By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– The last two years have been life changing points 2023 McNary-grad Anthony Cepeda. Life changing for the better as he came back home for this Summer, playing for his hometown Marion Berries during their inaugural season as he wrapped up his two years at Feather River College in Quincy, California.
After a growing year as a freshman with the Golden Eagles in the CCCAA Junior College league, Cepeda came around in full force as a sophomore this past Spring.
In 42 games this past season with the Golden Eagles in the CCCAA, the Celtic-grad batted .429, drove in 29 runs on 60 hits and had a Home Run. His defense was stellar. Of 77 opportunities for outs, he converted on 75 of them to help the FRC program go 33-12 overall and reached the NorCal Super Regional Playoffs before falling to Sierra College.
Oh. And not to mention, Cepeda won the Golden Valley Conference MVP award. Wrapping up a successful Junior College career before heading off to Wichita State this next season.
“It was life-changing, to be honest. I felt like it made me who I was for the better and helped me for the future,” said Cepeda. “It was a blessing to be doing that good. (Head Coach) Terry Baumgartner really pushed me to be better and made me a better individual.”
To be back home, playing with the Berries has meant a lot for Cepeda. Being back home, playing with some guys he played with and against in High School. It brings home how awesome this moment is for the incoming College Junior.
“It means everything. Coming back home and seeing a group of guys that I was playing against in high school, and we’re all together now in a group, which is pretty cool,” said Cepeda.
Cepeda has played in 12 games with the Marion Berries so far this season, playing Center Field for the 11-14 Berries and playing against a lot of four-year talented individuals that are continue to shape the former Celtic into the player that he hopes to become in the Fall.
“I’m not the player that I want to be yet, but I’m working to be that guy,” starts Cepeda. “I’ve been putting in the effort all the time, and this regiment of every single day will help going into Wichita because that’s going to be a grind.
