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OSCAR ALMEIDA
(posted April 30, 2009)
Nobody in Class 5A has hit more homers than RIo Grande senior Oscar Almeida. He has smashed 10, according to the latest Albuquerque Journal stats.
Almeida, who has started on the varsity since his freshman season, also pitches. He has a 6-1 record.
This season hasn't been completely smooth. Earlier this week he was involved in a scary outfield collision with teammate Mervin Martinez. He talked about that and several other topics with The Team this week.
THE TEAM: What's the secret to hitting home runs?
OSCAR ALMEIDA: Keep your eye on the ball and be confident with yourself.
THE TEAM: Do you remember your first homer? What happened?
ALMEIDA: (Laughs) Yeah it was in little league, when I was like 11 years old. I got lucky man. I was just swinging for the fences and I just got one. ... It was about a 300 foot fence and I was about 120 pounds. I'm happy I got it. It was just a happy feeling.
THE TEAM: What do you remember from that collision on Tuesday?
ALMEIDA: Not too much. ... There was just no communication there. Well, there was, but I just called it late. (Mervin Martinez) didn't have time to react. My throat hit his shin and broke it in half. At that moment he went over me and twisted my neck around. First I got a concussion then I got whiplash after that. ... That was my first and only (collision).
THE TEAM: How did you get into baseball?
ALMEIDA: My dad got me into baseball. He was in some leagues here in the Albuquerque area. When I was little he put me in little league and I just loved it. ... I was about 8 years old.
THE TEAM: Who has had the biggest influence on you as a baseball player?
ALMEIDA: Has to be my father (Pascule). He taught me everything about the game of baseball.
THE TEAM: So far Rio Grande is the only team to beat nationally ranked La Cueva. Does that help you if you are to play them down the road?
ALMEIDA: Yeah, absolutely. We know that we have the capabilities of beating them. ... They're not invincible.
THE TEAM: What talent do you wish you had?
ALMEIDA: I wish I could hit the ball about 400 feet. ... I'm a small guy. It's going to harder for me to get to the next level. I wish I was a bigger guy.
THE TEAM: Nickname?
ALMEIDA: (Laughs) It's Slo-mo. ... I have no idead what it means, I'm one of the faster guys on the team.
THE TEAM: Who does the best impression of coach Griego on your team?
ALMEIDA: Jordan (Chavez), his nephew.
THE TEAM: Is there a song that pumps you up for baseball?
ALMEIDA: Music before a game doesn't really pump me up. Just basically calm. More quiet. Try to get my mind right.
THE TEAM: Favorite pregame meal?
ALMEIDA: Anything man.
THE TEAM: Baseball superstition?
ALMEIDA: It's a common one, I never step on the lines when I'm pitching.
THE TEAM: What has been your most memorable experience in four years at Rio Grande?
ALMEIDA: That first game. My first game at varsity. ... The funny thing is, I started left field for that game. There was a guy on second base and they hit it to me. He ran home. And I got the guy out at home.
THE TEAM: What's better, striking out the side or hitting a homer?
ALMEIDA: Striking out the side. It's a confident feeling that you have. You know that you can beat them, you know you have the stuff to do it. You have eight other players that can hit a home run, but only one guy can strike out the side.
THE TEAM: First summer job?
ALMEIDA: With my dad. It was construction.
-- As told to James Staley
