Costella will play at Santa Barbara

Carson Senators third baseman Sean Costella may not be moving to an ocean-view home in the Bahamas, but after a season of having to deal with Northern Nevada's foul weather, it looks like the next best thing.

The 17-year-old Costella will bid farewell to the snow and ice that accompanies the high school baseball season and will be playing next year for Santa Barbara City College.

"It's very nice. It's right on the beach," Costella said. "It's nice and hot and you can play baseball year round. Here the weather dictates whether you play or not."

Costella struggled with an injured ankle this season, missing several games for the Senators, who finished in second place in the Sierra League and advanced to the semifinals in the Northern 4 Region playoffs.

Costella batted .256 in league and knocked in 11 runs for the Senators, who finished the season with a 24-10 record. He also stole five bases.

"We did all right. We could've done some things better, but for the most part we were pretty solid," Costella said. "We were tough defensively and reversed our reputation. We used to fold up if a team got up a couple of runs. We battled for seven innings every game. We never let up."

And if Costella is to continue to advance in his baseball career, that never-say-die attitude will be only a part of what he'll need to bring to the Vaqueros, who play in the Western State Conference. SBCC finished17-25 this year after making the playoffs for the first time in 28 years in 2005.

"It's gonna be tough - even here at our level," said sixth-year SBCC coach Teddy Warrecker. "It's a step up to juco and it's a competitive program. It will be a challenge for him. It's a level where his talent can help him find success."

Carson coach Steve Cook said the 5-foot-6, 140-pound Costella may end up being a pleasant surprise for Warrecker.

"The first thing they'll notice about Cos is his size, but when they see him throw the ball, they'll go, 'Wow,'" Cook said. "He's got a great arm. He worked hard to be accurate. He's got pretty good hands. He's not afraid to get into it and puts his body in front of the ball. He'll leave his feet. I love that about him."

Cook said Costella has other qualities that would please any coach.

"Santa Barbara will get 110 percent from him," Cook said. "You tell him to run into a wall and he'll run into it. At second base he can turn the double play as well as anyone in the north, if not better. He took a position change for us (to third) and didn't say boo about it. Santa Barbara will get a good little player in Sean Costella - a lot more than they expect, I think."

Warrecker said he first met Costella as an instructor for the University of California, Santa Barbara, which he said is developing a blossoming relationship with SBCC baseball and in some cases has provided a place to progress after their career has ended at the two-year school.

"Several players over the last four years have made the transition (to UCSB) and we want that relationship to keep growing," Warrecker said. "If a guy's not big, he's got to be able to run and play defense. There are a lot of roles on a team. He's not going to be a power guy for us, but he'll be active on the base paths."

Warrecker also said Costella plays the kind of ball that fits into his team's philosophy.

"I liked his tempo on the field," Warrecker said of Costella's play during the UCSB camp, which lasted three of four days. "He played the game like we preach - up-tempo. He seemed like the kind of kid that juco is the right fit for him. It was the same place where I was when I left high school. I know what a juco can offer. It could be a stepping-stone to Division I or a four-year college."

Costella, who began playing baseball at 5, said he wants to take the sport as far as he can and will major in business management, hoping to eventually own his own business.

Costella also said SBCC would be a good fit for him and he had an encouraging letter from UCSB a few months after his return from its camp.

"The coach at UCSB liked me and told me I could get bigger and stronger and go to (SBCC)," he said. "He said there I could learn more and hit the weights."

Costella, who gave his verbal commitment to SBCC in November, said he won't miss draining water off the tarp on Ron McNutt Field, but he would be leaving behind several important people.

"I'm going to miss my family, friends, girlfriend - everything," he said. "But I've got to get out and start a new experience. I have to learn someday to live on my own. I'm going to miss high school, too. Playing baseball in high school, I have some good memories. But playing at the next level of baseball for me is what I'm most excited about."

To paraphrase the U.S. Army, It won't be just a job, but an adventure.