The two have come a long way since then.

Realini of Cupertino and Perry of Sunnyvale each completed outstanding high school seasons in the spring, and they were both honored with positions on the Cal-Hi Sports All-State team for their efforts.

Realini, bound for Washington State University in the fall on a baseball scholarship, was named the most valuable player in the rugged Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League after an outstanding senior season at Valley Christian.

Perry starred as a junior at Mitty High School and was selected for the prestigious all-league team in the West Catholic Athletic League. Perry was also recently named the most valuable player for the Northern California all-star team in a summer series against Southern California. Teams were selected by the California High School Coaches Association, and only 20 NorCal players were so honored.

Realini and Perry led their respective teams to league championships, and they were both picked for the all­Central Coast Section first team. Realini's Warriors also won the CCS Division II title.

Fremont senior Troy Tulowitzki, Perry's Little League teammate, was selected for the all-league first team in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL). He earned a second-team spot on the all-CCS team. Tulowitzki, also an outstanding basketball player who led his team into the CCS finals, is headed to California State University Long Beach on a baseball scholarship.

Tulowitzki's Fremont teammate, junior Tyler Duran, was also selected for the all-league team in the De Anza Division.

Local players winning all-league honors in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL were seniors Bryan Silverman, Brian McGee and Brian Beres of Homestead; Ryan Katz of Monta Vista; and James White of Lynbrook.