Northridge graduate proves he's got the right stuff after all
He signs with the Ogden Raptors, defying his doubters
Until last week.
PoVey, who hit .423 with team-bests in homers (5), hits (63) and RBIs (40) at Bethany College this past season as a catcher/pitcher, was led to believe — for the third time in his college career — he was a sure-fire draft pick.
He wouldn't believe it until it happened, however.
"I had been told that before, so I'm going to have a Plan B this year," he said.
And what was Plan B?
After going undrafted two weeks ago, he sent his resume to various organizations — including the Orem Owlz and Ogden Raptors — in hopes of getting a free-agent tryout, and it worked.
His resume caught the attention of Dave Baggott, president of the Raptors, and he telephoned the Los Angeles Dodgers making the request for a tryout for PoVey.
PoVey was granted a one-day tryout.
One day.
"I tried out for one day, and I turned some heads," he said.
That one-day tryout then turned into a five-day tryout.
PoVey, who graduated from Northridge High in 2001, signed Friday morning, which was actually the morning of his fourth tryout day.
PoVey suited up Tuesday night in the Pioneer League season-opener in Orem to complete the circle and put to rest the notion of friends, coaches and teammates that he would never make it into professional baseball.
"There is a part of me that wants to look at those people and grin, but at the same time I know there is a lot of work to be done to get where I want to be," he said.
At Porterville College in 2001 he was told by coaches he wouldn't make it as a college player.
After serving an LDS mission to Nashville, Tenn., he transferred to Diablo Valley College and ran into the same opposition, but again he let his game do the talking.
In 2005 at Bellevue College he was told the same thing, but he went on to hit .387 with 11 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 51 RBIs.
Hoping for a more positive dugout, he transferred to Bethany College (Kansas) a rival of Bellevue College, but there too he found the same negativity and more.
Just weeks into the season he blew out his elbow while pitching. He underwent Tommy John surgery to replace the torn ligament, and that was the first time he ever questioned his abilities.
During his recovery time (which was close to a year), the words of his dad lingered in his mind: "Nothing that is easy is worth anything." That got him through the surgery, the disappointment of not getting drafted and the harsh words of those around him.
"That's definitely true in this case," PoVey said. "It's been a long road."
So far the baseball road has taken him to California, Nebraska and Kansas, and now it will take him to places like Idaho Falls, Billings, Helena, Casper, Orem, Missoula and Great Falls in the Pioneer League, and he hopes many, many more.
"I don't want to stop my career here. I want to play for 20 more years," he said. "There's not time to sit around and rub it into too many faces."
E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com
Recent comments
I know you had a tough time and are an inspiration to those that...
B. Johnson | May 25, 2008 at 1:34 p.m.
I HAVE HAD THE SAME DONE TO ME ALSO, ALOT OF SCOUTS,COACHES,AND EVEN...
Harold Holbert | Oct. 19, 2007 at 1:13 p.m.
