Q. Tell me about your latest excursion into the South?

A. I’m really close to my PFA coach. We’ve been discussing this trip for a while, but my dad, who always gives me sound advice, wasn’t sure I should go, considering the COVID-19 virus scare and all. However, after lots of discussions, he finally gave me the go-ahead and that’s how it came about.

Q. I am told that you were voted most valuable pitcher in the series.

A. I won the two games I pitched in. It was a six-game series.

Q. How did you get there?

A. The team flew into Dallas/Fort Worth where we were picked up by a big van and motored to Monroe, which gave us a chance to see the landscape which was cool.

Q. What kind of arena did you play in?

A. The field was nice with deer sands all around. The outfield made you feel at home. Also, we have furnished a big house for the team – almost like a frat house without the booze, of course. We brought along a ping pong set up and held ping pong tournaments in the house.

Q. Where did your team come from – anyone else from Hemet besides you?

A. Mostly California. I was the only one from Hemet. Others came from Los Angeles, Pasadena, Palm Desert, Calabasas and one guy from Colorado from a younger team.

Q. Were there a lot of major league scouts there?

A. You never can be sure. There usually are. They don’t like to be identified, but you know they are there – always looking up the road for prospects.

Q. What was the tournament called?

A. The Perfect Game. The games are limited, either 2 hours or 7 innings – whichever comes first.

Q. I guess you did okay then.

A. I played 6 innings in the first game, and with a day off, I closed a game with 20 pitches. It went pretty smooth. The Perfect Game is a big organization and gets pretty good ratings nationally.

Q. Did the thought of major league scouts in the stands intimidate you?

A. Not really. You know they’re there. Just go out and play your best game. If they see you, it’s okay. If not, maybe next time. You never really know.

Q. You are on a railroad to the majors, aren’t you?

A. That’s the Goal.

Q. Cal State Fullerton, where you have an athletic scholarship, is sending you to a Collegiate League for four months. Do you know where that takes place?

A. I believe it is in San Jose, but not sure. It is designed to kind of whip me into shape. I have a lot of work today. I love baseball, but it is hard work if you have ambitions to become a major league player – and I sure do.

It just so happens that his mother Karlee Meyer is Hemet’s new Mayor. Both his parents Roger and Karlee have always encouraged their kids to follow their dreams. Baseball, for sure is not something acquired through influence. Baseball players come by their jackpots by hard work, ambition and opportunity. This kid has something special.

Keep it up Gavin – your hometown is rooting for you. Just sayin’

rustystrait@gmail.com

Rusty Strait • Senior Reporter

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(Ethan Saenz)

Ethan Saenz, a local middle schooler (just started sixth grade at Dartmouth) was named to the Junior Drew League All-Star team and competed this past weekend against the best basketball players in California (in his age bracket.) What is the Drew League? The Drew League is a summer invitational basketball tournament sponsored by Nike. The competition is intense there, NBA players play in the league occasionally with former Division One basketball players, Streetball Legends, and amateurs hoping to make a name for themselves. It isn’t just your random league. This year included players like Lamelo Ball and Nick Young. In the past, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, and Kevin Durant used the Drew League to help train in the offseason. 

To go along with the Drew League, Nike hosts a four-week basketball skills camp called the Junior Drew League. Here players are taught shooting, passing, and dribbling techniques as well as how to play as a team, but they are also evaluated during the camp and at the end, the best players are selected to be a part of the All-Star team that plays before the Championship game of the adult league. 

Ethan Saenz put Hemet on his back, and proved that there is just as much talent out here as there is in Los Angeles, turning ankles with his impressive ball-handling and breaking necks with his fancy passes. Throughout the camp, he impressed coaches and became a sure-fire pick to the All-Star team. The All-Star game is tricky because the chemistry isn’t there, so teams don’t play to their full potential, but just days before the All-Star game Ethan Saenz banked in 40 points in a Travel ball tournament. 

Ethan plays basketball for Obsessed Basketball out of Moreno Valley. He is the point guard on the 11u (eleven and under) team. His coach is Ulande Washington out of Moreno Valley and has been coaching basketball for eight years. Ulande’s main goal is to help kids get through high school and into college by teaching them hard work, dedication, and commitment. He preaches to his athletes that education is just as important as sports and helps them be the best they can in both. He coaches kids from six years old all the way up to high school athletes and can be reached on Instagram at ObsessedHoops. Ethan has been with Obsessed basketball for two years but has been hooping since he was four years old. He comes from a big family but is being raised by a single mother who is his biggest fan and supporter. His best friend is his teammate/little brother Cameron Saenz, the two are constantly together, and you can always see them playing one on one at the courts. 

