Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Brian Fisher
School: California
Class: Senior
Sport: Baseball
Fisher’s week: Fisher, the California baseball team’s left-handed ace, pitched the Trojans to a pair of wins in the PIAA Class A playoffs.
He scattered six hits, did not walk a batter and struck out one during an 8-0 victory over Elk County Catholic in the first round of the playoffs. Four days later, Fisher led California to a 6-3 victory over Our Lady of Sacred Heart in the PIAA quarterfinals, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out four.
He also had a pair of hits in both games.
No reason to sulk: California’s season came to a close with an 8-1 loss to Johnsonburg in the PIAA semifinals Tuesday night, but Fisher didn’t dwell on it. He couldn’t. He works as a roofer in the summer and had to be at work at 6 the next morning.
“I was a little tired, but it wasn’t too big of a deal,” Fisher said.
The loss should not diminish anything California accomplished this year. The Trojans finished 20-6 and reached the semifinals of the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs, this despite graduating five four-year starters from the 2012 team.
“We were a little disappointed that we didn’t do as well as we thought we should have,” Fisher said. “But overall we had a ton of fun. We had a great season. And we did a lot better than anyone thought we were going to.”
Busting loose: This year was a breakout year for Fisher. He finished 10-3, eclipsing his win total from … well, the previous 18 years of his life.
“I wouldn’t have had 10 wins total coming into this year,” said Fisher, who only started pitching (seriously) as a freshman.
Originally more of a basketball player, Fisher left a lasting impression on Trojans coach Don Hartman, especially the way he took a couple of brutal comebackers off his body in the OLSH game.
“He got shelled on the mound,” Hartman said after the OLSH win. “He has a goose egg on his forearm the size of a softball. Got a couple hits for us. I’ve never had a player, in 23 years, work as hard as he has and come on to be such a great baseball player.
“From the kid who was literally a lump of clay. I don’t mean that derogatory; I just mean that we knew he had athleticism, but we had to bring him along as a baseball player. He’s an awful good one.”
Big plans ahead: Fisher is also a smart one. He was California’s valedictorian and will attend Gannon – he’ll play a sport, though he’s still deciding between basketball and baseball – to enroll in the school’s five-year accelerated physician assistant program.
He made a speech at Cal’s graduation, but like he has all year, Fisher did just fine in the spotlight.
“I don’t mind being in front of people,” Fisher said. “I’m kind of used to it, so I don’t get nervous that much.”
-Compiled by Jason Mackey