From SAC, to State Championship, to Angel Stadium, Dreams Come True for Outfielder Ryann Stock
For lifelong Angels fan Ryann Stock, throwing out the first pitch at a recent home game at Angel Stadium was a dream come true. “The Angels are my favorite team, so it is that much better throwing out a first pitch for them," Stock added.
In fact, Stock's ceremonial pitch is just one in a series of dreams to come true for the 21-year-old outfielder from Santa Ana College's (SAC) 2023 state champion baseball team.
In May 2023, the Anaheim resident scored the go-ahead run at the top of the 15th inning during SAC's state championship game in Folsom, which the Dons won, 8-7, defeating Folsom Lake College. “It was a long battle and pretty intense," Stock said of the five-hour game. “I've never been in that big of a game before and I never thought it would happen at SAC."
Now, with the state championship and the ceremonial first pitch under his belt, Stock is considering an even bigger dream: where he will transfer in Fall 2023. He's currently weighing options from colleges across the country, including opportunities to continue his baseball career.
Stock, who has been playing baseball since the age of four, came to SAC from Servite High School in Anaheim in 2020. While the COVID pandemic sidelined the 2020-2021 baseball season, Stock ultimately played two years for the Dons, culminating in the 2023 state title.
Ryann Stock celebrates a victory with his teammates
“I never thought that getting a roster spot at SAC would lead to a state championship," Stock said. “It is pretty surreal."
While at SAC, Stock majored in computer science and minored in kinesiology. His favorite courses included sports nutrition, which helped him understand the importance of recovery as an athlete, “as well as how to eat to stay strong and to be as well-prepared on the field as I can possibly be," he said.
Stock also enjoyed computer science courses, including CMPR 121, which he said, “helped me understand and prepare for the real world of computer science."
After college, Stock says his career goals include software development and program development, but he isn't ruling out kinesiology. “Studying kinesiology was important to me as an athlete, to learn how to prevent injury, but now I think I can share that knowledge and help people gain the strength to perform at their best, stay healthy and stay on the field for as long as they can."
Stock prepares for his opening pitch at Angel Stadium
