Published in the Sept. 30 – Oct. 13, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Ryan Williams
Congratulations to Sobrato grad Ryan Williams drafted by the Chicago Cubs last year and quickly moving through the minor leagues. He was named the organization’s top Minor League Player of the Year. He was scheduled to be honored at Wrigley Field before the Sept. 28 game.
Between the Tennessee Smokies and Low-A South Bend, Williams posted a 14-3 record and 2.16 ERA (34 earned runs in 141.2 innings pitched) in 26 games (24 starts), along with 98 strikeouts compared to just 18 walks. The right-hander finished the 2015 campaign by leading all Cubs minor league hurlers in victories (14) and earned-run average (2.16), as well as ranking fifth in strikeouts (98).
During his 17 outings with Tennessee, including 16 starts, the Morgan Hill native recorded a 10-2 record and 2.76 ERA (27 earned runs in 88 innings pitched), adding nine quality starts. And yes, I am a baseball fan and know what the stats represent. Check them out, because they are impressive.
“It was a dream come true,” he told us in an interview last year of the phone call he got telling him he was drafted. “My whole life my goal was to play professional baseball. It was an honor to get that call.”
Keep it up, Ryan. Still looking forward to seeing you pitch with the Cubs against the Giants in San Francisco some day really soon.
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On a rural home in west Morgan Hill (the resident asked us to not disclose the location) sits a jail cell, likely more 140 years old. It was moved to the property in the mid-’30s when the resident was about 5 years old – from Madrone, a village just north of Morgan Hill. The jail itself, she said, was once a brig on a ship before it was moved to Madrone.
After it was moved to Morgan Hill adjacent to the family pool, the woman’s father laid bricks from a torn up sidewalk in town to build walls around the outside of the jail and painted the inside then used it as a pool house for his, and neighboring children, to change in.
But before it was painted, the family saw signatures scratched into the walls. One of them was Tiburcio Vásquez, a Californio bandido who was active in California from 1854 to 1874. He was hanged for murder on March 19, 1987 in San Jose at the age of 39. Ah, the hidden history of Morgan Hill is fascinating.
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San Martin resident and retired Morgan Hill police officer Michael Brookman wants our readers to know that he’s a fan of Flamenco ever since visiting Spain 12 years ago. And he told us that one of the best Spanish Flamenco dancers – Lakshmi Basile – will be performing at Gavilan Community College in Gilroy at 4 p.m. Oct. 18.
“I was introduced to Lakshmi Basile through a friend and went to see her dance. You could tell she was supreme as soon as she walked on stage,” he told us. “You will never see a dancer with such passion, expression, grace and precision as Lakshmi. Her dancing captures all that is Flamenco…You’ll remember it forever.”
Jose Mendez will be singing and Gavilan music teacher Albert Marquis will perform on the guitar.
¡Olé!
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Congratulations to the 2015 Leadership Morgan Hill class graduates – “the best class ever!” The team received warm wishes at the graduation ceremony at Guglielmo Winery Sept. 21, with City Manager Steve Rymer giving the keynote speech. This year’s graduates are: Steve Betando, Gino Borello, Nick Calubaquib, Nicole DeCanio, Angelica Diaz, Deborah Frazen, Renee Gallegos, Lee Hagan, Julie Hutcheson, Brett Johnson, Byron Kelley, Maggie Leininger, Sandra McNeal, Jesse Olson, Marisa Otto, Susan Persing, Jennifer Ponce, Raksha (Rex) Poria, Nathan Thome, Erika Villa and Lisa Washington. Interested in being part of the 2016 class? Visit www.leadershipmorganhill.org.
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Morgan Hill Police Department’s Capt. Jerry Neumayer was one of 225 law enforcement officers who graduated from the FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Va. The 261st Session of the National Academy brought together men and women from 48 states as well as members of law enforcement agencies from the District of Columbia, 23 international countries, five military organizations, and five federal civilian organizations.
Neumayer is the first person from the Morgan Hill Police Department to complete the National Academy in more than 20 years. Chief David Swing told us, “The completion of the National Academy is a testament to the dedication Jerry has to the department and community. Being away from family for 10 weeks is a tremendous sacrifice but I know it is an experience he will cherish for some time.”
Neumayer has served the Morgan Hill community for 17 years through various roles in the police department and also through his work with youth as a coach and board member for various sports organizations.
Keep the city safe, Jerry!
