggets as they once were, but with young players such as Iuli, Hylock and Real leading the way, the sport may just make a come back.

 (A special thanks goes out to Rich Markham, who not only devotes his time to helping organize and train young players, but also took the time to let the fastpitch world know about them. Great job, Rich.)