GLENDALE — A former Golden Knight and now an Anteater, during his summers, Christian Bergman can’t get away from being a Buc.
For a third straight summer, Bergman, a St. Francis High graduate, took his game north to play for the Anchorage Bucs in the Alaska Baseball League. And 2008 was his best stint yet.
“A lot of those guys, it’s their first time going up to Alaska,” the 20-year-old Bergman said. “For me, it’s my third year, it’s something I feel really comfortable doing.”
Feeling at home, Bergman turned in a season that saw him go 4-2 with a league-leading 60 2/3 innings pitched, a 1.34 earned-run average that was fourth-best in league and 34 strikeouts, second-best in the league, to just eight walks.
With his outstanding numbers came some recognition, as he was an All-ABL All-Star First Team pitcher and All-ABL All-Star Second Team co-Player of the Year.
“This year I had a great defense behind me and most of the times had a lot of runs scored for me,” said Bergman, who went 1-5 the season before despite a 2.39 ERA.
Much of that was likely due to a shaky defense, as he allowed 25 runs, but only 10 were earned. During his first trip to Alaska, Bergman was whisked away shortly after graduating from St. Francis and was the only high school player in the league. Things have greatly changed, with Bergman attributing much of his success to experience on top of the fact that he recently was the one showing around a player fresh from high school.
Bergman posted a 5-2 mark with a 1.94 ERA this past season, his sophomore year, for UC Irvine. He said his experience with the Anteaters no doubt helped with the Bucs, but he’s confident it will be the other way around in the spring.
“That’s definitely the big factor,” he said of Alaska aiding his time at Irvine. “I feel great right now, I feel comfortable with all my pitches. I’ve got a pretty good idea of how to get out college hitters.”
It’s a comfort level rivaling his senior season for the Golden Knights when he was All-Area Player of the Year.
“This is as comfortable as I’ve felt probably since my senior year at St. Francis,” he said.
A lot of that he attributes to Alaska, playing ball, fishing when he has time and relaxing.
“It’s a great place to get away from things and just concentrate on baseball,” he said. “I love it up there, that’s why I keep going back.”
