While there are a plethora of passionate people teaching and coaching in Santa Clara, a case could be made that none of them match the enthusiasm for both baseball and the city, than that of Santa Clara Bruins Head Coach Pedro Martinez.
The 37-year-old has a unique perspective when it comes to the high school baseball scene in the city. Growing up here himself, Martinez went to Peterson Middle School before attending and playing baseball at Wilcox.
A 2005 graduate, Martinez was part of a 2004 CCS Championship team under then Head Coach David Currie. Despite being on the Wilcox side of the rivalry in the early 00s, Martinez is firmly a Bruin now, and is eager to celebrate the 2005 Bruins team that went on a Cinderella-esque run through CCS.
Martinez kept in touch with then Bruins Head Coach Chuck Blair about not only recognizing the 2005 Bruins for their achievement, but also organizing an annual alumni game. An admitted history buff, Martinez never seems to lose sight of those who came before him and made an impact on him and the community.
The current Bruins skipper is in the process of trying to track down Blair’s coaching record as the latter’s stint as manager predates the statistics kept on the high school sports website MaxPreps. Furthermore, Martinez is eager to share praise with other role models that influenced him, like the aforementioned Currie, Woody Freitas and Jeremy Advincula.
“I still have a great connection with Jeremy Advincula, I can message him whenever and ask him for advice, he will give it,” beamed Martinez on his mentor. “He was actually using my baseball field a few times this past season with some of the guys he was helping to train. I definitely looked up to him, I think it was one of his first years teaching at Peterson when I was a student there. He was also my JV baseball coach at Wilcox, so that kind of went full circle.”
Thanks in no small part to those who coached him, Martinez will now enter his third season as Bruins Head Coach. He remains humble and honest despite being in charge of his own program.
“Sometimes I question whether I made the right move. I know some parents like to backseat drive, including my dad who still goes to my games and he will question my moves just like he was watching the Giants and questioning their moves,” chuckled Martinez. “I tell the parents of my teams that I make mistakes just like everybody else. I think I’ve learned to become a bit more patient as the years go on. I used to be the get in your face kind of guy, I see this generation as a group that doesn’t really take that type of criticism, it doesn’t really motivate them.”
The adjustments Martinez has made over the years in his coaching career certainly seem to be paying off. Martinez has high hopes for his Bruins this upcoming season.
“Obviously every year you want to win it all, but sometimes that’s not realistic. My goal is to get into CCS and win a game. We haven’t won a game since 2005, so it’s been twenty years,” said Martinez. “Everyone wants a championship, but it’s a process. Can’t have a chef cook a filet mignon if he doesn’t have the ingredients. I feel like this year’s team has the ingredients to potentially do something really special.”
