Diamonds' Gash making up for lost time Wu Darius Gash By RICK INGEBRITSON Courier Sports Writer Darius Gash has something to prove. "I've gotten a late start on my career and at 24, people may say I'm probably maxing out or I'm past my time," Gash said. "I think you're only as old as you make yourself and I think I have a lot left. I just need to keep working hard and keep turning heads." Gash is the starting centerfielder for the Waterloo Diamonds, a job he has held since the Padres' Class A farm club began its season four months ago. Gash has been the one constant on a team that, though successful, has endured several injuries and player moves. Gash has led the Midwest League in batting for much of the season and is cur- rently hitting .315, second to fielder, the New York Yankees and that I could keep playing," Brandon Wilson of South Bend. drafted him in the 19th round of Gash said. "So I quit baseball and A switch-hitter, Gash currently the amateur draft. became a world-class beerleads the league in both hits and "It was exciting to get drafted, drinker. After two years of going runs. but we couldn't agree on a con- to school and drinking beer I was Gash also leads the Diamonds tract and I decided to go on to bored and decided to play basein stolen bases and runs-batted-in. school," Gash said. ball my senior year." His RBI total of 54 is surprising, So, he enrolled at Middle Ten- After his senior season at Midconsidering he has only four nessee State where he suffered die Tennessee, Gash was again home runs on the season and has through his biggest disappoint- drafted, this time by the Padres in batted leadoff for all but a hand- ment in baseball. the 32nd round. He played the ful of games. During practice at MTS, Gash short season at Spokane (Wash.) The catalyst for the Southern suffered a torn muscle in his rib of the rookie league last year Division-leading Diamonds, cage. The injury, however, was before coming to the Diamonds Gash is in his first full season of diagnosed only as a sprain by the this season. professional baseball. team trainer and Gash continued A recent spiritual change has After graduating from high to practice. A week after dramatically affected Gash's life. school Tenn., in injury, Gash decided to have the "I'm proud to say I've commitin Cleveland, 1985, Gash enrolled at Roan injury examined and learned it ted life to Christ," Gash said. my State Community College where was a tear. "I can't explain how much better he enjoyed two outstanding sea- "I became bitter when they told life is now, Every day is centerfielder. a sunny sons as a So me it was a tear because our impressed by the 5-foot-9 out- trainer said it was only a sprain See GASH / E3