A story in last week’s Simi Valley, Calif., Acorn, shares how Gunner Hellstrom, a senior catcher at Grace Brethren High School in Simi Valley, will be following his dream to play for the University of Nebraska next year. A portion of the story appears below. Click here for the complete article. (Grace Brethren High School is a ministry of Grace Brethren Church, Simi Valley, Jordan Bakker, pastor.)
Gunner gets it: Grace Brethren Lancers Grace Brethren superstar catcher will play baseball for Nebraska Huskers
It was just a dream for Gunner Hellstrom.
The crisp scarlet-and-cream uniform. The bold “N” above the bill of his cap. Playing 50 miles away from the famed grounds of the College World Series.
Hellstrom wanted it all.
As a 10-year-old in Simi Youth Baseball, Hellstrom played for the Huskers. Next season, the Grace Brethren High senior catcher will join the University of Nebraska baseball team.
“There’s something true about Nebraska,” said the 18-year-old, who committed to the school before his junior season. “It’s a great campus with great families. Everyone knows everyone. (Head coach) Darin Erstad’s doing a great job over there, so I’m excited to get back over there.”
Hellstrom was born and raised in California, but he’s always rooted for “Big Red.”
His grandfather Richard Hellstrom moved the family from Nebraska to California when Rick Hellstrom, Gunner’s father, was in elementary school.
A Husker fan through and through, Rick Hellstrom swayed Gunner from rooting for the Bruins and Trojans. Gunner Hellstrom was destined to be a Husker fan, but even he thought trotting out onto Hawks Field at Haymarket Park in Lincoln was a fantasy.
Click here for the complete article.