Tony Gabusi can still remember taking his daughter, Amie, to the first-ever opening night at Bank One Ballpark in 1998.
The opening ceremonies were beginning, and Gabusi, a season ticket-holder at the time, was headed for his seats near the right-field foul pole. Coming down the hallway with no security nearby was Gabusi’s favorite player, Hall of Famer Willie Mays.
“As he got closer, I got tongue-tied and a little nervous,” said Gabusi, who wears No. 24 as a homage to Mays. “I didn’t know what to say. So, I just said, ‘Mr. Mays, I sure love you.’ ”
Gabusi, Cienega’s fifth-year baseball coach, hopes his team can make its own memories Saturday morning. The Bobcats will face Ironwood Ridge at Chase Field at 9 a.m. Both teams will watch the Diamondbacks host the Cubs on Friday night.
The Star caught up with members of both teams this week:
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CHRISTIAN PEARCY
School: Ironwood Ridge
Year: Senior
Position: Infielder/pitcher
Favorite Chase Field food: A hot dog with bacon, cheese, cream cheese and icing
Best seat at Chase: “Right behind the dugout is probably the best; you’re on their level”
Favorite memory: Playing catch on the field with former Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren
KEVIN STEVENS
School: Cienega
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher/first base
Favorite Chase Field food: A hot dog and drink
Best seat at Chase: “Left field; you can see everything, and most of the home run balls go that way”
Favorite memory: “I went to the home run derby when the All-Star Game was there, that was probably most memorable for me. All the fans and the electricity in the stadium.”
JOSHUA DARANG
School: Ironwood Ridge
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Favorite Chase Field food: Rainbow sherbet Dippin’ Dots
Best seat at Chase: “My perfect view is down the left field foul line, right up front so you have the entire view of everything, and you’re in foul ball area.”
Favorite memory: “I got to pitch in their bullpen last year. I was nervous. I threw quite a bit at the backstop, some in the dirt, some up in the air.”
NAJEE GASKINS
School: Cienega
Year: Senior
Position: Center fielder
Favorite Chase Field food: Nachos with jalapenos
Best seat at Chase: “(Behind) the backstop, because you can see the JumboTron and everything”
Favorite memory: “Last game I went to, (outfielder A.J.) Pollock hit a home run, and I just thought, ‘He’s the man.’ I saw his build, and he’s a center fielder, so I was just watching him most of the time.”
