A Second Chance Isn’t Wasted : Canyon: Greg Tippin, the team’s top hitter, wants to make this postseason one for the scrap books.

ANAHEIM — Greg Tippin will have to do some explaining to his teammates if Canyon High School’s baseball team wins the Southern Section 4-A championship today at Anaheim Stadium.

Tippin, the team’s leading hitter with a .357 average and seven homers, is also the sports editor of the school’s yearbook, The Legend. Unfortunately, the baseball team’s exploits in postseason play won’t be recorded in this year’s book.

“Deadlines,” Tippin explained. “The yearbook went to press two weeks ago. We’ll have some pictures and a story on the league season, but everything was turned in before the playoffs started. There wasn’t much to print at the time.”

For the record, the story of Canyon’s baseball season in The Legend will be short and not so sweet. It goes something like this: Team is picked to win the Century League title but finishes a distant second to El Modena. End of story.

Well, not quite. The real story continues when Canyon gets a second chance in the playoffs. Canyon regroups, upsets Ramona, Gahr, Dos Pueblos and Paramount, and advances to the championship game.

“We got new life in the playoffs and our goal all along was to win the CIF (Southern Section) title,” Tippin said. “We didn’t get big heads when we were picked to win the league, but we made some mistakes and blew it.

“Now, we’ve pulled together in the playoffs. We’ve been living and playing inning by inning. You could see a change taking place in our last league game against Orange.”

Tippin played a key role in Canyon’s 5-1 victory over Orange in the season finale, hitting a homer, a double and driving in three runs. He also has three hits, stolen two bases and scored six runs in four playoff games.

Canyon has been living on the edge for the past two weeks, a predicament that hasn’t eluded senior outfielder Rory O’Leary. Before each playoff game, O’Leary has huddled the team together and said, “I don’t want this to be my last high school game.”

The team responds with a whispering chant of “Canyon” before the players take infield practice.

“We’re the only ones who can hear it,” Tippin said. They’re also the only ones who thought they would be playing in the title game.

Tippin’s two-game absence in mid-season because of chicken pox hurt Canyon’s league title chances. He is the team’s most versatile athlete and has played all three outfield positions, first base and pitcher during the season.

“I feel most comfortable playing first base,” he said. “I’ve played there all of my life. I like being involved in most of the plays during the game.”

Tippin will be vying for the starting first base job at USC in the fall. He signed a letter of intent with the Trojans last October, turning down an offer from San Diego State.

USC coaches were impressed with Tippin’s play for the Orange County Cardinals last summer. He batted .407 with the Connie Mack team that advanced to the national championship series in Farmington, N.M.

“I visited USC and fell in love with the place,” he said. “I’ve been a Trojan fan all my life. It was the best combination of academics and athletics for me.”

Tippin has seven homers, including four in the Anaheim Lions Easter Tournament, but quickly dismisses the label of being a power hitter. He hits 200 balls every day after practice, usually working with his grandfather, Grant Abrahamson.

Tippin was taught a soft-toss drill by Milwaukee Brewers’ hitting instructor Tony Muser, who was a high school rival at Long Beach Wilson when Tippin’s father, Paul, played at Millikan.

Tippin credits his family for his baseball success.

“I can call my grandfather any time and he’s always there for me,” he said. “My dad has been taking me to games since I was a little kid. I saw Canyon beat Lompoc in the (1984) championship game at Anaheim and said, ‘I want to do that some day.’ ”

Tippin will be carrying more than his uniform when he arrives at the Big A today. He’ll also have a tuxedo--the school’s senior prom begins after the game.

“The limo is picking us up at the stadium,” he said. “We’re going to dinner at Club 33 in Disneyland and then to the prom. The dance is important, but I’m going to Anaheim Stadium to win. I’ve been waiting three years for this.”