By Staff Writer, Hakop A. 

            Throughout history, every successful sports team has had an unsung hero: The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s had John Paxson who could make three-pointers in the tightest of moments; the Boston Red Sox had Mark Bellhorn step up during their championship run in 2004; and now the playoff-bound baseball team (9-5 league, 13-8) has its own unsung hero—Adam Ochart (’09).
            On a team with outstanding players like seniors Sako Chapjian, Jason Ochart, Oscar Aguirre, and Jason Tapia, junior Adam Ochart has stepped up to the plate and has become the unsung hero of the baseball team.
            Ochart, who has an astounding .475 batting average, is an essential element in the team’s offense-heavy mentality. 
            “He is definitely a competitor,” shortstop Chapjian said of Ochart.  “He is always trying his best on the field and hates to lose.”
            Assistant Coach Troy Jemjemian agreed, stating that Ochart is the “essential spark plug that the team feeds off of” and that he “gets the team going.”
            Ochart first started playing baseball when he was four years old, but he quit to run track and field until his freshman year of high school. 
            At the time, Ochart felt that he was “fast” and that he “enjoyed running.” And so, he found baseball “boring” and took up track.
            Looking back, Ochart regrets his decision because he lost “five years of experience.”
            On the field and in the batter’s box, Ochart models his play after his favorite player, Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki, who is notorious for racking up hits and stealing bases as well as making incredible catches because of his immense speed. 
            Ochart showcased his power and swiftness in the team’s game against Verbum Dei High School earlier this season when he drove the ball deep and was able to use his speed to get a rare inside-the-park home run.
            Despite his success on offense, Ochart bats fifth in the lineup. However, he does not let that slow him down as he has 29 hits, 16 runs batted in (RBI), 2 home runs, and a .492 on-base percentage.
            “[Adam] gives us balance by batting in the bottom of the order,” Jemjemian said.  “He is the type of guy you want leading off an inning because he always finds a way to get on base.”
Jemjemian also stated that Ochart “keeps the defense on their toes” and that he is “arguably one of the fastest players the league has seen this season.”
            Adam has also had the luxury of playing with his older brother Jason (’08).  Pitcher, shortstop, and outfielder for the team, Jason has played baseball with his brother since his youth.
            “To be able to play baseball with my brother is great,” Ochart said. “He always helps me out if I am struggling and I do the same to him.”
            After high school, Ochart hopes to pursue a career in firefighting; that is, if he does not become a professional baseball player.
            “I am a very active person and I need a physical job,” Ochart said about his chosen career. “The most important thing, however, is the idea of saving lives seems worth the risk of my own.”