Brady Burrill

Future West Ranch Coach

First off, on behalf of the entire WR baseball program I would like to welcome you to our baseball family. We think we’re getting one of the best young teachers and coaches our valley has to offer and we’re excited to have you. You have some experience working with Priske, Fogel, Smock and your brother Casey. What can you tell people about those brief experiences working with these guys on the baseball field? Do you find yourself entertained from time to time?

I don’t think you can find a better group of coaches at the high school level anywhere in the country. My favorite part about the coaches is that the players will learn as much about life as they will about baseball. I always took as much pride in the classroom as I did on the playing field and I am glad this is being stressed at West Ranch. I’m thankful to be a part of both ends of the spectrum and I am excited to work with a fantastic staff and a classy group of coaches. To answer your second question, I do have to say that I never laugh any harder then when I am around all the coaches. There is something about the Smock/Fogel relationship that is worth the price of admission. When I am being “insulted”, it is never offensive because I’m laughing too hard to even understand it. I do have to say though Smocker, what you lack in height and appetite, you make up for with your long meditated pauses between comebacks and insults.

 

You had an outstanding career at Michigan State. Can you describe your college baseball experience?

The best part about college baseball is the relationships you gain with people both on and off the field. Most of my best friends to this day I met while at Michigan State. While I don’t miss the 10 hour bus trips to Iowa and Penn State, the pleasantries from the fans at THE Ohio State University (nice name OSU), the disgusting smell around that school in Ann Arbor, and the 3 and a half hour arrivals to the field before games. I will miss the competition, hitting a ball into the right center gap, and picking a guy off first base from my knees. While Michigan State certainly is not known for college baseball, we played and beat some of the best teams in the country while I was there. MSU has been very good to me and I pride myself in being a Spartan and bleeding green.

 

As someone who has played baseball at a very high level, can you tell our young student athletes how important it is place a premium of their education?

A quality education is by far the most important thing you will gain while at West Ranch. It’s so ironic that a free education at a public high school will eventually be the most valuable thing in your life. The way a student athlete handles themselves in the classroom is a direct reflection of how they can be valued on the baseball field. I am not necessarily talking about grades, but rather work ethic. Not everything in the classroom or on the baseball field will be the best experience. How a student athlete works through adversity will speak volumes about them as a player, student, and person.

 

You were drafted by the Seattle Mariners (not the Angels, but a decent organization) and spent some time playing in the Cape Cod League. Tell us about your experience playing in that wood bat league with some tremendous talent.

First of all, the Cape Cod League is nothing like the movie “Summer Catch.” Actually that movie was infuriating. The first game I played in the Cape almost seemed surreal. The people in the small towns in the Cape all come out in droves to support the local teams. To this day I still talk to my host family and I even made a trip to see them last summer. From a baseball aspect, I remember the nerves I had going out to the Cape because I wasn’t sure if I deserved to play with the best players in the country. What I realized was that it didn’t matter what kind of school we came from. Baseball is played the same way everywhere and I could hold my own against some of the best arms in the country. Defensively I always felt I could play at the highest level but it still was a little different seeing a 98 mph fastball or an 83 mph slider that breaks 2 to 8. The great thing will be seeing a lot of those guys that I played with or against on TV in the next few years.

 

What is your favorite baseball memory?

My favorite baseball memory without question was the Las Vegas trip we had my junior year. I played exceptionally well but moreover it was the only time in college that both my brother and sister’s families were able to see me play. It was nice to play in front of them when we beat UCSB in our first game of the season 19-14 in a pitcher’s duel. Your going to score a lot of runs when your 4 and 5 hitters are 10 for 10 with 5 bombs.

 

You have been to many Major League Baseball stadiums across the country. What are your top three stadiums?

At last count I believe I have been to 24. Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, and the Ballpark in Arlington are my top three. Dodger Stadium will always be my favorite just because I grew up watching games there. I had to say Fenway Park because it just has a history and a feel to it. Plus I hate the Yankees so anytime I can root for their rivals I will do so. Fogel’s love for the Yankees and his ability to antagonize Dodger fans has thus enhanced my hatred of the Bronx Bombers.

 

I know you’re a big fan of traveling and seeing the world. You spent some time last summer with Coach Smock in the Czech Republic, Germany, and France visiting some World War II sites. Tell us about that experience. Is there really a town in France called “Angerville”?

There in fact is a place called Angerville but its not necessarily in France. Let’s see if you remember Smocker. Angerville was located in Paris, Normandy, Prague, on the train from Prague to Berlin… pretty much anywhere that didn’t serve kid-size meals, Smock was then headed for Angerville. I actually do believe Smock was given the key to the city of Angerville due to his frequent visits. Visiting Normandy was a dream come true. It was truly inspiring to be on the same beaches where so many men gave their lives. With every city that we visited, I feel that I grew up just a little bit more. Prague was my favorite city by far, especially because it didn’t cost an arm and a leg while we were there.

 

Eating abroad is always an adventure. Tell us what your favorite and least favorite food was on your Euro road trip.

Considering that I still can’t pronounce any of the food we ate there, I’d have to say that my least favorite food was the Czech dish of meat and potatoes. In Brussels I believe my favorite meal was the Belgium waffles I had the last day I was there. To be honest with you, it was a lot more difficult ordering the food then it was eating it. At least I could chalk it up to being a stupid American tourist.

 

Did your European experience broaden your appreciation for the great sport of soccer? Are you ready to sport a Manchester United jersey yet?

While I’d still rather watch the cheerleading championships on daytime ESPN, soccer is a great sport to watch when killing time in a foreign country especially when the only other things on are French melodramas. While I will never wear a Manchester United jersey, I will root for the Manchester United hooligans over the Queens Park Rangers hooligans any day of the week.

 

Aside from the female athletes at Michigan State, who would be your dream date and where would you go?

While the West Ranch coaching staff might believe my dream date is with Lucy Liu, I actually have two caucasian dream dates. The first one would be Jessica Alba. She's an extremely talented actress. The other, of course, would be Kelly Kapowski from Saved By the Bell. What male in their early to mid-20's didn't have a crush on her? Seeing Kelly on screen still keeps me glued to the TV during reruns. I guess it also helps that I can quote every line from Saved By the Bell.

 

What kind of music do you enjoy listening to and what types of music would be a “nightmare” to have to endure?

Any pure unadulterated rock would do for me. My favorites remain Chevelle, Metallica, Mudvayne, Static X, Seether, and Sevendust. Anyone who screams into the microphone will do just fine by me (Smock knows what I'm talking about). For my least favorite kind of music let me give you a scenario. Coach Fogel comes up to me and tells me he has two front row seats to see 50 Cent in concert. Which reason do I give Fogel to decline?

A. I’d rather go to watch a Women’s World Cup soccer match between Kazakhstan and Angola.

B. I’d rather get the backwards ejection during a Saugus/Chatsworth baseball game.

C. I’d rather spray paint my stomach with an enormous navy blue “M.”

D. I’d rather root for the New York Yankees.

E. All of the above.

The answer of course would be E.

 

If you could invite any three people in the history of the world over for dinner, whom would you choose?

I could think of several great historical figures to invite. My favorite combination would be with John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby. Can you imagine this dinner? I, for one, have a right haymaker waiting for old Lee Harvey. Out of all the conspiracy theories in United States history, I don't know why this one is so fascinating to me. I also cannot figure out why they just can't seem to find Nessy.