Player Profile: Humble Dean Pitches

From a young age Artichoke John
Dean participated in sports, but found
an interest in baseball.

“That’s all I know; all I did as a kid was
play sports,” Dean said.

Dean started playing baseball at age
three, but by age nine he wanted to quit.
He now thanks his father for pushing
him to excel in baseball.

“My dad was the reason why I started
playing baseball. I wanted to quit baseball
when I was nine but he made me play my
next year and ever since then, it just took
off. I never thought of quitting or putting
down my glove. He’s every reason why I’m
here,” Dean said.

Playing for Scottsdale started off to
a rocky start due to Dean breaking his
femur in the second game of the 2008
baseball season. He had to undergo surgery
and went to therapy for six and a
half months and then finally came back
last year to pitch for SCC.

“Just as I was pitching, it (femur) just
spiral fractured and snapped and I fell. No
reasoning, no nothing- it was just a freak
accident,” Dean said, while explaining his
injury that happened during a game.

Now, in the 2009 baseball season, Dean
is one of the 14 SCC baseball pitchers,
works and is going to Scottsdale Community
as a full-time student. Taking
after his father, Dean asspires to be a
firefighter and is currently studying fire
science.

“My dad is a pretty big role model in
my life,” said Dean, adding, “There are
times where I’m pulling my hair. I’ve got
so much homework and I know I can’t
miss work and can’t miss games. The
team- that’s one thing that keeps me going.”
Despite having a hectic schedule, Dean
wants to continue to play baseball.

“Baseball is the one thing I want to
do. When I stand on the mound, it is the
most comforting place and I can pretty
much be myself and do my own thing,”
Dean said.

Dean is currently leading the Arizona
Community College Athletic Conference
in the Zero Earn run average. An ERA is
the amount of earned runs (no errors
and no passed balls) given up by a pitcher
per nine innings pitched.

During baseball practices and games
Dean does not think about his stats, nor
does he think about his personal goals. In
his eyes it’s all about the team, his team.

“When I pitch, I don’t pitch for myself
nor do I pitch for my stats. I pitch for the
other 13 guys that are not pitching and
the players on the field. It’s not for me;
it’s for the team,” Dean said, adding, “I stay
humble with what I do. I couldn’t imagine
doing anything else at Scottsdale; I come
here to play baseball.”