As Bakersfield College shortstop David Pennington stepped into the batter’s box on March 15, he looked to save the Renegades from a one run defeat. But before he took a swing, he looked for help elsewhere.
“I said a quick little prayer, and I said, ‘well whatever happens is up to you,’ and I just got up there and tried not to think of anything. I just cleared my head and looked to get the job done,” said the second year player.
And that he did.
Pennington hit a two-RBI double that clinched the game for BC keeping them in a steady first place for conference.
The shortstop is currently batting .410 with 13 RBI, the second most on the team.
Pennington, a Bakersfield High graduate, began playing baseball at the age of 5.
At a young age, Pennington played soccer and baseball, but had to choose between the two to make a full-time commitment.
“Once I decided I wanted to play baseball, I put all of my time and effort into that and it has been rewarding. It is more than just a game, it’s taught me some life lessons,” Pennington said.
“There is so much time that you put in toward baseball and you’re out there so much that sometimes its easy to lose focus on what I’m actually here on this Earth for, because everything can become baseball oriented,” he said.
Pennington, who is a devout Christian, has found ways to tie his faith into the game he loves.
“My faith has become very real in the past two years that I’ve been playing baseball at BC. Baseball is important and I love baseball, it’s been a gift that God has given me.
“But I believe he’s put me on the team for a reason and there’s also a reason why all the guys are on the team, especially since we’ve become a family and gotten really close.
“I’ve come to learn that having faith is actually a stress relief and it allows me not to be nervous and more excited to play the game.”
As a child, Pennington didn’t take it as seriously as he does today. He recalls going to church with just the thought of lunch afterward.
“I’ve gone to church my whole life,” he said. “When I was a kid, you just kind of go through the motions and nobody really wants to be there. I can remember messing around drawing pictures on things with my brother in church; faith just wasn’t real to me yet.
“There was a series of events where I just felt that God was getting more and more real to me.”
Although he is a Dodgers fan, Pennington models his play on and off the field after one of the most famous shortstops in baseball history, The Captain.
“Even though I’m not a big fan of the Yankees, Derek Jeter has always been my role model of who I want to be, because of his leadership,” he said. “I’ve heard stories of how he treats the rookies coming to the ballclub, and he takes them under his wing. The leadership skill is something I try to emulate. He shows a lot of confidence and a lot of baseball is not physical but instead having the confidence in what you’re doing.”
Now in his final season with the Renegades, Pennington is hopeful for the future of his career and whether that takes him past junior college baseball.
“I’d strive to go as far as I can. Whether I have two more years to play, God willing, and find a four-year school to play at or someday get drafted. I’ve just come to terms with the fact that eventually it’s going to end. So I just appreciate it on a day-to-day basis.”
The Renegades shortstop is currently a psychology major who would love to work with children.
“I have a big heart for kids and for helping others, so the plan right now is to be a school psychologist for like an elementary school or something like that. I like to think I know what my plans are but who knows, he said.
“I know a lot of kids have a rough [life] but I believe everything can be mended.”
Currently, Pennington is weighing his options for life after BC.
“I’ve talked to a few different schools, but location is a big part of my decision. I like the beach and surfing, that’s become a big part of my life the past three years,” he said.
“So ideally I’d like to be by the beach but I know sometimes that situation is not going to come up.
“But right now I’m talking to a school [in] San Diego, [but] I haven’t made any final decisions yet.
“I’ve talked to a few out-of-state schools. One in North Carolina and one in Iowa.”
?Pennington went on to talk about the joy he finds in surfing.
“Its one of my favorite things to do, on the side of school and baseball.
“It’s relaxing and at the same time it is an adrenaline rush. When your sitting on the ocean and you don’t really know what’s under you and once you look out all you can see is ocean, it gives you the feeling that there’s something bigger than you that’s in control of what’s even happening in that situation.”?
The sophomore is in a Bible study group that he and a few other teammates attend.
Also in attendance is BC basketball player Cooper Dameron, who is someone that has had a significant impact on him as well.?
“We’ve been really good friends since probably the summer after my sophomore year of high school.
“I like to think that Cooper, all of those other guys from Bible study and myself are all growing as people and as men of God. My family and friends have all helped me.”
Leading up to opening day of his freshman year, Pennington felt the nerves that many rookies tend to get, calling himself a “nervous wreck.”
“I was the freshman kid on the team and I was starting opening night I was just so nervous because I didn’t want to let anyone down and I didn’t want to mess up. It took a long time for me to get over that nervousness that came with being in such an intense sport,” said Pennington.
“I have an overall better knowledge of what’s going on during a season.
“Last year I was so worried about making an error or doing things wrong it was becoming unhealthy for me. It would stress me out so much. But to know that God was in control daily and he knows how I’m going to play was somehow relieving,” he said.
“These past two seasons have provided me more opportunity to get to know God and learn that even if I am failing it’s OK.”