Former Gorman star takes game to CCSN

     By Todd Dewey
     View staff writer
      Coming out of Bishop Gorman High School last year, Ben Quinto fielded scholarship offers from several Division I schools. But the speedy shortstop instead opted to field grounders for the inaugural baseball team at the Community College of Southern Nevada.
      Quinto, a first-team, all-state selection who hit better than .400 in each of his last two seasons for the Gaels, chose CCSN for the chance to play right away for coach Tim Chambers, who was Bishop Gorman's coach until last season.
      Quinto's other reason for choosing CCSN? He wanted to further hone his skills, on and off the field.
      So far, Quinto's decision has paid off for both himself and the Community College of Southern Nevada, which was off to a 7-2 start at press time.
      Quinto, who played on two American Legion state title teams in high school, including one that placed fifth in the nation out of more than 5,000 teams, has already come through with a clutch hit for the Coyotes.
      With CCSN tied at 7 with Pima (Ariz.) Community College in its second doubleheader of the season, Quinto stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning and slapped a game-winning single to center.
      "I was hitting the ball all right the whole game, but right at guys," he said. "So I went up there real confident. I'm glad I got the opportunity to be in that situation."
      Quinto, who is fifth on the team in hitting with a .346 average, is also glad he decided to stay home to play ball.
      "I figured I wasn't going to play (Division I) and go and sit two years," he said. "So I figured I'd come here and get the chance to start. It was the smartest decision for me to play junior college baseball. I haven't had any regrets about it."
      Chambers, who guided Bishop Gorman for 10 years before becoming skipper of the Coyotes, said he also thinks Quinto made the right choice.
      "He was recruited by Oregon State and the University of San Francisco, but he felt he needed to play for two years and get stronger," Chambers said. "So he decided to play for me.
      "A lot of kids feel they need to -- as far as status goes -- go to a Division I school. But unless they're a phenom, they're not gonna play right away as a freshman. So why not play 200 games and go in as a junior?"
      The exuberant Quinto, who is 5-foot-10-inches and 165 pounds, said he needed to develop both physically and as a student before signing with a Division I school.
      "Coming out of high school, I didn't think I was ready to play Division I ball yet," he said. "So I decided to stay here and get bigger and stronger and develop as a student -- more as a student than as an athlete."
      It didn't hurt that the Coyotes, despite being a first-year program, are loaded with local talent.
      "I saw a good opportunity when Coach Chambers got the job and I saw the lineup," he said.
      Quinto said it was tough at first to call his former rivals teammates.
      "It was kind of hard to call us a team the first month because we all still hated each other," he said, good naturedly. "(It was all) guys I hated playing against in high school. But we have a great team."
      It didn't take long for Quinto, who always wears a smile, to adjust. In fact, he enjoys turning double plays with former Durango foe John DiBetta.
      "It's fun getting to play with him," Quinto said. "I saw him turn some sweet double plays in high school."
      Quinto said he has already learned a lot from the coaching staff, which also includes Bishop Gorman's old pitching coach, Glen Evans.
      "The coaches pretty much know how I play, so I don't have to press and be nervous. I can just relax and play," Quinto said. "I've learned a lot since I've been here -- hitting and baserunning and fielding -- the little things. And I'm still learning. I'm gonna be learning until I'm done playing baseball. You can never get done improving."
      Chambers said Quinto's strongest asset is his speed.
      "He likes to bunt a lot and creates havoc with the (opponents') infield," he said. "He causes them to rush their throws. His job is to get on base. (And) he's a great shortstop."
      He's also a good person. If his diamond dreams don't pan out, the outgoing Quinto said he may teach kindergarten or first grade.
      "One of the things that puts a smile on my face is working with kids," he said.
      Another thing that makes Quinto happy is playing in front of his hometown crowd. Quinto, who said his most memorable moment in high school was playing in front of 4,000 fans at Cashman Field in the American Legion World Series, is grateful for the support the Coyotes are getting.
      "The support we're getting is just unbelievable," he said. "It feels good to know how much support we have from the community and the field they gave us. They did us right."
      For now, Quinto plans on playing for two years at CCSN, but that could change, depending on his performance.
      "If I have a total outstanding year and get a (Division I) offer I can't turn down, of course I'll take that. But, right now, I plan to stay two years," he said. "I've got a long ways to go. I have a lot more room for improvement. I can still mature a lot as a player, offensively and defensively. I think two years will help a lot."
      Like most kids who grow up playing the national pastime, Quinto would love his story to end in the big leagues.
      "That's every kid's dream," he said. "Until I'm done playing baseball, it's always gonna be my dream."