Like Father, Like Son: Ian Ross

Story By: Omari Bell, Reporter|April 10, 2019

Ian Ross loads up for a throw to first during the Rams’ game against West Hills Coalinga on April 2, 2019.

Ian Ross has spent nearly his entire life around sports, like golf and basketball – but most importantly, baseball. Ross has always had a passion for catching a ball at 3rd base or stepping up to the plate when his colleagues need him the most with expectations of hitting that small white and red ball over the back wall.

Ross, now 21, grew up in Clovis, California. After graduating from Clovis West High School in 2016, he signed his letter of intent to Sacramento State University where he redshirted his first collegiate season. Even though he signed with Sacramento State, Ross grew up a Fullerton College fan.

“I grew up watching Fullerton every year on my birthday,” Ross said. “I usually would spend the weekend up there.”

The opp

ortunity has not come up for Ross to communicate with the Fullerton head coach this season, but he has multiple Division I schools scouting him.

That said, Ross never fails to mention how great it would be to play for his father’s alma mater.

Ian’s father, Mike Ross, is one of the assistant coaches for the Rams. And even though he may have played baseball for the minors, he did not push Ian into playing any sports, leaving that decision up to him. Mike Ross also attended Fresno City College where he played soccer and baseball.

“Ian has grown a lot since being at Sac State up until now,” Mike Ross said. “He has become an important part in our offense and defense.”

This season, the Rams have won 24 games and have lost 8 games with their last of the conference being against Merced Tuesday, April 9 where they pulled away with a 11-4 win. Ross has managed to average .363 at the plate with a .437 on-base, and .566 slugging percentages, recording 41 hits, five of which went for home runs over the wall up to this point in the season.

“I think wherever Ian ends up for the next two years he’s gonna help out a lot while being very productive on offense and defense,” Mike Ross said.

Ross’s most memorable baseball moment he said had to have been last season against rival junior college, College of the Sequoias.

“It was like the 8th inning I believe, and we were down 7-6 and we were facing this really good pitcher that had committed to Long Beach State. He was being a little cocky during the game and I had gone up to bat, I just remember hitting the ball across the field and watched as it went over the fence making us gain the lead with 8-7 going into the 9th inning,” Ross said. “That was pretty awesome.”

Ross has always been that type of player that goes into the box thinking he’s better than the pitcher to give him that edge going into that kind of match-up on offense.

Head Coach R

on Scott stated that the coaching staff talks to four year schools all the time for Ross and that he, as well as Chet Allison have a lot of things going for them at the moment.

“I think that Ian has been phenomenal these past two years,” Head Coach Ron Scott said. “He had a great year last year, but we’re lucky he is back. Ian to me should be playing Division I baseball somewhere.”