Gunner Mondor, an 11-year-old from Ocean Shores, is helping his mom make apple pies these days, but he’d rather be playing baseball.
A few weeks ago Gunner qualified for the regional Perfect Game team, 15 boys of summer who are representing the Pacific Northwest — players competed from Canada, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Gunner was competing in the Perfect Game Pacific National All-Star Championship tournament against 64 of the top 11-year-olds in the region. He was playing for a chance to try out for the national team.
Perfect Game is a scouting organization. They put on tournaments across the nation. In the games, there are no coaches, only scouts. The players are on their own. The idea is to see how the young players make decisions: should they steal, should they bunt, how much hustle will they have being self-motivated? How do they get along with their teammates? What leadership do they display?
According to their website, “Perfect Game’s mission is to promote the game of baseball now and in the future by hosting the highest quality amateur events while providing meaningful opportunities and information to players, families, MLB organizations, college coaches and fans.”
At the Perfect Game tryouts, Gunner was not intimidated. He enjoys competition, and thrives in high-pressure moments. He likes it when friends and family are in the bleachers watching. He’s one of those clutch players.
One moment stood out during the four games over two days in Lacey. Gunner was playing his favorite position, his natural position of catcher. A batter swatted one up the middle. The second baseman fielded it and fired to first, but he was a bit off balance and the ball bounced then hit the first base plate, and popped up into the air. The runner saw the error, and headed to second base.
Gunner, hustling up the line from his catcher’s position, always hustling, threw his catcher’s mask off and arrived just in time to field the ball which had jumped up along the line behind first base. Gunner caught it bare-handed, his arm already cocked back, fired a missile to second base. The player was out. The next day he hammered a homer.
In his 295-foot homer, he was down 0-2 in the count. He worked the count to 3-2 after passing on a slider just off the plate, then put a sweet swing on the ball.
In all Gunner committed zero errors and his on-base percentage was .700, scoring all seven times and hitting the one home run.
“It was a dream come true playing with all of the best in the state,” Gunner said. “Met some cool new buddies.”
His mom got a phone call. The scouts had looked at tape and stats, and Gunner was in, headed first to Las Vegas Oct. 18-21 to play in an invitational Fall Super Regional NIT, then on to Houston Nov. 1-3 to play at a national team level.
Couldn’t hit
Gunner has been playing baseball for two years. His family moved from Yakima to Ocean Shores five years ago.
He tried out and made the Hoquiam Cal Ripken team as a first baseman at age nine.
He then played fall ball for the Capitol Little League in Olympia, where his catching was stellar, but his batting, according to his dad, “was awful.” He batted leadoff five times. He struck out all five times. He still excelled at catching, regularly throwing out runners at second, so much so that opposing teams quit stealing from first base against Gunner.
He then tried out for the Brooklyn Baseball Academy’s Brooklyn Bums out of Olympia.
Although he was nine, it was an 11-12 team. He played catcher, and caught all of nine games for the Bums. He could catch, but he could not hit. He batted last.
Hard work
“I wanted to be a better hitter,” Gunner said. “I asked my dad how I could do better. He said, ‘You have to swing more, 400 to 500 swings a day.’ I asked him, ‘Is it 400 or 500?’”
His dad said “500.”
The family turned a bedroom at home into an indoor batting cage. They put up a net and somehow got a hold of about 35 “crappy” balls. They bought a tee from a garage sale.
“Everyday you would just hear ‘ping-ping-ping’ from the bedroom,” his dad Gavin said. “I thought it was just a phase and he would get tired of it. But he’d wait until I woke up for work, and everyday, he would hit 250, do his homework (he is home schooled) then 250 more.”
He already had a solid swing and quick hands. Gunner needed to work on his bat plane.
In two months Gunner took 20,000 swings. It took about 90 minutes a day if his mom Brittany or little brother Cade would put the balls on the tee. He worked on his form and mechanics. The goal was to hit line drives into the center of the net. While swinging away, he listened to baseball documentaries. He ended up that offseason with about 50,000 strokes.
Then for his 10th birthday, Gunner’s parents bought him a used virtual reality headset for $200 and they bought a subscription for an application that simulates live pitching. They set it up in the living room.
