Teen in demand for supply of talent

Corey McGuire, left, jokes around with Vacaville Junior Central All-Star manager Rich Jelinski at a recent practice. The Central stars will face Dixon at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Centennial Park.

Baseball is becoming a game of tug-of-war for Corey McGuire, who is torn between two teams and was asked to play with a third this summer. The talented 14-year-old is certainly in demand.

The left-hander can only do so much, however. He plays in the Vacaville Junior Central Little League to be with his buddies and with the Elk Grove Bombers for the sake of better competition.

There was a time this season when McGuire was scheduled to pitch for the Junior A’s on Friday and then the Bombers on Saturday. He went to A’s manager Rick Jelinski and asked not to throw.

McGuire needs to show teammate Tyler Dombrowski how to wear a batting helmet.

“I didn’t want to make (Jelinski) feel bad,” McGuire said, “but I really wanted to pitch for the Bombers.”

Jelinski understood McGuire’s dilemma. Jelinski also manages a tournament team and realizes how a player can feel as if he is letting one team down when he saves himself for another.

“If I didn’t know Corey for all these years, it could have been a difficult situation,” Jelinski said. “That would have been tough with some coaches. It didn’t hurt us because we have other pitchers.”

McGuire can do much more than pitch. He also plays in the outfield and knows how to swing the bat. Jelinski knows a special player when he comes across one, and  McGuire certainly qualifies.

“It’s no secret that he’s one of the best players in Solano County and one of the best players in Northern California,” Jelinski said.

Tim McGuire knows his son has talent, but he also realizes it comes along with pressure to perform. With his son playing for two teams at the same time, that can be a double dose of expectations.

“(Vacaville Highl) started an American Legion team and they wanted him to play. He felt some pressure to do that, but he didn’t,” Tim said. “With the talent he has, everybody wants him to play.”

McGuire is already looking forward to playing baseball at Vacaville High. He is not going out for football, however, even though he was asked to do so. After this summer, he could use a break.

As much as he loves baseball, McGuire does not want the sport to consume his life. He has found a way to get away from the game.

“I go to the room, close the blinds and just chill out,” he said. “I don’t try to think about baseball because if I do, it just makes me want to play even more.”

There is certainly more in store for McGuire, who will play for the Junior Central All-Stars on Friday when they face Dixon at 5:30 p.m. in a District 64 tournament game at Centennial Park.

The Vacaville Junior National and American stars will tangle at the same time at Arlington Park.