Tustin pitcher had a tough choice to make

Tustin’s Dwayne Angebrandt II played in two all-star baseball games.

Tustin senior Dwayne Angebrandt II had a tough decision to make last month.

Should be attend graduation ceremonies with his classmates or participate in the prestigious Orange County all-star baseball game?

“The way I looked at it, I’ve worked for just as long in baseball and it’s deeper rooted within me and my lifestyle,” said Angebrandt II who is headed to Cal State Northridge in the fall. “So I felt rather than going to the graduation ceremony and being one of 400 or 500, I would go out and play the sport I love one more time and be one of 46 (all-stars).”

He opted to play in the all-star game and has no regrets.

“It felt amazing to play in that game being surrounded by so much talent,” he said. “It felt great.”

Angebrandt represented Tustin well in the game in his one inning of work, facing five batters and striking out two without giving up a run.

“Dwayne is the example of all that is right with high school baseball,” said Tustin coach Charles Chatman. “He came into his freshmen year as a undersized average to below average athlete and worked his way to a two time all-league legitimate D1 prospect and is going to have a great career at Northridge”

Angebrandt also competed for the Empire League in the Ryan Lemmon Showcase June 9 in Irvine. In one inning, he struck out two and allowed a run.

“It’s an honor to be out here, representing my league and representing Tustin High School and playing with the best of the best,” he said.

Angebrandt picked up his high school diploma from Tustin a couple days later.