Hardworking Doria still waiting for his chance

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers READY AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE—Moorpark High backup catcher Aaron Doria, center, watches with his teammates as Westlake's players warm up before the teams' regular-season finale Wednesday. Aaron Doria is a 5foot8, 135pound third-string catcher who plays behind a sophomore.

He worked on his swing in the batting cages before school and during lunch, until coaches kicked him out for waking up the neighborhood.

He doesn't even get a chance to play in most games.

Doria knows all these things about himself, yet he continues to push himself every day as if he were preparing to start Game 7 of the World Series.

A senior for Moorpark High, Doria, 17, might not appear regularly in a scorebook, but the Musketeers have rallied around their own "Rudy."

"He doesn't complain about not playing. He loves being out here," said senior catcher Brandon Tucker, who shares starting duties with sophomore Spencer DuBois.

"He has a great attitude."

Teammates who once snubbed Doria have come to appreciate his work ethic and resilience. Fellow players voted him the Most Improved Player as a sophomore— his first year playing for Moorpark.

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers PROUD PARENTS—Aaron Doria is flanked by his mom, Terri, and father, Dale, on Senior Day. As a freshman, Doria wasn't strong enough to swing the lightest bat of 30 inches, 27 ounces, so he didn't even try out until he was a sophomore.

Last year, he received the Most Inspirational Player award from his teammates.

He also earned the Gold Jersey Award last season. At the end of each practice, coaches give a gold jersey to the hardest working player. Doria earned the gold jersey more often than anyone else.

Entering this week, Doria had six at-bats and one hit, a single in an 8-3 victory against Antioch on April 17. He has not started any game, and enters primarily as a pinch hitter.

"All I can do is keep practicing," Doria said during a Monday afternoon practice. "Sometimes these practice scrimmages are the only time for me to shine."

He still remembers an intrasquad scrimmage two years ago with sophomores pitted against seniors.

Doria, whose favorite player is diminutive Boston Red Sox second baseman and reigning American League MVP Dustin Pedroia, went 2-for-3 at the plate and threw out four runners as the sophomores beat the upperclassmen, 8-4.

Senior outfielder and designated hitter Paul Stone said Doria "does anything for the team."

"He brings a spark, whether he's playing or not," Stone said.

Tucker said Doria's greatest strength is the way he plays the game.

"He's definitely the hardest working person on this team," Tucker said. "He's not that far behind me and Spencer."

Yet Doria is not immune to bouts of frustration and doubt.

"It's hard to sit on a bench for two weeks," the catcher said. "And when I do get an at-bat, I'm cold and guys are throwing 90 miles per hour."

The senior has done all he can to improve.

Doria, who's played baseball since he was 4, takes private hitting lessons from Kelly Paris. In the offseason, he catches for private pitching instructor Bill Seizmore. He works out twice a day with Moorpark Fitness trainer James Tangherlini.

"I've got all these people helping me out," Doria said. "It's been great."

Moorpark head coach Scott Fullerton, who's been coaching in the program for 20 years, said he's pleased Doria suits up for the Musketeers.

"I would call it professional," Fullerton said. "He works hard every day. He brings it to practice every day. He's very consistent with his effort every day.

"That work ethic is going to translate off the field. He probably feels frustrated with the lack of playing time, but the seeds have been planted for success down the road."

Doria has two older brothers, Ryan, 28, and Shaun, 21; his parents are Dale and Terri. He will try to play baseball at Moorpark College next year. He's already started working out at second base in the hopes of becoming more versatile.

For now, Doria wants to get the most out of what's left of his senior season.

"I'm hoping coach will give me a couple more innings before we're done," Doria said. "I know that I can really show him that I can succeed if I'm given the right opportunity."

Moorpark heading

to CIF-SS playoffs

The Musketeers defeated Westlake 6-3 on Wednesday to earn a tie for fourth place with the Warriors in the Marmonte League.

Moorpark, 16-12 overall and 7-7 in league, has won four of its last five games heading into the CIF-Southern Section Division I playoffs. Postseason seeding will be determined early next week.