Stagg junior standout swings for the fences in Sac-Joaquin Section

STOCKTON — Angelo Guerrero is among the top five best players in the Sac-Joaquin Section in batting with a .591 average, 13 hits, he also has 14 runs batted in and eight runs scored.

The 17-year-old, six-foot tall junior has helped Stagg High School grapple with Bear Creek for first place in the league standings.

"He's terrorizing the league right now," Stagg Coach Henry Sanchez said. "He went on a six to seven hit streak. Couldn't ask anything better than a hitter like that."

Guerrero plays in the outfield and pitches for the Delta Kings.

"He's got a great fastball and curveball," Sanchez said. "He's just naturally gifted with foot speed; by the time people pitch to him it's already too late."

Guerrero credits his coach for his development.

"He helps me a lot, he makes me work on the little things I need to improve on to make sure I get better at it," Guerrero said of Sanchez.

Guerrero also said keeping the right attitude has helped him succeed.

"I'm a really positive person, and I like to pick others up and make them feel better if they're having a bad day at school. I try to compliment them and pick them up," he said.

Guerrero said he developed a passion for baseball when he was four years old, watching his now 22-year-old brother play. He and his older brother also played whiffle ball that led Guerrero's into playing baseball.

But there were also lessons beyond sports.

"The biggest thing he helped me with was not to be a poor sport and always be appreciative and kind to others. I got that from him," Guerrero said.

That sportsmanship is a benefit to the team, Sanchez said.

"He's out here putting in work and he's out here having a good time," said Sanchez. "He's always smiling, he's really relaxed out here."

Record reporter David Victor covers sports. He can be reached at dvictor@recordnet.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Junior Angelo Guerrero leads Stagg High School baseball offense