Ethan spends his free time playing Fortnite, but basketball is where his true passion is at. He hopes to impress scouts enough to earn himself a Full-Ride Scholarship and will continue to play basketball until he physically can’t anymore. Follow Ethan on Instagram at Emoney07_ to watch his journey to the NBA as its happening. Be one of the first to jump on his hype train and show some support for one of our community youths who is making waves amongst the competition.

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(Big Joe Burton)

Former West-Valley Mustang finds a new home in France, previously Burton said he was waiting for a new contract offer, and the news had been quiet. He was confident that he would continue to play basketball overseas but was patiently waiting for his next opportunity. Joseph Burton played his college basketball at Oregon State and has spent the last few years traveling across Europe and Asia playing basketball and dominating the competition. We now know where he will be playing basketball for at least the next season, and that will be in France as the center of the Chorale Roanne basketball club. Chorale Roanne is a part of the LNB Pro A division and plays at the Halle Andre Vacheresse arena which holds over 5,000 seats. The club won two championships in its history one in 1959 and the other in 2007, it’s been 13 years since they have tasted the gold and the club hopes bringing Burton on board brings them a dominant force down low to anchor their team. 

Joseph Burton joins four other Americans on the roster and six french natives. The head coach is Laurent Pluvy; not much information is known about him. It looks like Joseph Burton will be competing with Johndre Jefferson, a former University of South Carolina center. Johndre has been playing basketball overseas for about seven years after not being drafted to the NBA in 2012. Joseph and Johndre may compete for the starting job unless the coach wants to play big and let Burton play the Power-Forward and Jefferson play center. There is also Ferdinand Prenom on the roster who plays center as well. Ferdinand Prenom is a French native who has been playing professional ball since 2008. He also went undrafted in 2013. The three of them make up the three-headed monster defending the key for Chorale Roanne Basketball Club this upcoming season.

This is an excellent opportunity for Joseph, who wants to continue his playing career for as long as possible. He will be missing his wife and kids, while he is away but he is doing it for them. Usually, they will travel with him, but since this is a new place and his wife is ready to have their next baby any day it is best that they stay home while Burton goes overseas.

Burton is easily one of the most successful athletes that have come out of the valley and continues to represent the San Jacinto Valley/his Tribe as he travels the world playing basketball. Joseph spent most of the offseason working out and staying in shape, even putting in work at the local La Fitness courts. Follow Chorale Roanne on Facebook or Joseph Burton for updates on how his season is coming along.

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Since joining the swim team at Hemet, Mya has broken a few records that were over 20 years old, Including the 50 freestyle (23.29), 100 freestyle (51.02), and the 100 backstrokes (59.39). Mya trains three times a week in San Bernardino with Victory Aquatics. She doesn’t only train there; she also spends time coaching the younger kids.

Mya finished her High School career ranked ninth in the state for CIF and first for USA
swimming. She won her two individual CIF events and went undefeated on the year at CIF
events. Identifying the caliber of swimmer she is. Mya drew attention from over 90 different colleges all hoping to offer her a scholarship to swim at their school. Mya said she knew that she wanted to stay in California, so a lot of the schools were immediately dismissed. Mya and her mom only visited four schools, when she stepped on to campus at Cal-State Bakersfield; she almost knew right away that it was the place for her.

Mya trains three times a week in San Bernardino with Victory Aquatics. She doesn’t only train there; she also spends time coaching the younger kids.
Mya finished her High School career ranked ninth in the state for CIF and first for USA
swimming. She won her two individual CIF events and went undefeated on the year at CIF
events. Identifying the caliber of swimmer she is. Mya drew attention from over 90 different colleges all hoping to offer her a scholarship to swim at their school. Mya said she knew that she wanted to stay in California, so a lot of the schools were immediately dismissed. Mya and her mom only visited four schools, when she stepped on to campus at Cal-State Bakersfield; she almost knew right away that it was the place for her.

Mya talked about how impressive the facilities are and how they are building new pools, but that isn’t the thing that drew her to that school. Mya loved the way the team played and the vibes she felt from her fellow athletes, “There were lots of positive vibes, I felt like there was a team mentality here, and it seemed family-oriented.” Mya hopes that while at Cal-State Bakersfield, she can shave 0.3 seconds off her time, which will enable her to try out for the Olympic trials.

While at Cal-State Bakersfield Mya is going to major in kinesiology. She wants to work in sports in the future as a physical therapist and help people rehab who suffer from significant injuries like she did when she was in middle school. Mya broke her Fibula and had to spend some time away from the pool, but made a full come back and never let the injury slow her down.

Mya would like to thank her mom for all of her love and support, her grandma for always having her back, and her coach Loren McCoy for being willing to meet with her and work around her schedule. The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle would like to acknowledge Mya for her amazing achievements and can’t wait to see what her future holds.

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