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FLYING HIGH WITh FIDES

but instead I spent a lot of time running away from them....
skateboarding at the city parks all the time, hopping over fences
and grinding rails.” It gives him so much pleasure and he was so
good at it that a local board shop gave him boards to use for his favorite
hobby. However, a fall off a ramp while leaping over the head of his little
brother brought an end to his skateboarding. He was ordered by his Dad to
concentrate on baseball (Edes).

When asked how he felt moving from the outfield to being a pitcher while
playing for UCR, he said he wasn’t very happy because from when he
was 10 to 12 years old, he was playing too much and his arms started to
hurt. He couldn’t pitch more than 8 innings. However, his college coach
told him that he had no power with the bat but has a good arm. Joe
added, “I got on the mound practicing and it came out pretty
good and it just went from there.” Joe Kelly explained that when
asked, he doesn’t really remember anything when he played at the World
Series on 2013 because he was a young player then, he didn’t enjoy
it, and they didn’t win. This time around, he made a mental effort to
actually enjoy it and play baseball as he played it in Santana Park. He
also felt that with the Red Sox Team, they were so close to each other
that it was like when he was a little kid. “ I was just out there playing
baseball and having fun! Going out to the mound that way, you pitch,
and you know that you’ll go to the World Series! ” With regard to putting
his name by the win in the World Series, he humbly said “I don’t think I
deserve it, the team just happened to score after I came out of the game.”
It is evident that what matters to Joe the most about playing baseball first
and foremost is enjoying it and having fun.
After his reminiscing mood, he got back to the amazement of everybody’s
presence. He expressed his appreciation for the huge amount of support
that he received from his local community that day. “It’s such an honor
standing in front of you guys who do a lot of cooler things...I just
happen to throw a baseball fast.” It was an even more meaningful
experience since the special occasion was graced by the presence of Joe’s
immediate family, his wife Ashley, and son Knox, his Dad Joe Kelley Sr.,
his stepmother, Wendy his brothers Chris, Mikey, and Nolan and his sister
Lennae. His coaches, other extended relatives and friends were also there
for him. It was brief but a very worthwhile ceremony. n

“From the City of Corona and all of us at Manila Up! Internationational Magazine, we are happy to have you back in
Southern California! Welcome back, the pitcher who’s full of surprises, the Amazing Joe Kelly!”
Photos courtesy of Wendy Kelly, Steve Burke, Shane Spicer, Michelle Nissen, and Cindy Solis

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