Male Athlete of the Year: Nick Quintana had 15 home runs in 89 at-bats for Arbor View

By Taylor Bern

Monday, May 23, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Baseball started as something to occupy the kids in the Quintana family. They played on semicomptetitive teams, not youth baseball’s elite traveling squads.

It was quite a transformation for Arbor View senior Nick Quintana to go from that background to making the 18-and-under USA national team and ultimately winning a gold medal in the WBSC World Cup in Japan last summer.

“We dog-piled, they played our national anthem and then we got back to the hotel and had a blast,” said Quintana. “A couple hours later, flight to LAX and back at school the next day.”

It was an international version of the hectic domestic schedule Quintana could face as early as this summer. A top-100 prospect, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound shortstop has signed with Arizona but will likely have a decision to make about going professional after June’s First-Year Player Draft.

His older brother, Zach, a right-hander in the Milwaukee Brewers system, was drafted No. 122 overall in 2012, and Nick Quintana absolutely wants to get drafted higher.

“He always says, ‘You’re better than me,’” Nick said of Zach. “I take it as a compliment, but I want to be way better than him.”

Nick Quintana realized around age 14 that he was good enough to make baseball his career if he kept working at it. That’s what he’s done ever since, and the results this season show: He batted .438 with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs and 23 walks.

It’s an exciting time for the Quintanas, and no matter what happens, Nick is confident the future is as bright as ever.

“I have no problem going to Arizona; I think I’d love it,” he said. “But if it’s the right team, if it’s the right pick, if it’s the right fit, I’ll go pro.”

Male Athlete of the Year finalists

• Biaggio Ali-Walsh, football, Bishop Gorman: Rushed for 2,451 yards and 33 touchdowns and named Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year for Sun Standout Award-winning Gaels.

• Nathaniel Garcia, wrestling, Cimarron-Memorial: Posted a 53-2 record in winning 195-pound state championship after being named an all-league lineman in football.

• Dylan Levitt, tennis, Palo Verde: Won singles championship at both the state and regional tournaments.

• Ivan Lopez, soccer, Clark: Scored seven goals in the postseason and 21 in the regular season to lead Clark to its first state championship since the 1980s.