Atwater’s Derek Molina a true baseball all-star

Adjusting to life after Derek Molina won’t be easy for Atwater High baseball coach Jarrod Pimentel.

The Falcons skipper is used to writing his name on the lineup card every game. Now as he’s working with his younger players with summer ball, it’s strange not to look out at shortstop and see Molina.

Molina was a three-year starter for the Falcons. He would have started all four years but he missed his sophomore season with a knee injury.

“I’ve been around Derek for four years and his brother Donny was around here for three, so the Molina family has been around for seven years,” Pimentel said. “It’s been a lot of fun. There were some growing pains along the way, but they both turned out to be great ballplayers and great young men.”

Pimentel will see Molina’s name on the lineup card at least one more time on Saturday, as he will be coaching the North team along with Gustine’s Mike Mendonca in the sixth annual Merced County All-Star Baseball Game at Merced College.

Player introductions are scheduled for 7 p.m. with the game expected to start at 7:15.

Molina will suit up in his Atwater uniform at least one more time.

“Definitely looking forward to the game because last year was such a fun experience,” Molina said. “I got to meet the guys from Hilmar and Mariposa. I got to play with the Buhach Colony guys. It was fun to play with all those guys.”

Molina put on a show in last year’s game with two hits, including a three-run homer in the second inning. He and Dos Palos’ Efrain Del Rio shared MVP honors.

Last year’s game was slugfest with the North winning 11-9. The teams combined for 22 hits.

“I think there will be a couple big shots, like last year,” Molina said. “I know Efrain will be out there again. I think he’ll hit one.”

Molina is hoping to play in two all-star games this summer. Last year he was unable to play in the Merced County vs. Stanislaus County Game because he was out of town. Molina said this year he’s available to play against Stanislaus County on June 20 if he’s selected from the Merced County game Saturday.

It’s no surprise Molina is an all-star. Molina hit .459 with two home runs, 22 runs scored and 19 RBIs in 27 games this spring. He’s graceful at shortstop with a cannon for an arm. Molina can also pitch with a fastball that tops 90 mph.

“You really don’t realize how much he’s done for us until I look out there and I don’t see him there anymore,” Pimentel said. “He’s been around so long it’s weird not seeing him out there at shortstop. He was special. He did a lot of things well.”

In July, Molina is moving to Southern California to begin his baseball career for Cal State Northridge. Soon he’ll be living in a dorm and taking summer classes.

“It’s crazy, it went by really fast,” Molina said. “Looking back now, I felt I had a good run. I was injured my sophomore year, but I had a lot of fun. I’m glad Coach Pimentel was my coach. He taught me a lot. I’m ready for the next level.”

This story was originally published June 11, 2015 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Atwater’s Derek Molina a true baseball all-star."