Trial by fire at hot corner for Gregori baseball’s Patterson

Gregori High third baseman Cody Patterson tracked the ball into foul territory, crashing into the fence guarding the Downey High dugout.

Before impact, Patterson extended his mitt over the yellow railing to complete the sensational catch.

It’s been trial by fire at the hot corner for a former part-time player thrust into a starting role.

Every play, from the routine grounder to heroic efforts like his catch on Monday, has served as a lesson for Patterson, a converted outfielder.

“There are too many to count,” Patterson said of his rules and responsibilities at third. “The main thing you have to remember is that there is a high possibility the ball is going to be hit to you. It requires good reflexes and the ability to make a good throw.”

Now in his fourth season in the program, Patterson had never played an infield position until everyday third baseman Dominic Carrillo injured his shoulder against Johansen High on April 20.

Gregori coach Jim Davis said Carrillo suffered a slight separation of his non-throwing shoulder.

So Davis took a chance on Patterson, who had been sharing time in left field but shined at third in intrasquad scrimmages.

His gamble has paid off. Not only has Patterson scooped, stretched and snared everything hit his way, he has emerged as a masher in the middle of the Jaguars’ lineup.

“We’ve had a number of injuries over the course of the year and we’ve had kids step up and fill those voids,” Davis said. “Roberto Flores was injured with a hamstring injury the first month of the season. Hector Guerrero pulled his hamstring about three weeks ago and we had to have other guys step up. And then lately, Dominic Carrillo had a partially separated shoulder in his non-throwing arm.

“Cody Patterson has stepped and played his position for us. It’s not his primary position; he’s never really played it in high school. But whenever we play an intrasquad scrimmage, he makes every darn play. He’s like a human vacuum cleaner over there.”

The job appears to be his for at least two more games.

Carrillo shed his brace on Monday afternoon and will likely return to his starting position if the Jaguars make the postseason.

And Patterson is OK with that.

“In my opinion, Dominic is one of the best, if not the best infielders in the MMC,” he said.

Statistically, Patterson has been just as valuable.

Carrillo has six errors in 43 chances, while Patterson has yet to make a mistake in five games.

“Cody has some big shoes to fill,” Davis said, “and he’s done a marvelous job.”

The move has come with an extra blessing. Not only has Patterson filled the defensive void, but the senior blossomed into a run and rally producer as the clean-up hitter.

Patterson has three extra-base hits in his last three games, including an RBI double in the first inning to set the tone in the Jaguars’ 8-0 victory over Downey.

“Their trust in me to play third, a position I’ve never played before, has been a confidence booster,” said Patterson, who finished 2 for 5 with two RBIs Monday.

The Jaguars need just one more win in their final two games to clinch a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I South postseason berth. The series shifts back to Mastagni Field on Wednesday.

Patterson is hitting 14 for 41 in 22 games this season, but eight of those hits have come in the last five games. He was 5 for 7 with a triple and two RBIs in a three-game series with Enochs High.

“I’ve definitely improved since the beginning of the season,” Patterson said. “I went from not getting much playing time at my primary position to being a starter.

“Being in the lineup as a main player is helping me. I’m seeing more pitches and taking more swings and helping out the team.”

The starting staff appreciates Patterson’s versatility. He backed sophomore Brandon Pasion’s four-hit shutout on Monday with two putouts, including that web gem in foul territory.

“We have so much versatility. Cody has come in and played third as good, if not better than Dominic,” Pasion said. “It gives us confidence that we can rely on our role players. He as a lot of heart and will do anything for the team … even if it means trying out a new position.”

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Trial by fire at hot corner for Gregori baseball’s Patterson."