Jaimes Feeds Off Father’s Example

When your father is a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and works hours more suited to Dracula, you better do your best to live up to dad’s work ethic.

Matt Jaimes, a senior outfielder at Chino High, understands the sacrifices his father, Angel, makes while carrying a gun and wearing a badge during his 8 p.m.-to-6 a.m. patrols for the sheriff’s Transportation Services Bureau.

“I’m proud of my dad,” Jaimes said. “I know it’s a hard job.”

The dedication of a father in service of his community has been taken to heart by an 18-year-old who succeeds in the classroom and doesn’t stop swinging at baseballs until he’s completely satisfied.

“I need 100 solid balls to right field,” Jaimes said. “Then 50 to center, 50 to left. I hit until I get it right.”

He hits balls in his home-made batting cage that his father transported on a truck to their house in Ontario with the help of five other adults.

Jaimes, 6 feet and 195 pounds, spends so much time in the batting cage that his father said, “He’s worn it out.”

The practice paid off. Jaimes, who has a 3.6 grade-point average, had the best senior season of any player in Southern California.

As a hitter, he led the Southland with 15 home runs. As a pitcher, he was 10-1.

On Tuesday in a Southern Section Division I semifinal at Blair Field in Long Beach, Chino lost to Agoura, 9-5. It was Jaimes’ first mound defeat after 15 consecutive victories over three seasons. It hardly diminishes what Jaimes has accomplished.

Driven is the word that best describes Jaimes.

“He has tremendous desire,” Coach Bob Sheehan said.

Summer and winter were devoted to improving his strength and power. Jaimes gained 20 pounds through lifting weights and eating lots of meat. And then there were the hours hitting off a tee in his batting cage or when his father pitched to him.

His father has served as his coach and biggest fan since he was a baby. Somehow, Angel has never missed any of his son’s games.

“That’s amazing,” Jaimes said. “Even when I’m out of state, he’s never missed a game.”

The two have been almost connected to the hip when it comes to baseball. Matt practices and plays. Angel watches and critiques.

“Everything I’ve learned has come from my dad,” he said.

His father knows his son is growing up and will soon leave for college or the pros. Jaimes has signed with Hawaii but also looks forward to next week’s amateur draft.

“I’ve told him, ‘You’re almost a man now. If you want to be a professional ballplayer, you have to do it on your own,’ ” his father said.

Jaimes won’t forget his senior year, even though the Cowboys (28-2) fell one game short of reaching Angel Stadium, site of the championship game.

“This year has been a blast,” he said. “I’ve never had so much fun in my life.”

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The life of an understudy involves being ready to step in when the star is ill or injured.

There were plenty who thought Agoura’s postseason would come to an abrupt end because of injuries to its two professional prospects, Jason Stoffel and Robert Stock, but the Chargers proved again Tuesday they are more than just a two-man team.

With the hard-throwing Stoffel sidelined because of a broken ankle, slider specialist Jamie Leonard frustrated Chino for four innings in the Division I semifinals. Then unsung Matt Withem retired all nine batters he faced in relief.

“They’re not second stringers,” Stoffel said while leaning on his crutches. “They’d be No. 1s anywhere else.”

With Stock getting only one hit in five at-bats, senior catcher Cole McCune contributed two doubles and three runs batted in, supported by senior second baseman Ben Yarin, who had three hits and four RBIs.

It means that Agoura (21-8), the second-place finisher in the Marmonte League, has reached Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. Division I final against Lakewood at Angel Stadium because it has talented players besides Stoffel and Stock. Lakewood defeated Riverside Poly, 1-0.

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Marques Johnson, the 1973 City Section basketball player of the year at Los Angeles Crenshaw, is one proud father. His son, Moriah, a 6-2 freshman at Crenshaw, won the City freshman-sophomore high jump championship at 6-0, was captain of the junior varsity basketball and volleyball teams and earned straight-A’s.

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There’s a big push underway to recruit officials for the coming high school season. Dozens of new schools are adding athletic programs. Even high school students who are 18 or older are encouraged to become officials.

Football officials get paid $65 a game. Baseball and softball umpires can make $60 a game.

In the San Fernando Valley, anyone interested can call (818) 371-6487.

Call the Southern Section office at (562) 493-9500 or the City Section office at (213) 745-1980 and they will put you in touch with the officials’ association in your neighborhood. They offer free training.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.