Thanksgiving Hotseat

West Ranch Program

 

Brett Bradbury

I would like to thank my dad, my grandpa, and the rest of my family for supporting me and helping me to succeed. I would also like to thank Mrs. Palacios for taking me to school everyday. I also want to thank the West Ranch baseball coaching staff for getting me into the best shape of my life.

 

Michael Browne

I am thankful for having good, supportive parents that are always comforting me when things go bad. I am also thankful for having good coaches that know what they are doing and they do it well. And lastly, I am thankful for God for giving me the talent to play the game of baseball.

 

Coach Burrill

Coach Burrill would like to thank the following people- Wife Kris for 12+ amazing years, Daughter, Kari, for being so adorable, Son, Corey, for being so perfect, Dad, Jerry, for always being there for me, Mom, Maureen, for showing me how to see the best in everyone, Brother, Brady, for being my best friend, Sister, Mitzi, for showing me how to be strong and determined, West Ranch Baseball Players for making my job so rewarding, West Ranch Students for making it so easy to go to work every day, West Ranch Parents for always lending a hand and for all the words of encouragement, West Ranch Staff and Administration for building such a caring and supportive teaching environment, former players for the memories and life long friendships, former and future opponents that will always drive me to be better next time, Saugus High School for the great memories and friendships, all of my in-laws for being such great additions to the Burrill family, my former coaches for being such a positive and influential part of my life, my former teachers and professors for constantly trying to get the best out of me, William S. Hart Pony Baseball for giving West Ranch Baseball a home until our field is built, Bob Vincent for letting me work at such an awesome school, Coach Priske for always supporting my crazy ideas and adventures, Coach Smock for his wisdom and insight, Coach Fogel for his humor and competitiveness, Mars Company for making the Snickers bar, all of those that have fought and worked so hard to make our country safe and free, and Jesus for making everything possible.

 

Matt Cajigal

I am thankful to be a part of a great baseball program at West Ranch. I have learned a lot and have a lot of things to be thankful for. I am thankful for my parents and my sister for committing themselves to picking me up from baseball everyday. Despite the fact we live in Saugus, my family devotes time they can have to themselves to picking me up from the Colt Field and from after school conditioning. My family has made a great effort in getting me to games on time. I am thankful for all the time and stress my family has put in just so I can play baseball.

 

Bobby Calzadillas

This year I have a lot to be thankful for. First of all I would like to thank all of my Wildcat teammates and coaches. I am very proud of the coaches we have. I would also like to thank my parents because they believe in me and help me out whenever they can. Lastly, I would like to thank my entire family for always being there. Thank you!

 

Brett Davis

I am thankful for my parents supporting me in everything I do. They are always there to help me become an adult. I would like to send a special thank you to my mom for getting on my case if I do something wrong. Another special thank you goes to my dad for teaching me the right way to play the game of baseball and for always telling me to keep my grades up. I am also thankful for all of my grandmas and aunts and my sister for supporting me in fundraising and all the other things I need. I am also thankful for my friends for helping me during times nobody else can. I am also thankful for all the coaches for all of the time and effort they put in to make us better ballplayers.

 

Alex Duncan

I would like to thank my mom and dad for giving me the confidence to do anything if I set my mind to it. Also, I want to thank God for blessing me with the ability to play high school baseball and basketball.

 

Coach Fogel

I am extremely thankful for my family. I thank my parents, Steve and Suzanne for their love and support, and my brother, Josh, for being my best friend. I am also thankful for the West Ranch baseball coaching staff, some of my best friends, Casey Burrill, Jason Priske, and Darwin Smock for being both terrific people and coaches. They have made my coaching experience truly an awesome one. I am thankful to Azusa Pacific University, and all the faculty and friends that made my college experience one that I will never forget and one that changed my life forever. I am thankful for the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter, and George Steinbrenner, for ALL of the memories that will live with me forever. I am very thankful for George W. Bush and our current Administration for the job that they have done to make our country a safer place, always using proper ethics, morals, and values. I am thankful for my country, the greatest of them all, and for those who serve to protect it. These men and women are our true American heroes. Finally, I would like to thank God for all of His work done in my life.

 

Charlie Gillies

I am thankful for a lot of things. I am thankful for my dad because he is fighting for freedom in Iraq. He makes me very proud. I am also thankful for the rest of my family for supporting me in my life. I am thankful for food! I am also thankful that I get to be a part of the West Ranch baseball program.

 

Paul Hammons

I am thankful for everything anyone has ever provided to help me excel in my life. I’m thankful for everyone who has supported me in anything, at anytime, but especially thankful for my grandparents for being the wonderful people that they are. I’m thankful to the baseball coaching staff for helping me and my teammates non-stop with baseball and beyond. And most of all I am thankful for my parents, for being behind me my whole life providing and supporting me ALL the time and simply for just being able to put up with me.

 

Troy Hansen

I am thankful for my parents who drive me to all of the games and love me no matter what happens. They are always there for me. I am thankful for God who gave me the chance to live and to play baseball. I am thankful for my sisters who will always make me laugh. I am thankful for my loving grandparents who buy me things and always cheer me up. I am thankful for my family who are always helping me and teaching me new things. I am thankful for my coaches who picked me for this team and teach me how to improve in the game of baseball. I am thankful for the gift of education and that I get to attend such a great school.

 

Aaron Hasson

There are many things that I am thankful for. First, I must thank my friends and family for being there for me through rough times or when I was down. I would personally like to thank my dad, Al, and my mom, Terry, for loving me no matter how mad you were at me. Thanks to Coach Burrill and all the other West Ranch coaches for giving me the opportunity to represent my high school on the diamond. Thanks to Coach Kane and all of the West Ranch football coaches for allowing me to participate in a sport that I might not have tried.

