AJ Curtis on a tear for Ohlone with postseason looming

By Mike Wood
Special to Ohlone Athletics

AJ Curtis is on a tear. That is very good news for Ohlone College baseball. And bad news for the Renegades' opponents.

A slump that once nagged him has faded off in this season's rearview mirror. This all bodes well as the first baseman and his teammates gear up for a potentially long postseason run.

Plenty of highlight reel material has come of late from Curtis. Such as on April 17, when he went opposite field to homer on the very first pitch against Skyline in a 7-1 win, part of a sweep of the Trojans that locked up the Coast Pacific championship for the Renegades for a second straight year.

"AJ has brought confidence to our guys," Ohlone head coach Mike Curran said. " When he plays, we know we have a chance. He’s brought fun to our team. The culture that I try to create here is one that combines hard work and fun." 

That combination of hard work and fun has led Ohlone to a 17-0 conference record, 33-6 overall. The Renegades own an 11-game win streak as the regular season closes out April 27 against Monterey Peninsula. Then it's on to the playoffs, where Ohlone will try again to make the state's Final Four, as it did last year. Or perhaps eclipse that with a state title, like the program achieved in 2010.

“I'd really like to go back to Fresno,” Curtis said with characteristic enthusiasm. "That was such a great experience."

He's doing great things right now. Curtis’ .430 batting average ties him for fourth-best in California. And the team is on a big roll, with Ohlone ranked 21st in the nation in the Perfect Game rankings for junior college baseball.

Curtis spent a good chunk of March mired in his slump, though he only went hitless for a three-game stretch. Starting with a 2-for-3, two-run performance on April 7 against Skyline, Curtis has gone nine straight games with multiple hits. Collectively that's 24 for 40 at the plate, for an sizzling .600 batting average in that torrid span.

"He was trying to pull everything and trying to muscle everything," Curran said. "Breaking out of the slump has been the direct result of him trying to hit the ball up the middle and trying to square the ball up and on a line (instead of hitting it over the fence).  He is a smart hitter.  He knows himself. The fact that he’s been able to work out of this is a direct reflection of his intelligence and ability to make adjustments."

Those adjustments came via perseverance on the part of Curtis, who in December signed with Division I power Cal State Fullerton.
"I give a lot of credit to (assistant coach) Billy Clontz, who is just a great human being. He sat with me and worked with me on aspects of my swing and the mental approach. It was about getting the mental piece down and getting my confidence back."

Recently Curtis moved into the leadoff spot, which has been another win-win situation. It's about opportunity.

"Look at leadoff hitters – over the course of a season, they have significantly more at-bats than the 4-9 hitters," Curran said. "If AJ has 160 at-bats hitting fourth this year, or 190 hitting leadoff?  I’ll take those extra 30 at-bats for him anytime! Finally, just moving him from fourth to first has helped with his own mind. He doesn’t feel the need to hit home runs. He’s just focused on getting on base and driving the ball – and that’s good for us!

Along with leading the Coast Pacific in batting average, Curtis is fifth in RBIs and stolen bases and is tied for seventh in home runs with five.

"He has smooth hands and a plus arm defensively," Curran said. "What really separates him is his blend of speed and power. Fullerton fell in love with him because he’s big and strong and he can run. He has been timed from home to first at 4.15. He can really, really fly and that’s so rare for a guy who is as big and strong as he is. That’s why he has a real shot at getting drafted.  He knows the game and really understands what is going to happen before it happens. He plays the game with a quiet confidence and that really rubs off on all the guys." 

And the chemistry on the team is at a positive peak at the right time.

"Last year things came together super quick; this year it was a little slower moving but we're on a roll right now," Curtis said. "We have come together nicely as a team. A big accomplishment is we won our Sac City series. We won both of those, and no one thought we'd win one. People will say 'Of course you got a good record because of your conference's reputation,' but you play Sac City twice and win, that's pretty good."
Curtis, who grew up in the Pleasanton area, played high school ball at Amador Valley.

 "Playing for (longtime coach) Lou Cesario and (assistant) Tony Battilega was great," he said. "They are great guys who know the game so well. Amador Valley was a great experience."

After high school, there were short stints at Sacramento State and Cosumnes River College. He made his way to Ohlone in the fall of 2016.
Last year he was third in the state in RBI with 54. Nowadays he's feeling at home at first base.

"I started out playing second base because I was a little bit undersized," Curtis said of his start in the game he loves.

After a growth spurt and work in the weight room, he began to play some first base in high school, and later at third and the outfield as he started in college.

"Now I am back at first. I love it there. It helps me being more athletic than most first baseman. It's a good spot for me."
Curtis, a business major, plans to switch to communications studies in the fall at Cal State Fullerton.

"At Ohlone, the teachers are great," he said. “The teachers are really accommodating. As an athlete you can't always make their office hours to talk at this school, but they will sometimes work outside of their schedule to help you out and that's great right now.

"For my career I want to be a firefighter or involved some way in sports. I have to be active I can't just sit behind a desk from 9 to 5," Curtis added.
Curran has taken note of Curtis' bountiful energy.

"He needs to be out-and-about and involved with people. Honestly, after he finishes his pro career, he could and should coach at the college or pro level. He has the knowledge and temperament. Guys would love to play for him."

Curran thinks Curtis could hear his name in June's Major League Baseball draft.

"He has two good options," Curran said.  "He’s either going to get drafted and sign or he’s going to play at one of the top five programs in the nation.  He will succeed at either one because of his ability and work ethic.  We are lucky to have AJ -- the person AND the player."