PORT ANGELES LEFTIES: For the Lefties, two Chavezes are better than one

PORT ANGELES — If you’ve been paying attention to Lefties box scores this year, you will have noticed a pair of Chavezes.

Chavez is a fairly common surname in the Southwestern U.S., so it isn’t too unusual to see two Chavezes on a team. What was a bit unusual is that twice so far this season, one Chavez has relieved the other on the mound for the Lefties.

A.C. Chavez and Jonny Chavez aren’t related. They didn’t know each other before arriving in Port Angeles and didn’t know much about each other. What they have in common is that they’re both pitchers and they’re both from the same general part of the country, though from different states.

Jonny Chavez is from Enid, Okla., and pitches for East Central University, an NCAA Div. II school in Ada, Okla. A.C. Chavez is from El Paso, Texas and pitched in junior college in New Mexico Junior College, but next season will be pitching for St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, also an NCAA Div. II school.

They are similar pitchers as Jonny features a fastball, changeup and curveball, while A.C. throws a fastball, changeup and slider. A.C. is a left-hander, while Jonny pitches right-handed.

Not only do they share a name and similar sunglasses, but they share some amazingly similar statistics. Both pitchers are strikeout machines, combining for 32 Ks in 28 innings. Jonny has pitched eight games, starting two of them, and has gone 16.1 innings while striking out 16 batters with three walks and an ERA of 5.51. A.C. has pitched eight games, all in relief, going 11.2 innings and also striking out 16 batters with two walks and an ERA of 5.40. A.C. has a record of 0-1, while Jonny has a record of 1-1 with two saves.

And what did they both think when they discovered they had a teammate in the bullpen with the same name

“Oh, that’s pretty cool,” A.C. said about finding out there was another Chavez on the team.

Like a lot of Lefties players from the South and the Southwest, one of the big adjustments for the players in the summer weather. Jonny played last summer in Alberta, but said it was warmer there in the evenings. He’s still trying to get used to the nighttime temperatures on the Olympic Peninsula.

“It’s cold here at night,” he said. “It’s really nice during the day. [But] I enjoy the heat.”

Jonny and A.C. have had a great time for the Lefties so far this season, they like the area and their teammates.

“Everyone is getting along. We’re here to get better individually and as a team,” A.C. said.

“It’s been a great experience so far. People here really make us feel at home,” Jonny said.

What are they hoping to gain from their Lefties’ experience? To get better and apply that for the rest of their baseball careers.

“To be better overall. I’m here to love the game again, to learn to trust yourself and your ability,” Jonny said.

A.C. said one of the fun things about the Lefties for the players are all the little kids that come to the games.

“After the game, they want your autograph,” he said. “It really feels like you’re in the pros.”