Chessani, Fillmore rally to success on the baseball diamond
The Fillmore High baseball team knows how to grind.
The Flashes rallied from an early four-game losing streak, slugged it out to a fourth-place finish in the Citrus Coast League and have found top gear in postseason to earn a berth in the CIF-Southern Section Division 7 championship game.
Fillmore (17-13) will take on top-seeded and undefeated Ganesha (17-0) on Friday at 1 p.m. at Blair Field in Long Beach.
Then again, the Flashes’ hard-nosed mentality and dig-down-deep attitude might stem directly from their own Captain Comeback.
Three-sport standout Anthony Chessani suffered a gruesome knee injury at the end of the 2021-2022 basketball season that sidelined him for the subsequent spring baseball and fall football seasons and the winter’s 2023 basketball campaign.
The injury occurred as he finished off a layup in a game vs. Santa Paula and came down awkwardly on his hip. He incurred a torn ACL and MCL in his right leg and fracture to his right tibia.
Now thankfully, amazingly and frankly just a little incredibly, Chessani is back to top form and playing baseball.
He’s providing a big bat in the lineup and versatility in the field — playing left field, center field and shortstop — to epitomize the the spirit of the gritty Flashes.
“It feels amazing,” Chessani says. “It was a struggle at times, but I had great support that enabled me to keep my hopes high. The timing turned out to be perfect.
“I was cleared just before baseball practice began, and it felt so good to be playing again.”
What better way to celebrate a return to sports after a 12-month rehab than with a thrilling title run?
“This team has been amazing,” Chessani said. “We struggled early but never gave up. We felt like we could beat anyone we played. It was a matter of learning from our mistakes and pulling together as a team.”
On a team than hums on exquisite balance, Chessani is batting .283 and is second among the Flashes with 26 hits and 14 RBIs. He’s also tallied 17 runs.
The Flashes have a deep cast of contributors.
Ivan Becerra is batting .309 with a team-best 30 hits, Santiago Avila is hitting .291 with 25 hits, and Mathew Magana has racked up 25 hits and 25 runs.
The pitching ace is Jathan Magana, who has a 10-4 record, 1.55 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 85.2 innings.
“We all rely on each other,” said Chessani.
Fillmore coach Arye Kinberg praises Chessani’s perseverance through difficult adversity.
"You can only imagine how difficult it is coming back from such a difficult injury. He’s put in so much work and he’s so talented, but it kind of goes beyond the talent when you’re coming back from knee surgery. It’s staying with it and has pushed through all that adversity," Kinberg said. "He's made such a big contribution to the team, getting to have a season his senior year when missing out on football and basketball. He’s absolutely been performing for us, getting big knocks and being aggressive. It’s great to see."
Chessani’s status among the county’s very best multi-sport athletes is evidenced by the numbers.
In his junior football season, the flashy running back topped the county with 1,755 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.
“I rely on my speed,” he said. “Hit the hole fast and keep running.”
He admits he’s torn in picking a No. 1 sport.
“My favorite sport is football, but my best sport is baseball,” he said.
Kinberg, the coach, noted that the Flashes' top asset might be the versatility of the roster.
"Most of the team plays multiple sports at Fillmore High. A lot of them were part of the league championship football team or went to the playoffs with the soccer team. They’re just athletes," he said.
"They’ve been playing together for much of their childhood in multiple sports. It’s a great group of kids."
Chessani lends so much more to the Flashes than significant numbers.
He’s an indomitable leader who inspires with a positive mindset. Amid his rehab from injury, Chessani attended every football practice and home game to cheer on his teammates.
“I knew I had to stay strong mentally and be there for my teammates,” he said. “I absolutely believe a positive attitude has helped me to make it back.”
Fillmore stayed positive this season through a series of ups and downs, including a 20-4 loss to Santa Paula. A pair of 3-2 victories, over Santa Paula and Hueneme in the stretch drive, enabled the Flashes to secure fourth place in league and a playoff berth.
Fillmore has been dominant in postseason, including a 10-2 victory over St. Genevieve and 10-0 win over Animo Leadership.
The 4-1 victory over Cantwell-Sacred Heart in the semifinals earned the shot at the Division 7 crown.
The opponent, Ganesha, has been untouchable in postseason. Included are back-to-back wins of 21-0 and 17-0.
The Flashes are undaunted.
“They’re on a roll, but so are we,” said Chessani. “We’re looking forward to the challenge. We want to win a championship.”
For Chessani, the future looks bright.
He intends to enroll at College of the Canyons next fall, play football and begin pursuit in a career in nursing.
“I like the idea of helping people,” he said. “The thought makes me happy.”
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Chessani, Fillmore rally to success on the baseball diamond
