RBI Baseball - Daily Texan - April 4 2005

[CecilFielder]

This article mentions RBI Baseball 

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2005/04/05/Sports/Not-Your.Everyday.Peoples-912402.shtml?page=2

The Daily Texan - Sports
Issue: 4/5/05

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Not your everyday Peoples
By Jake Veyhl


Nick Peoples might be mistaken for a laid-back guy, but put him in any kind of competition, and he'll bring with him the passion of a heavyweight prize fighter.

This intense style of playing baseball has earned Peoples the affectionate nickname of "dirt bag" by his teammates.

"No matter what, he gets dirty on the field somehow," roommate David Maroul said. "Even playing in the outfield, he'll find a way to have dirt covering his uniform."

Peoples is known for giving his all for Texas, but the Round Rock native acquired his "all-out" attitude long before he was a Longhorn.

As avid skateboarders through the early years of high school, Peoples and 13-year friend and current Texas teammate Chance Wheeless often went to shopping centers after high school baseball practice to play around on their boards.

When Peoples narrowly missed clearing an eight-stair jump one afternoon, it was second nature to try it again, believing he could make it. On the next attempt, he not only failed to complete the jump, but he landed awkwardly on his left leg, breaking two bones and dislocating his ankle.

"I jumped off, and my foot slipped off the board, and I felt it pop out. I knew something was wrong," Peoples said. "I looked down, and my foot was completely turned to the left.

"Chance saw from a distance. He came running up, and I was holding my lower leg. He looked at me, and says 'What's wrong with your knee?' My foot was sticking out behind me."

Wheeless, who has probably ruled out a future medical career, vividly remembers what happened when Peoples' dad, Larry, arrived on the scene.

"His dad showed up, and he's a pretty intimidating guy, and he was pretty upset about it," Wheeless said. "When they put Nick in the ambulance, his dad went up and punched the ambulance. I'm pretty sure there's still a dent in the side."

Peoples still laughs about the incident but admits there has been a minimal amount of skateboarding after that fall. Instead, he concentrates his efforts toward his first passion: baseball.

As a former Round Rock High School standout, the sophomore utility player has always had fans watching him at Disch-Falk Field. Peoples helped the Dragons reach the state championship game his senior season with a .417 average and a solid glove at third base.

As the youngest of five siblings, Peoples followed his brother, Danny, into Texas' baseball program.

During his freshman year at Texas, Peoples was used mainly as a defensive replacement in the outfield. He played in 11 of the Longhorns' postseason contests in 2004, including four games at the College World Series.

It was that time in Omaha that he really showed fans and teammates his passionate attitude. When a fly ball was hit over his head in right field, Peoples raced back in an attempt to catch it. The wall grew closer as fast as the ball fell from the sky, but he did not slow down. It wasn't until the last instant that he gave up, knowing the ball was out of reach. He attempted to slide too late and went full-steam into Rosenblatt Stadium's padded wall.

"I've never seen anyone go straight into a wall without slowing down," Wheeless said. "He just doesn't care what happens to him. He'll do anything to make a play."

Peoples is just as competitive in every other part of his life, even video games.

"Me and my brother would play 'RBI Baseball' all the time, and that would get pretty intense," he said. "It would usually end with fists in the wall."

Peoples is currently second on the team in hitting with a .347 average in 20 games. When he earned his chance to become an every day player a couple of games into the season, Peoples responded by hitting over .400 through his first 40 at-bats. However, a 0-for-12 slump in three games against Baylor dropped him out of the starting lineup.

Peoples will likely get another shot as an every day starter soon, but as a right-handed hitter, he might play a bigger role against left-handed pitching.

"I think your outfield needs to be able to provide you with offense," Texas head coach Augie Garrido said. "The hardest part about having top-flight offensive outfielders like we do here is that they've got to be top-flight defensive outfielders first, because of the size of the park."

Peoples' solid hitting has helped him compete for playing time, but it is his spectacular fielding that often brings fans to their feet. Peoples isn't afraid to dive for any ball hit around him, often taking base hits away from opponents.

And while he isn't opposed to laying out, don't expect him to lay down.

[fightonusc]

Would it be a violation of NCAA rules to pay for a Cousin to the COTUT entry for this guy?

[Gantry]

Punching walls after a loss in RBI and running into walls catching flyballs.  I love this kid....

Someone track down his email in the U of T directory and let him know about dee-nee.  Yes, I am too lazy and doing a front page update....

In the meantime, the article has been added to the Links Page

[fightonusc]

I just sent him a message. I also found his phone number, but I'm not calling because that's weird.

[Gantry]

Yes, yes it is.....

[Nails]

This kid made tonight's Web Gems on Baseball Tonight.  It was a pretty nice leaping catch at the wall in the college world series.  That is all.