Player of the Week : Home Run String Catches Scott Hefner Off Guard

It had been a long time since Scott Hefner hit a home run.

So long, in fact, the Dana Hills High School senior catcher and third baseman had begun to count the dry spell in years, not week or months.

“I hit lots of singles, lots of doubles and even triples,” Hefner said. “But I hadn’t hit a home run since I was in Little League, about five or six years ago. Before these last two games, I was sitting around thinking ‘I never hit home runs.’ Then, it was so funny, I went right out and did it.”

Hefner certainly did do it. Last week, the right-handed batter hit two home runs in consecutive games to bring his season home run total to four--the highest it’s been in more than five years.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I feel like everything’s coming together for me now. Those home runs were a nice change.”

For Hefner, his senior year has been full of change. First, his family moved from Huntington Beach to Laguna Nigel last fall and Hefner was forced to transfer from Edison High School to Dana Hills. Although he anticipated difficulties starting over at a new school in his senior year, Hefner was surprised at how easy the adjustment was.

“I love Dana Hills now,” Hefner said. “At first, I was scared of the change, of not knowing anyone, but it really wasn’t that hard to met new people and make new friends.”

Hefner also wasted no time tackling new challenges. He tried out for the Dolphin football squad last fall and made the team as a cornerback. He also was elected as a class representative to Dana Hill’s student council. The former three-year Edison starter also went out for the baseball team, where he encountered his biggest challenge of all--in the guise of powerful hitting teammate David Kirkpatrick.

“It’s nice to have him hitting ahead of me,” Hefner said. “I think that’s helped me out a lot. He challenges me. We compete against each other all the time, but it helps the team. When he’s on base, I try harder to get on base. We’re always trying to better each other.”

Kirkpatrick, a senior third baseman, agrees. “I think our competition makes us stronger players. We’re always competing, but it’s a friendly competition. We laugh and make jokes. We push each other to do better and better all the time.”

Hefner said his home run incentive in last week’s games was Kirkpatrick’s presence on base (Kirkpatrick was 6 for 7 in the two games in which Hefner hit his home runs). “I’d see David on base,” Hefner said. “And I’d hit it home.”

According to Dolphin Coach Bob Canary, Kirkpatrick at .606 and Hefner at .419 are a potent offense.

“The other team’s always trying to get Kirkpatrick out,” Canary said. “But he’s followed up by Hefner, who has surprised us all with his power output.”

And surprised himself with a few home runs. Scott Hefner Dana Hills High School Position: Catcher/third baseman Height, Weight, Class: 5-9, 155, Sr. Last Week: Four home runs--two a game--in two games last week. Season: 13 hits, 10 RBIs, 4 home runs, .419 average