An epic journey to come to an end for Garcia and Medica

By Tom Schreier

What started 10 years ago with baseball road trips, water balloon fights and miscellaneous adventures in hotels has evolved into a bond between two Santa Clara University athletes.

Santa Clara pitcher Nate Garcia and catcher Tommy Medica have been playing baseball together since they were competing on a traveling team in San Jose at age 10. After attending Bellarmine College Preparatory high school, the two traveled five minutes down the Alameda to Santa Clara.

Long before they were introduced to Santa Clara's campus, baseball had been an integral part of both players' lives. Garcia can recall the fun they had on trips while playing on traveling baseball teams.

"When we were playing travel ball, every other weekend we were going somewhere and staying in hotels," he said. "Being 11, 12 years old and staying in hotels was the coolest thing."

"There would be other teams (in the hotel), and we would have water balloon fights," Garcia added.

The pitcher and catcher came to Santa Clara ready to build upon their success at Bellarmine Prep and take over a program led by a young coaching staff.

"Z (Recruiting Coordinator Mike Zirelli) had been scouting me since my sophomore or junior year of high school, so he had known me pretty well and I had been talking to him through e-mail quite a bit," said Garcia of his decision to come to Santa Clara. "That's basically how it came about, and about a week later Meds (Medica) committed also."

Medica also saw a benefit in attending a local university, as it gave him an opportunity to continue performing in front of the people he grew up around.

"My parents come to every single game, and I got a lot of other people around here that just like watching me play," he said.

The two decided to room together in Bellarmine Hall, which is typically reserved for upperclassmen. It was a perfect for two athletes who needed peace and quiet at night.

"We were originally going to live in Swig, but we just didn't want the hassle of waking up for weights at 5:30 and everyone around us is just raging it up or doing crazy stuff, so it was good that it was a little quiet," Medica said as Garcia shook his head and laughed.

When it came time for the 2009 season, Medica and Gracia were prepared to be partners in crime once again until Medica injured his shoulder nine games in. For the first time in his collegiate career, Garcia had to pitch to someone other than his long-time partner behind the plate.

"It was Saturday up in Oregon and I had thrown the day before, and I was just in the dugout, just doing nothing," recalls Garcia, a senior this year.

"The ball was hit to short and he was running...he hit the ground, and he just rolled over on his shoulder. I immediately thought he got hurt."

"We went to the hospital that day and you could pretty much guess what could happen," said Medica, who redshirted for the remainder of the year. "We got MRIs and stuff about a week later but..."

"They pretty much knew that night," Garcia said, finishing his teammate's sentence. "I was like, 'crap, now what?'"

Garcia had played with other catchers in the offseason. While playing for the Cotuit (Massachusetts) Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, he pitched for catcher Robert Stock.

"The guys I had out in Cape Cod, they're supposed to be (good)," Garcia said while shaking his head. "(Stock) skipped his senior year of high school to go to USC and get drafted earlier. He's supposed to be this really good catcher. He just doesn't compare to Tommy at all."

For Medica, it was the first time that he had to sit out a game since he was seven.

"Learning the game from the coach's side definitely will help in the long run," said Medica.

"I would have loved to be playing last year, but it's good to get a whole new perspective on the game."

Although he has enjoyed his time as a Bronco, Medica expects to forgo his redshirt senior year and join Garcia in the MLB minor leagues next year.

Being able to wake up and think of baseball instead of a paper or midterm sounds delightful to Medica, who feels Santa Clara has prepared him well for life after college.

"I honestly have no idea what to expect," said Garcia of the minors. "Last year when the draft came up I was thinking, 'what if I get drafted by the Dodgers?'...because of the rivalry with the Giants and whatnot. But whatever team picks me, I'm going to love that organization."

Garcia hopes that a professional baseball team will take note of his emulation of favorite pitchers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain of the Giants.

With graduation in the near future, both players know they will have to prove themselves at the next level in order to make it to "the show."

"I definitely think my work ethic will help me, just how big of a competitor I am," said Garcia with conviction.

"I'm not your ideal height for a pitcher, I don't throw 95-plus (mph). I'm six foot (and have) a 90 mph fastball...But whenever I'm on the mound, I think I'm the best guy out there."

"My thought process is 'this guy isn't going to get a hit off me. He doesn't deserve a hit off me,'" he added.

"I feel I have just worked so much harder than that guy...My work ethic will definitely help me get to the next level."

Medica pointed out the need for passion for the game when playing a sport so time consuming.

"You've got to love the game. You're playing six games a week, traveling on a bus, five, six hour bus rides. You're making a thousand dollars a month, getting paid about a dollar an hour for the amount of time you're on the field. If you love the game you'll find a way to make it work."

Medica and Garcia take the field for their final opening day as Broncos against the University of Nevada on Feb. 19 at Schott Stadium. Although this may be the final year the two will wear Santa Clara on their chest, both are years away from hanging up their cleats and hopefully a Major League Baseball cap.

Contact Tom Schreier at tschreier@scu.edu (408) 551-1918.