Step Up to the Plate: Joanne Sheng and Jose Cortez


DOB: 12/15/80
HT/WT: 6'/215 lbs.
Hometown: Chino, CA
Major: Organizational Studies

Currently hitting .459 with 15 homeruns and 48 RBIs through 28 games. During his freshman year Cortez was 2nd team All-American, sophomore and junior years he was 1st team All-American, and to top it off he was also SCIAC Player of the Year his sophomore and junior years. His freshman year Cortez also led the country in homeruns and his sophomore year he led the country in RBIs. Thank Jebus this guy plays for us…

JO: I've been told that the Chicago Cubs drafted you last year, would you tell me more about this?

JOSE: I was drafted last June by the Chicago Cubs in the 44th round of the amateur baseball draft. I opted to return to finish my final year of school and play one more year of baseball here and take my chances for this year's amateur draft. After not signing with the Cubs, I had to sign a letter saying that they no longer had the rights to me. That means that this year I am open to any team again. There are 50 rounds and in each round each team selects a player. Every team has scouts that go out and watch the top prospects around the country. When draft day comes, the teams make their picks based on the information that the scouts have given them. Last year, I wasn't given a satisfying enough offer, that's why I chose to return for one more year here.

JO: As a catcher, do you ever get any problems with your knees?

JOSE: Luckily, I haven't had any surgeries. I've been catching for about 10 years now I never had any knee problems till last year. During my first two seasons here at Pomona-Pitzer I shared time behind the plate. Last year though, my catch duties increased and I caught just about every game. I held up fine most the season. Towards the end however the long season definitely started to take its toll on my knees. I feel I've put myself in better shape this year and my knees have been pretty good. The key is to avoid the surgeries. That's my nightmare as a catcher.

JO: How long have you been playing baseball? Why did you choose baseball over other sports?

JOSE: I started playing little league baseball when I was nine years old. I got a late start I guess. Most kids start earlier and play T-ball and everything; I started off in majors, playing against kids that were all older than me. My parents didn't want to rush me into organized sports, they wanted to make sure it was something I really wanted to do. When I was seven, my mom took me to sign up for AYSO (soccer). I waited in line for like an hour, and when I was the next person to sign up, I turned to my mom and told her that I didn't want to play. I don't know why, I guess I just wussed out. But two years later I signed up for little league. I feel I've made the right decision although I could have been the next Pele. I played basketball for four years in high school and football for two years. That was a lot of fun. I didn't have as much pressure playing those sports as I did with baseball. Those were more just for fun, baseball was a lot more serious.

JO: What positions did you play before being a catcher for four years at PP?

JOSE: In little league I started out at first base. I started catching when I was 13 years old. I caught all throughout high school. I've had some stints at first base for PP, usually only in cases when someone has been hurt. But I think I'll be catching until my knees say otherwise.

JO: The Sagecocks won SCIAC last year, how is the team looking now?

JOSE: We're in a pretty good position right now in the conference. We're one game behind Cal Lutheran. We just need them to drop one game and we'll be conference champs - that is, as long as we don't lose any more games in conference. We suffered some tough losses to Whittier early on that set us back. But we've played strong since then, especially after a big weekend against CMS. We finished the game we tied on the 16th. So hopefully, I won't be eating my words when this article comes out. If we get into playoffs, we have to get through Regionals first to get to the World Series. I think having some experience from being there last year, our hopes would be a little higher in Regionals.

JO: Who are your role models and why?

JOSE: I've never really had one particular role model. When watching professional baseball, I try to pick up as much as I can from those players because they're the best in the country so I guess you can call them role models. But I know what I want out of myself and what I need to get it done. I consider myself more of a self-role model. Off the field, I consider my parents to be my role models. I have taken their values and beliefs and made them my own.

JO: Do you have any superstitions when you compete?

JOSE: Not as many as I used to have. I try to tell myself that I don't need a superstition to get me a hit or something. I do touch the corners of the plate before every pitch, I've been doing that since I was nine years old. That's one superstition that I don't think I'll ever get rid of. In high school I used to be really bad. I'd put on my uniform the same way every time, my catchers gear the same way every time, you know? I was a little weird.

JO: Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby?

JOSE: My mom tells me that I did. I hope I have a lot of hair 30 years from now. It's starting to thin out a bit, though. I might have to invest in some Rogaine in the future.

JO: Yeah, me too. What are your future plans for after graduation?

JOSE: When June comes around, I'll be listening and hoping for my name to be called out in the amateur draft. If not, I'll look elsewhere and try to make it in some other leagues. And if that doesn't work out, well I guess I have to start working. Don't ask me where.