Erstad Thrills Cal Poly Pomona Campers
Anaheim Angels’ outfielder speaks at Bronco Baseball Camp

POMONA —The questions came one after another and Anaheim Angels’ outfielder Darin Erstad was ready with the answers.

Erstad made a special appearance Thursday at the Bronco Baseball Camp on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona. He was warmly received by the 76 children between the ages of 7-15 who are attending the week-long camp. The children asked Erstad questions about his baseball career for about 30 minutes before the Angels’ outfielder took time to sign autographs and pose for a group picture.

“We are very appreciative that Darin takes the time to do this,” Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach Mike Ashman said. “It’s not very often that kids get a chance to ask a Major League Baseball star questions. Darin loves kids and you could tell they enjoyed their time with him.”

Erstad and the Angels are in the thick of the American League pennant race and, in fact, the Angels were hosting the New York Yankees Thursday evening. Several campers asked Erstad about the thrill of being in a race for a divisional crown.

“For us, that’s what it’s all about. The fun is playing on a team,” Erstad said. “We’ve all had individual successes at this level, but it’s very rare when you find a group of guys at the major league level who play together.”

Erstad stressed the importance of being a good team member and of playing hard at all times. He discouraged the youngsters from displaying poor attitudes and making lackadaisical plays. He said he arrived at Cal Poly Pomona and watched the campers playing baseball for about 20 minutes before he spoke. He said he enjoyed seeing kids having fun playing the game.

“It was fun to watch,” he told the youngsters.

Erstad, who grew up in North Dakota, played baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer and track and field when he was younger. He was a punter on the University of Nebraska football team and starred on the baseball team. In 1995, Ashman was the hitting coach at Nebraska and he came to Cal Poly Pomona the following year. The two have remained close and Erstad is now a regular visitor to the Bronco Baseball Camp.

“It’s like living a dream,” Erstad told the group. “When I was this age or even younger, I always wanted to play Major League Baseball. That’s what I wanted to do.”

The week-long baseball camp ends Friday. Cal Poly Pomona has had camps in basketball, soccer, baseball, volleyball, tennis and strength and conditioning already this summer. Camps remain in basketball (Aug. 5-9; Aug. 12-16; Aug. 19-23) and tennis (Aug. 5-9). For more information, call (909) 869-2825.