 

Josh Lee

Throughout my entire 14 years of life, there have always been people there for me. The person I would like to thank first would be my dad. My dad was truly the first person to get me interested in baseball. He made me play Pinto League and I hated it! But he told me to stick with it for a few years so I did. Throughout my baseball life my dad taught me how to hit, throw, and how to play the game. And now I’m loving baseball. I would also like to thank all of my friends and family for being there all my life. I would also like to thank the coaching staff for teaching baseball and putting together an awesome team. I would especially like to thank God for giving me a special talent in baseball.

 

Shawn Miller

I’m thankful for many things, but the most important thing is that my family is safe and healthy – my parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and my only grandma all made it through the first 11 months of my high school life healthy. I’m thankful that I get the chance to go to a brand new high school next year, and I’m thankful for all the friends I made at West Ranch this year. I’m thankful for living in a country where I can make my own choices and plan out my own future. Finally, I am thankful for my pets, who – either fat or small, always are there to greet me with a happy face.

 

Coach Priske

There are so many things to be thankful for that I usually take for granted. I am so very thankful for a loving wife, Tracie, which displays patience and an unconditional love for me and our kids that is unsurpassed. She lets me fail, which in the long run makes our relationship stronger. I am thankful for my kids, Kaycie and Jake. I am thankful for date nights at the baseball field with Kaycie. I am thankful for Jake whose smile lightens up the darkest of days. I love my kids who love me unconditionally and know me only as dad, what a privilege. I cannot imagine life without them. I am thankful for my church, Faith Community that is like a second family to me and my family. We are very blessed to be a part of such a strong Bible-teaching church. I am thankful that I have the assuredness in Christ to know that He is my Savior and Lord. I am who I am today because of Him. I am thankful for a family that has done nothing but support me.

Specifically I am thankful for a relationship with my dad that was non-existent until after I graduated college. The saying “better late than never” is true here. Do not take that for granted. I am thankful for all of my friends who still like me though I am not prefect and do expect me to be. I am thankful for a job that I love and the people that I work with.

I am thankful that I get to coach with 3 of the greatest guys. I am thankful for Coach Burrill for letting me come help him that first year with the pitchers and was instrumental in getting me into the teaching profession. I am thankful for the talk we had last year in the bullpen. I am thankful for the kids I have the pleasure to coach, in the past, and the ones I currently coach. Each one is special in their own way. I would do anything for them. Lastly, I am thankful for a roof over my head, food that has always been provided for, clothes on my back, my health and of my family, a car that works, running water, money in the back, A/C and heaters, college football on a Saturday morning, a good cigar and a good game of golf. The list can go on forever, but one thing for me to always remember is that I just need to be thankful for everything in my life as it is all a gift and can be all taken away in a blink of an eye.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

 

Justin Randall

I am thankful for my wonderful family, loving parents, and all of my relatives who support me in everything I do. I am also thankful for going to a wonderful high school, being smart, and being a part of the WR baseball team.

 

Andrew Reed

I am thankful for God, my family, and my friends who have been a very big part of my life. Next, I am thankful that my family is healthy and in such a great place like Santa Clarita. I am thankful for all the new friends I’ve made through baseball and at school. Also, I am thankful for getting varsity coaching at the Freshmen level and for the game of baseball for giving me a sport to play this year and hopefully many years to come.

 

Chris Reed

I am thankful for my family who supports me through good times and bad times both on and off the field. Also, I am grateful for all of my good friends I have made on this team and also other longtime friends. Lastly, I am thankful for the opportunity to play for a great baseball program here at West Ranch. GO CATS!

 

Tyler Sellars

I’m thankful for a lot of things in my life. I’m especially thankful for the support of my family. I would like to thank my dad and my cousin for their help and tips (baseball lessons) on sports and school. I would like to thank my mom and my sister for their support with my school work and their “never give up” attitude. I want to thank the entire West Ranch coaching staff for teaching and really opening up the game of baseball while having lots of fun along the way. I definitely have to thank the whole baseball team for always being there when you need a laugh or for when you need to be picked up after a strike out or bad play. My teammates are always there to pick me up and make me want to get back out onto the field and ready for another inning. I’m thankful for everything and everyone including teachers, friends, and extended family. I’m just thankful for being able to get up and play baseball everyday which a lot kids don’t have the opportunity to do.

 

Coach Smock

I am thankful for my wonderful wife, Kristy, and our amazing dog, Razzle Dazzle. I am a better person because of them. They have taught me how to love and how to live. I am thankful for having the best parents on the planet who have supported me in all of my endeavors. I am thankful for the good Lord, Jesus Christ, who gives me strength. I am thankful for the American military and the current administration that leads the greatest nation in the world. I am thankful to have the opportunity to develop relationships with the future leaders of America in the classroom and on the baseball field. I am thankful for the privilege of being able to work alongside three tremendous human beings on the WR coaching staff. I am thankful that baseball has opened doors to many wonderful friendships. I am thankful for Vladimir Guerrero. To all of the players, parents, baseball fans, and other visitors to this web site, “Happy Thanksgiving!”

 

Travis Sreden

I’m thankful for the great teachers at West Ranch. I’m thankful for all of my teammates who encourage me at practice and during games. I’m thankful for my parents who love me no matter what. Most of all I am thankful that my big brother and sister let me hang out with them even though they go to Hart and I am a Wildcat.

 

C.J. Woldanski

I am thankful for my family, sports, coaches, lots of food, T.O., video games, more food, and my friends. GO WEST RANCH!