Former Arroyo Knight, Cameron Copping, shown here pitching for the University of Buffalo, is now with the Seattle Mariners organization
We knew about the Copping twins, Corey and Calvin, recently making their college debuts for Oklahoma and Cal State Northridge respectively but did you know older brother Cameron is with the Seattle Mariners organization?
“He’s 6-6 now and has really grown into his body,” said his father Curt Copping Saturday while taking in the Temple City- Southgate game. “But he was a little different than Calvin and Corey. He didn’t have all that natural ability like they have. He just worked his butt off.”
Cameron Copping was a two sport star at Arroyo playing both basketball and baseball. The tall right handed pitcher then went to Pasadena City College for two years before going to the University Buffalo to play baseball.
“The winters were absolutely freezing but it was all worth it for Cameron,” Curt said.
In 2012 Copping went 6-4 with an ERA of 3.78 and 77 strikeouts for Buffalo.
Last year Cameron signed a free agent contract with Seattle and is entering his second year with the organization. Last year he appeared in 15 games for the Mariners in the Rookie Arizona League.
“He had a pretty good rookie season. He’s really looking forward to this year. It’s exciting,” Curt said.
So while we keep an eye on the progress of Corey and Calvin Copping as they make their way through their college careers, don’t forget about big brother Cameron who is already on a big league roster.
Speaking of Temple City, the weather couldn’t have been better for the Rams Arcadia Elks Tournament game Saturday. It was 80 degrees with barely a cloud in the sky as Temple City took the field.
The Rams put an end to it quickly with ten runs in the third inning and then held Southgate scoreless as the mercy rule came into play through five innings. Although the Rams were dominant, this isn’t the same Temple City team that advanced all the way to the CIF Finals before losing last year.
“We lost nearly everybody,” said Temple City Coach Barry Bacon. “We have a lot of players that have baseball in them because they’ve been playing for a long time. But they are young and we just have to get them used to playing at the varsity level.”
Besides the previously mentioned Corey and Calvin Copping, both Division 1 pitchers, Temple City also lost starters Jonah Jarrard, Benji Sanderson, Ben Arrue and Kyle Starling. Kevin Chavez got the win over Southgate by throwing four scoreless innings but Gabriel Juarez, who beat Beverly Hills 5-1 on Friday is the ace.
Tony Valencia, a senior pitcher, is fun to watch. He throws the ball Kent Tekulve style. For those of you too young to remember Tekulve, Valencia comes at the batter submarine style.
In what has seemingly been a trademark of TC baseball in the past there are again brothers on the roster with Cameron and Jake LeGrand and Sergio and Gabriel Juarez.
The Elks Tournament semi finals are set. Pasadena Poly is at Monrovia and Alhambra is at Temple City on Tuesday. The winners will meet Thursday in the final.
Who is Temple City looking at in the Rio Hondo League?
“Monrovia is solid, “ Bacon said. “They’re going to be tough.”
The Wildcats return several starters including ace pitcher Joe Mata as well as James Tubbs, Chris Burkholder, David Gallegos and Nick Carino.
The Dodgers have a lot of guys back too and this time with a full season together. You get excited when you see players like Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Josh Beckett and Zach Greinke on the roster. Those guys combined with Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw and you’re thinking World Series. The excitement begins to fade fast however when you hear Carl Crawford is already hurt again. How much is he making again?
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com.
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