Some student-athletes love to talk about "the grind." Andrew Renteria lives it. Some student-athletes get inspired by an Instagram post or video and for two weeks get to practice early and stay late, get locked in on their school work, and get up early for an extra workout. And when those two weeks are up, they walk into the coach's office and ask why it hasn't paid off in playing time.
Andrew Renteria has been on that grind for two years, since transferring to Chico State in the fall of 2018. It paid off last weekend for the entire Chico State baseball program. Renteria was rewarded for his hard work with the first three starts of his collegiate career and responded by hitting .444 and playing phenomenal defense at second base, helping lead the Wildcats to a 3-1 series victory against Cal State San Bernardino.
The junior from Delano went 4-for-9 at the plate and made 13 plays without an error at second base. The highlight of his week was a diving, backhanded grab of a line drive that would have netted the Coyotes a run. Instead, the shutout was preserved and the Wildcats went on to win game three of the series 3-0.
Renteria helped stake the Wildcats to the lead in that game by leading off the third inning with a base hit and coming around to score the first of two runs in the frame. He finished the game 1-for-3 at the plate. Renteria went 1-for-2 in the second game of Friday's doubleheader, which was also his first start. He went 2-for-4 and scored two runs in the Wildcats' 9-0 win in the series finale.
Renteria and the Wildcats are scheduled to head to Cal State LA for a four-game series this weekend beginning with a single game Friday at 6. Whether he's in the linup or not, you can bet that Renteria will be ready to go.
