Mark Magdaleno’s coaching career spans 30-plus years, and for all the baseball words of wisdom Clark College’s baseball coach pours out, he turns to automobiles describing two redshirt freshmen who hit in the middle of the order for the Penguins.
“One guy is a Ferrari,” said Magdaleno, in his fourth year at Clark, “and the other is a (Ford) F-350. Not a 250, a 350.”
That reference doesn’t surprise shortstop Kai Perreira and first baseman Connor Wojahn, who lead Clark (11-11 overall) in multiple offensive categories entering this weekend’s Northwest Athletic Conference South Division doubleheader at Linn-Benton. The two teams conclude their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday at Clark’s Kindsfather Field.
“F-350s aren’t too fast, said Wojahn, a Tigard, Ore., native, “but neither am I. I’ve got some power, through.”
That power is through an NWAC-leading eight home runs, as well as 27 RBIs and hitting .333. Same can be said for Perreira, from Honolulu, is hitting a team-best .400 with 26 hits, 19 runs scored and a .948 fielding percentage.
What the teammates now turned roommates are grateful for most is Clark paving their way for a second chance at college baseball.
Both began their careers away from Vancouver — Perreira at NCAA Div. II Hawaii Pacific and Wojahn at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Mont., then NAIA Midland University in Nebraska.
Arriving at Clark also meant a position change for Perreira, who is part of the same Saint Louis High School graduating class as current Alabama quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy finalist Tua Tagovailoa.
Primarily a catcher in high school, Perreira now thrives at shortstop. But it’s baseball- and softball-focused family that has Perreira playing the game he loves everyday.
“I’m doing it for them back home and making them proud,” Perreira said. … “It’s working out pretty well. I love it here. It gives me more opportunities after two years.”
Wojahn said he wasn’t known for long-ball hitting in his prep career at Tigard High School, and as he’s matured, so has more than his game.
“No one knew who I was,” Wojahn said. … “As I got older, I came into my body more. It’s a second chance to get a look at me and see what I can do.
“The friends and people you meet here that you go through it with are probably the most important relationships you get to build.”
Wojahn hit four home runs in the season’s first four games, and the most recent came in last Sunday’s 8-5 loss to Olympic.
It was that series that Magdaleno started eight redshirt or true freshmen on a team he already calls the youngest in the NWAC. Injuries to the pitching staff has meant a younger-than-anticipated starting rotation.
Clark missed out on the postseason on the final day of the regular-season the past two years, but Perreira and Wojahn knows this year’s team is close to a breakthrough.
“When we do,” Wojahn said, “we’ll be pretty good.
And Perreira went a step further.
“Once we get that all together,” he said, “this team is going to be pretty much perfect.”
