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Speak Out
WGH pitching duo played for the third-best team in history
I just got back from my vacation and finished reading the wonderful July 18 cover story on that dynamic pitching duo from Willow Glen, Bobby Hobbs and Matt Durkin. My compliments go out to Kate Carter for writing a great piece on probably the two best pitchers to come out of Willow Glen in the history of the school.
As a former Ram player, I can assure you after watching 10 or so games this year, there is no way I would want to face either of these guys. Hobbs' curve ball to go along with his fast ball would be no treat. And who could forget Durkin's enthusiasm as he pumped his fist after recording the last out in that playoff game against Burlingame in front of a big crowd. With that kind of mound presence and all those scouts there, who in their right mind would want to face Durkin's savvy with that awesome fastball. Not me, that's for sure.
Congratulations to them both and to the entire team for having such a terrific season. Which now brings me to the point of writing this sound off. If either player goes back into the history archives of the school, they may think twice about their statements that "this was the best team to ever play at Willow Glen." I cannot argue the 17-1 record in league and I do not think that any team at the school has ever had two great pitchers like these two. However, and only for debates' sake, because comparing teams of the past with this one only makes for debate and nothing else. The true measure of a team has got to be how it does out of league and in the CCS playoffs. If Hobbs and Durkin will look back to 1970 they would come across a Willow Glen team that finished runner-up in the CCS. That team had a much better defense and hitting than this year's team. Since all we can do is compare, I do not know how that team would and could hit either of these two pitchers. I do know that if these pitchers proceeded back to the year 1967 they would come upon the only team to win a CCS baseball championship in the school's history. Both the 67 and 70 teams won three games in the CCS playoffs, this team only one. Both those teams beat Santa Cruz High School, this one did not. Only an opinion and not to diminish in any way this year's fine performance but to call this team maybe the best ever, I could not disagree more. Maybe the third best in school history behind the 67 team and the 70 team might be more appropriate.
By the way, if Durkin is still deciding on what to pursue, tell him to go get his college degree at San Jose State and play for real fine coaches in Sam Piraro and Doug Thurmond.
Steve Denton
Willow Glen Ram baseball 1970,
and San Jose State graduate
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
