Local coach can't lose in ex-players' rivalry

 

Former Miami Westminster Christian teammates Alex Rodriguez and Doug Mientkiewicz will have a high school reunion of sorts today in the American League Championship Series.

 

BY KEVIN BAXTER

 

kbaxter@herald.com

 

 

NEW YORK - You'd never think of asking a parent to choose a favorite child. So please don't ask Rich Hofman the player he'll cheer for in baseball's American League Championship Series, starting tonight at Yankee Stadium.

 

On one side, wearing No. 13 for the Boston Red Sox, is infielder Doug Mientkiewicz, whom Hofman coached at Miami-Dade's Westminster Christian High, class of '92. On the other, wearing No. 13 for the New York Yankees, is infielder Alex Rodriguez, Westminster Christian High class of '93.

 

Rodriguez and Mientkiewicz were teammates on a squad that produced seven professional baseball players, including four major-leaguers -- the most ever from one high school team. But they're with the Red Sox and the Yankees now -- which means there couldn't be a wider chasm between the two if they were representing the Hatfields and McCoys.

 

And in the middle, metaphorically speaking, at least, is Hofman, who coached the former high school teammates.

 

''I'm going to have to stay neutral on this,'' he said. ``It's difficult. I don't know if I ever really [thought about] this scenario.''

 

Neither did Mientkiewicz.

 

''Not with the same number,'' he said Monday. ``Not on two archrivals. No.''

 

Since just one team can go on to the World Series, however, the fairy tale is sure to end for someone. And the loser . . . well, Hofman says he's not likely to hear the end of it when Westminster Christian's alumni gather at their coach's home for his 60th birthday party this fall.

 

`FRIENDLY RIVALRY'

 

''Obviously, they want to beat each other now,'' he said. ``They have a friendly rivalry, yeah. They're always kind of comparing notes with me. But I think they're glad for each other to have success, too.''

 

It already has been a banner year for Rodriguez -- which is saying something since he's an eight-time All-Star, former league MVP and a three-time AL home run champion. Not only has he made it back to the postseason for the first time in four seasons, but his wife, Cynthia, is about to give birth to the couple's first child. And largely at Cynthia's urging, Rodriguez has begun rebuilding his strained relationship with his father, Victor.

 

Hofman, naturally, is proud of that effort, too.

 

''It's really positive,'' Hofman said of the reconciliation. ``He's really growing up as a young man. I really see a lot of maturity in terms of addressing some of those situations. That's going to serve him well, and I think his wife should get a lot of credit.''

 

Mientkiewicz, on the other hand, has struggled, especially since coming to Boston from Minnesota in a trade 10 weeks ago. A career .272 hitter, Mientkiewicz has become a part-time player with the Red Sox, batting just .215 in 49 games.

 

`WE UNDERSTAND'

 

''We're everyday players, and we're not playing every day,'' he says. ``We understand why our roles are the we they are. We accept them. We understand that to win the whole thing for the city, for the franchise, what it means.''

 

Ironically, if the players' union had not stepped in and voided Rodriguez's trade to the Red Sox in December, he and Mientkiewicz would be teammates again. But when the union balked at the contractual concessions the Red Sox were asking for, the Rangers turned around and sent Rodriguez to the Yankees two months later.

 

`RIGHT PLACE'

 

''I remember being very disappointed when it didn't happen,'' Rodriguez says. But, he added, ``I think New York is the right place for me. I've never been around a bunch of guys that believe so much in themselves, 1 through 25.

 

``We have 25 guys with big hearts, and no matter what the score is, you should hear the dugout. It felt like a college team out there.''

 

Rodriguez and Mientkiewicz were accidental teammates at Westminster Christian, too, after Mientkiewicz transferred over from Palmetto High before his senior year.

 

And it didn't take him long to get acclimated, earning all-state football honors as a tight end and hauling in a school-record 12 scoring passes from Rodriguez, the team's quarterback.

 

''He was one of Alex's favorite targets,'' Hofman says.

 

It was in baseball, though, that they led Westminster Christian to a national championship -- with a lot of help.

 

''Most coaches are lucky to have even one kid drafted,'' Hofman, now coach at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, says of the team's crop of eventual major leaguers. ``So I've had some great players, and they've had great ability.''

 

COACH CAN'T LOSE

 

Hofman, who flew to New York and visited with both players during a Red Sox visit to Yankee Stadium in September, will watch the playoffs on TV -- and cheer for both sides.

 

But he plans to watch the World Series in person. After all, he'll know at least one player on the American League team.

 

''I'll get him some tickets,'' Rodriguez said with a smile.

 

``The one good thing is, no matter what, one Westminster Warrior will go on to the next round. Coach Hofman will be happy.''

 

When Doug M. got traded to Boston I knew this story was coming. Surprised it took until today. :confused

who are the other two major leaguers from that team???

Thats amazing four eventual major leaguers playing on the same high school baseball team, and to think it was in our own backyard.

 

Good question I dont know the other two major leaguers either.