The Star is profiling Southern Arizona high school athletes whose seasons were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Each high school was asked to nominate an exceptional spring sport athlete who exemplifies greatness on and off the field, court or track.
Refugio โKitoโ Del Cid started playing baseball when he was 7 years old. By the end of his freshman year at Desert View High School, however, the game had become more of a job.
โI wasnโt excited or passionate anymore,โ Del Cid said.
Del Cid took his sophomore and junior seasons off, then returned to the field this spring for his senior season.
โImmediately, Kito made a tremendous impression,โ first-year coach Matt Garcia said. โFrom Day 1, Kito showed an incredible work ethic and passion for the game. Quickly, he naturally emerged as a leader โ on and off the field.โ
The 18-year-old Del Cid played outfielder, second base, third base and even pitcher, something that was completely new.
โDespite feeling the pressure to โcatch up,โ Kito was always receptive to coaching and new challenges, like pitching,โ Garcia said.
The respect between Del Cid and his coach is mutual, with the two still keeping in touch despite the seasonโs cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic. Del Cid said Garcia โchanged my perspective on baseball.โ
โI learned this second go-around to not take it for granted and to play every game like itโs your last,โ he said.
Even though Del Cidโs time with the Jaguars is over, heโs hopeful that baseball will still be a part of his life in college โ even though heโll focus on school instead of sports moving forward. Del Cid has gotten into the UA and Arizona State, and hopes to make a decision soon.
โBaseballโs huge for me now and something I would really, really miss,โ he said, adding that while he knows the chances arenโt great, heโll try to walk on in college.
โI would consider club, but I donโt want to play Sunday league softball. I donโt want to play just to play. I want to still be competitive.โ
Del Cid has spent his quarantine pitching and hitting ground balls against the wall in his backyard. He calls his final season of baseball, as short as it was, his favorite part of high school.
โComing back again and playing, everything changed for me. I was already a senior, but forming those relationships with my teammates and playing competitively was really great,โ Del Cid said. โThe way we played, the way we were. These are the memories that Iโm going to cherish and enjoy.
โI wish it could have lasted longer, but I was just happy to have that opportunity to meet him and form a relationship with the guys.โ
Whichever school he chooses, Del Cid is excited about a future career as a marketing manager, saying that he likes the idea of networking and connecting to sell a product.
โThat seems interesting and fun, and at the end of the day thatโs what I want: Something that makes me happy,โ Del Cid said.
Recently, heโs been fascinated by photography. A new top-of-the line cellphone has helped.
โIโve always liked it, but never really did it,โ Del Cid said. The grandson of local mariachi legend Refugio โCucoโ Del Cid, itโs no surprise that the younger Del Cid has an artistic side. โHonestly, the whole world is a canvas. You never know what youโre going to see. You just have to be open and always look around.โ