Because it took longer for the virtual pitcher to wind up compared to a T-ball set up, it took about two and a half hours to swing at 100 pitches.
He played Aberdeen Little League and made the 11-12 All-Star Majors team as a 10 year old. He batted second.
“I went on a hot streak and almost hit a homer in Monte,” he said. “I didn’t strike out once.”
He made the 12-year-old All-Star team, but living in Ocean Shores he was outside the official boundaries, so couldn’t play for the team. He was only eligible to play for the 10U Tournament of Champions team.
Each week Gunner goes to a field off of Duck Lake in Ocean Shores with his mom and brother to practice. On Mondays they do short infield practice for about two hours a day. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are for hitting and catching. Thursday is the long practice for about two and a half hours.
He went through seven pairs of batting gloves and a lot of catcher’s gear this past year.
“This kid’s work ethic is like nobody else his age,” mom Brittany said. “And his love for the game is something that needs to get fed. I’ve never seen a kid who had so much passion and determination to achieve his goals and make his dreams come true.”
His dad Gavin said one key is to set high expectations.
“I expect the best from my family, otherwise, why do it? You can never be perfect but you can strive for perfection,” Gavin said. “When Gunner makes a mistake, he flushes it right away. In baseball it’s either be humble or you’ll be humbled. Baseball is a humble game.”
Brooklyn Bum coach Sean Lindros took in Gunner’s progression as a batter. The next year Gunner was still hitting last for the Bums, but something had changed. During an early season scrimmage, he was hitting last.
“On Saturday I did really good, I had five hits (out of six at-bats),” he said. “Then on Sunday I looked at the lineup and I was hitting leadoff. I was surprised.”
“This Bum came into the program two years ago as a practice player,” said coach Lindros. “That means he wasn’t ready to make the roster and needed to put in more work before he was fully on the team. Since that time, Gunner has put in more work than most kids can imagine. That hard work has found him a huge opportunity to represent his state in a Perfect Game Tournament in Las Vegas and Houston.”
Lindros was proud that at the Perfect Game tournament in Lacey, Gunner tried out with almost 70 kids.
“He ended up ranking 13th but showed many things on the field along with a big HR to cement his selection,” Lindros said.
“Gunner lives in Ocean Shores and travels to play with the Bums which is a huge commitment. Just the drive back and forth for practices and tournaments is a big cost for the family,” Lindros said. “I will be donating to his trip but wanted to give others an opportunity as he will be representing our Bum family on a big stage. Very proud of this Bum.”
The journey
“I’ve worked very hard to make it on to a team that is going to Houston in October to compete against the best 11U select baseball players in the country,” Gunner said. “It’s a huge event and an honor to make this team. Only 15 players from the Northwest made the team.”
He thanks his parents for the dedication and the sacrifices they made, including his brother Cade for the support.
“My parents travel three hours round trip three times a week for the last two years so I can be a part of a program that will help me grow as a respectful man and play the sport I love,” Gunner said. “Family, school and baseball is our motto.
“I’m really excited, but I need some help to cover the costs for travel, staying there, and tournament fees. I practice 18 hours a week with my mom,” Gunner said. “If you can please help me out so I can go and do my best. Thanks a lot for your support.”
Back to the pies
For the past month Gunner, brother Cade, mom Brittany and dad Gavin have been making apple pies to raise money for the trip. Brittany is an award-winning baker. They’ve sold about 100 pies. Gunner also has mowed lawns to make money for the trip.
After all the effort, all the hours Gunner has put in, he still lives and breathes baseball.
“I like how it’s played. It’s slow-paced compared to other sports,” Gunner said. “Whenever I dream it’s a baseball dream.”
If you want to support his trip to Houston
The family has set up a GoFundMe page (Google GoFundMe Gunner Mondor) where they so far have raised $1,370, with a goal of $3,000. They could still use some financial support through the GoFundMe page, but will make it one way or another to the Perfect Game national tryouts.
Brittany Mondor Gunner Mondor and his family have made more than 100 apple pies as part of fundraising to help pay for his trip to Las Vegas and Houston.
