Mirin Fader of the Orange County Register focused on junior Scott Hurst's best season of his career as the Titans' top hitter.
By Mirin Fader | Read the Full Story
Scott Hurst couldn't find the words to explain what happened.
He still can't.
He probably never will.
Saturday afternoon, May 20, at Cal State Northridge, he blasted a home run. Then a second. Then a third. Then a fourth.
Hurst, not known to be a power hitter, looked down at his hands, his fingers. Yes, they were still there. He flexed his arms, his shoulders. All there. What…is…going…on…here? Had all the planets aligned, the clouds cleared, just for him on that breezy day in the San Fernando Valley?
"It was an out of body experience," said Hurst, whose school-record four homers, seven RBI and six runs helped CSUF (37-21) beat CSUN, 16-7.
Was it the rib eye steak he had the night before with a teammate's family at Ruth's Chris Steak House, or the breakfast he had on game day at the hotel: bacon, potatoes, two cartons of milk and a dash of orange juice? Was it his teammates in the dugout, egging him on each inning, feeding him confidence all ballplayers crave?
Maybe.
But it could be that the 5-10 junior outfielder has finally able to drop his shoulders, drop the expectations that hindered him early in his career. This season "Scottie" isn't thinking or worrying when he steps to the plate.
He's enjoying the moment.