MURRAY — When Cottonwood senior Cliff Andersen announced his commitment to play baseball at Oklahoma State there were plenty of eyes that rolled. Perhaps some snickers muffled in an attempt to hide the dismay. There was no way Andersen was ever going to get to play for a major university — right?
Well, that was because those people with those thoughts only knew the old Cliff Andersen. The one who would squeak by in getting his eligibility for high school baseball, or the one who was thrown out of the state championship football game for dissent toward the referees. The one who gave fits to the state's all-time victory leader for baseball coaches, Jon Hoover.
"He was a horrible practice player," Hoover said. "He would show up late. He was lazy, and he was a disruptive player for the team."
Andersen was on the fast path to let-down.
All those things may have been true about the talented, yet troubled teenager — not any more.
"He is a changed man," said Cottonwood assistant coach Cory Martin.
The differences in Andersen are immediately apparent without even scratching the surface. He is respectful, courteous and sincere when first approached. His attitude adjustment is full-circle. After struggling with his eligibility, he is now consistently making the honor roll. He has gone from being in trouble to qualify academically for a Division I scholarship, to thinking about what he would like his major to be once he gets there. Surely, a dramatic turn-around, but some people saw this in him all the time.
After his sophomore season, Andersen went to a baseball camp at the Community College of Southern Nevada. Coach Tim Chambers, a good friend of Hoover's, worked with him and afterwards said to the Cottonwood coach: "You need to reach him. He is a good kid and a talented player. We just need to get to him."
During the Colts' championship run last year, Andersen was a key player. His baseball talents came to the front. Whether it was something the coach did, or the teachers or his parents, something inside Andersen just clicked, and in his senior season he has been a model citizen and teammate.
"Cliff is just a treat to coach now," Hoover said. "He's a team player. He works hard both in games and in practices, and he is just a joy to be around. He is always the one sticking up for teammates, and he really looks out for the other guys."
Andersen does not know how to to put a finger on exactly what happened for the change, but also knows that he has changed.
"I realized that all my dreams were not going to happen the way things were going," he said. "I knew that if I wanted to keep playing baseball I was going to have to do some things differently."
One thing that changed was that he decided to concentrate solely on baseball in athletics. A high-caliber receiver, Andersen decided that he would not play football for his senior season. Instead, he went to baseball camps and focused on his school work. With a renewed sense of purpose, he has now become a terror only for opponents.
"He obviously has some talent, or he wouldn't have attracted the interest of a team like Oklahoma State," Hoover said. "He can run, throw, and he's strong. He can hit, and he has worked extremely hard to become a better player."
Andersen's play on the diamond this year has been phenomenal. He is the team's leading hitter thus far. He made the semifinals of a home-run derby at perhaps the most prestigious high school tournament this past weekend in California — his teammate Easton Gust eventually won the event — beating out players from all over the country. His play in center field has robbed plenty of opponents of hits, and he has even taken on a new role just recently, showing his commitment to the team, as a pitcher when needed. He won his first-ever start on the mound, and showed enough promise that Hoover plans on getting some more innings from the lefty.
Andersen's true passion is baseball. He spends most of his free time either playing, training or dreaming of the game.
"I just love everything about it," he said. "I even love the practices now. I realized how much it meant to me when I was told that I might lose it. It just hit me that I needed the game, and I needed to work harder to realize my dreams."
When not on the diamond, Andersen can be found either studying, hanging out with friends or eating at his favorite restaurant, The Olive Garden. He hopes that in June he will be taken high enough in the Major League Baseball amateur draft to entertain the though of playing professionally, but says that if it does not work out, he is excited to get to play at Oklahoma State.
"My dream is to play in the majors some day," he said. "I realize that not many people actually make it there, so I will take advantage and get my education at a great school. The coaches there are great and they play in a great conference. It is a good opportunity for me."
Just the fact that Andersen realizes that he has been given a great chance is a positive. His attitude is contagious as Hoover has said he has noticed a new and improved outlook for the entire Colts team. So when people talk about one of the not only great players in the state, but also one of the better people, don't be surprised when the name Cliff Andersen is mentioned.
E-mail: mblack@desnews.com