Alumni Spotlight
Shawn Hillegas; Johnstown
Click the "READ MORE" link to read more about Shawn and other AAABA Alumni including Mike Holtz:
Hillegas grabbed the attention of major league baseball scouts with his hard throwing consistency and ability to control a game. In the 1983 AAABA tournament playing as a pick up player with the Ramada Inn team, Hillegas threw a gem shutting down Cincinnati with a three hit, ten strike out victory. Earlier that summer, the big right hander was selected by the California Angels in the 26th round of the 1983 draft. Although drafted, Shawn decided not to sign a contract. Declining a dream opportunity would pay off when he was selected as a First Round pick, fourth overall, the following year (1984) by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shawn was consistently rated as one of the Dodgers top prospects and progressed nicely through the Dodgers minor league system, advancing to the AAA level in just two seasons. In 1987, Shawn posted a 13-5 record with the Dodgers AAA Albuquerque Dukes. This impressive showing lead to a late season call up in 1987 and Shawn would make his major league debut August 9th. He lived up to his first round status in his debut, pitching 8 2/3 innings with 6 strikeouts and 2 earned runs picking up his first major league victory. A year later in August of 1988 Shawn was traded to the White Sox, missing out on the 1988 Dodgers World Championship. After spending a number of seasons with the Sox, Shawn would go on to serve stints with the Indians, Yankees, Blue Jays, and A’s. After 7 years of big league baseball and appearing in 181 games, Shawn’s career would end in 1993 with the Oakland Athletics. Shawn is still recognized as one of Johnstown’s greatest athletes and he is surely a future AAABA Hall of Famer.
Mike Holtz; Johnstown
Mike Holtz has always been underestimated and has always overachieved. The 5’ 9 left hander didn’t intimidate batters such as a Randy Johnson, he never had the ability to overpower hitters like a Nolan Ryan, but what Holtz did have was confidence and determination. Always considered “too small” for big league baseball, Holtz took it personal and enjoyed proving many wrong. Although a standout player in the Johnstown Junior League (JJL), Mike was even overshadowed on his own team. Fellow teammates 6’8 pitcher Joe Vitko, and JJL homerun record holder Keith Williams would both go on to play in the Major Leagues and captured many of the local headlines. Catcher Mike Moore would be drafted by the Cleveland Indians and ace pitcher Mike Sube was often regarded as the league’s best pitcher. Holtz and the 1990 Pepsi-Cola team dubbed the “Fizz Kids” finished the 1990 season with an amazing 32-2 record.
The Ebensburg, PA native and Central Cambria High School graduate finally got his big chance to steal the spotlight when he took the mound in front of a packed point Stadium during the 1990 AAABA national tournament. Holtz would dominate the game with a nasty curveball, posting 15 strikeouts (a tournament high that year) and leading his team to a 14-3 victory over Waterbury, Connecticut. Holtz had officially earned his due respect and would eventually win the JJL’s Pete Vuckovich Award as the league’s top pitcher. Holtz’ dynamic curveball, along with his ability to spot his pitches landed him as a 32nd Round Pick by the New York Mets in the 1990 MLB Draft. Holtz would instead accept a baseball scholarship offer from Clemson University. While at Clemson, the Tigers won three ACC championships and appeared in the 1991 College World series.
Always up against the odds, Mike would once again face a big challenge when he underwent Tommy John surgery for an elbow ligament tear in his sophomore season. Many felt Mike’s career may be over and that any shot of being drafted again was probably a long shot at best. The resilient Holtz would once again prove his critics wrong when he was selected in the 17th round of the 1994 MLB draft by the California Angels – a remarkable feat for an undersized pitcher with a reconstructed elbow and an average fastball. After just two seasons in the minor leagues, Mike would be called up to the major leagues on July 11, 1996. He was a TOPPS All-Star Rookie in 1997.
Holtz would go on to make over 350 appearances in the Major League games over eight seasons, mostly with the California Angels as a relief specialist. Holtz also spent time with the Oakland A’s, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and played the 2005 season with the Yokohama Baystars in the Japanese Professional League. Nagging elbow injuries would once again force Holtz to re-examine his career and he would eventually retire in January 2007.
After a career of highs and lows that took him from Johnstown to California to Boston and Japan, no one can question Holtz’ toughness and resilience. He describes himself as an “overachiever” saying “I maximized what I could do with my career”, a career that he can now look back on with pride. Mike has never forgotten his roots, and returned to the Northern Cambria area with his wife and three children after his baseball retirement. He now operates Earn Respect Athletics (E.R.A) Sports with fellow AAABA alum Rick Roberts where they look to pass on their extensive baseball knowledge to youth of all skill levels. In addition, Mike has just completed his first season as head baseball coach at Northern Cambria High School. He was inducted into the AAABA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Cambria County Hall of Fame in 2008.
