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Bechler's whirlwind adventure By GREG STILES It all happened so fast that Steve Bechler could do little else than gulp down the medicine. He was all set to represent the Carolina League against the California League this past Tuesday night at Lancaster, Calif. He looked forward to pitching in front of his parents, competing against former American Legion teammate Hans Smith and seeing some old buddies from the Rogue Valley. But in one whirlwind day, the 1998 South Medford graduate went from being a long-season A all-star pitcher to a shell-shocked starter for the Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.) Red Wings - the Baltimore Orioles' top farm club. "Oh man, it was ridiculous," Bechler said Wednesday from his motel room in Maumee, Ohio. "It was quite an adventure." George Armstrong Custer might have said as much had he survived Little Big Horn. "I was on the bus (Sunday in Myrtle Beach, S.C.) getting ready to go to the airport when the coach said he needed to talk to me," Bechler said. "He told me, 'I can't let you go to the all-star game.' I was pretty upset and wondered what I had done wrong. "He told me 'You have to pitch (Monday for Rochester) and then the trainer started giving me flight information." That information seemed incongruous because Class AA Bowie - the next step up in Baltimore's farm system - is 80 miles away from Frederick, Md., where his Carolina team plays. The trainer explained that he was being promoted to AAA Rochester. The Red Wings needed pitching help and needed it fast because pitcher Calvin Maduro had been called up to Baltimore and injuries had left the club short-handed. "I had to drive eight hours from Myrtle Beach to Frederick, clean out my apartment and drive to Baltimore," he said. He hopped a flight to Pittsburgh and then to Toledo. "I had no idea what I was getting into and didn't know anything about the hitters," Bechler admitted. When he arrived at Skeldon Stadium, his bleary eyes were welcomed by a line-up card with the names of five batters with major league experience on it. Names like Lyle Mouton, Jermaine Allensworth, Rich Becker and Brian Rios got his attention quickly. "I was nervous, scared and tired," Bechler said. Not exactly the frame of mind and body you want in facing the best hitters you've ever seen. His International League debut lasted 21 batters, but not many innings. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported on the outing thusly: "Steve Bechler was supposed to pitch in a Single-A All-Star Game tonight," wrote the newspaper. "Instead, the right-hander will very likely be seeing stars after enduring a horrendous Triple-A debut for the Rochester Red Wings last night." The Toledo Blade reported: "Yesterday the Mud Hens snapped a three-game losing streak. Smashed it to smithereens is more accurate, though as the Hens set or tied season highs in at least five hitting categories while thumping Rochester 18-5 at Skeldon Stadium." Bechler was touched for 11 runs - 10 earned - in 2� innings, allowing nine hits, including two home runs. "It was definitely a great learning experience," Bechler conceded. "They needed help, flipped a coin and chose me. I'm not sure how long I'll be here." One thing Bechler does know, he's scheduled to pitch Saturday night against the Columbus Clippers - the New York Yankees' top farm club. "Some of those guys were in the World Series last year," Bechler said. "But I'm going to go right after them and keep doing what I've been doing. I've got to remember I'm just 21 and I'm in AAA." * * * The all-star game in Lancaster, Calif., went on without Bechler, although few knew he was a no-show. Bechler's promotion was unbeknownst to his parents, who motored down for the game only to find their son hadn't checked in the motel with the other players. "We went to the park and he never showed up," Ernie Bechler said. "I got a new cell phone for Father's Day and he didn't have the number. We thought maybe something happened to his plane." When the Bechlers discovered their son had flown a different direction they turned around and came home. "We got a program and there were some nice things about Steve and the other all-stars in the paper," the elder Bechler said. Smith, a former Crater High and Fresno State star who is now serving as Bakersfield's closer, pitched a scoreless sixth inning and struck out two. California led 4-2 when Smith departed but fell behind, 5-4, in the top of the seventh inning. California then rallied for three runs in its next turn at-bat. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.