Former Don makes appearance in World Series

Ryan Nagy
Staff Reporter

This was a memorable year for Rockie fans because it was the first time in franchise history the Rockies went to the World Series. Unfortunately, the Rockies struggled to produce runs and were swept in the World Series by the Red Sox.
However, this World Series proved to be somewhat more important to the Santa Barbara community than in years past. Everyone had their eyes on Ryan Spilborghs, former Santa Barbara High baseball player.
Spilborghs started playing varsity baseball as a freshman in 1994 and dominated with a career batting average of .472. He capped off his playing days at SBHS by batting a school record .519 average his senior year and winning Channel League MVP.
Fred Warrecker, currently the baseball head coach, coached Spilborghs. He said Spilborghs had an “incredible mental and emotional stability. He was able to compete completely and then turn it off after the game.”
After graduating from Santa Barbara High, Spilborghs moved on to play at UCSB and from there, the minor Leagues. He continued to play in the minors until making his major League debut for the Colorado Rockies on July 16, 2005.
Spilborghs started in right field and went 2 for 4 with two singles against the Cincinnati Reds. “Ecstatic,” said Werrecker of Spilborghs’s debut, “I knew how hard he had worked, the sacrifices he had made. Yes. I was thrilled.”
In 2006, Spilborghs started in 34 games and this last season, was a reserve player and started many games because outfielder, Willie Tavarrez, was injured. Even when Tavarrez returned, Spilborghs stayed and found some playing time in the field and at the plate by being a pinch hitter.
“I realized that this might be a once in a life time moment. Many good players have played for years and never got a chance to play in a World Series game,” said Warrecker.