By Don Ketchum

Christian Camacho is everything you want in a high school athlete.

The junior at Phoenix Trevor Browne excels as an infielder for the baseball team and performs to high standards in the classroom. He helps tutor fellow students in math.

On Saturday (April 28), Camacho and the Bruins begin their quest for the Division I championship when they host a first-round game at 11 a.m. Trevor Browne (18-5) likely will be the No. 14 seed.

“We are very excited about the tournament,’’ Camacho said on Thursday (April 26). “We don’t want it to be “We made it’ and that’s it. We want to go as far as we can and make a name for ourselves.’’

Camacho continues to make quite a name for himself.

As a sophomore, he was selected to The Arizona Republic’s All-Class 5A team, and this season has put up some big numbers as the Bruins’ third-place hitter and shortstop.

Through the middle of this week, he was listed by MaxPreps with a .479 batting average, 15 doubles, one triple and five home runs. He has about 45 career doubles, and by the time he graduates from Trevor Browne in 2013, he should have the career record in his pocket.

“He is a good kid, He is one of the most talented players I’ve had here,’’ said Deston Cummings, who is in his fifth season as Trevor Browne coach and played at Trevor Browne for former coach Steve Massingill. “He has quick hands, a good eye at the plate and he works hard to improve.’’

Cummings compared Camacho favorably as a hitter with former Bruins catcher Sergio Burruel, who went on to play in the minor leagues.

Camacho played third base and was an occasional catcher as a sophomore, but this season moved to shortstop.

“I never played there before this year, but I have done pretty well there,’’ he said. “There is a lot to learn. You have to know where to go in certain situations and where others have to go. You move around more and are in more of the action.’’

He continues to refine his defense by taking a lot of ground balls, and believes he is quicker after dropping his weight from 220 a year ago to around 200 now.

College is another year away. Camacho would like to play somewhere, but won’t restrict himself to a position.

“I will be willing to play wherever I am needed, just like here at Trevor Browne,’’ he said.

There is added strength this season, Camacho says.

“I think I have more power,’’ he said.

He likes hitting in the No. 3 position, particularly with runners on base. He goes for mainly line drives to all parts of the field.

“I put extra pressure on myself, but not that much. I always have the No. 4 hitter behind me to pick me up,’’ he said.

As for his tutoring, Camacho said most of the students he tutors are seniors.

“That’s a little strange, a junior teaching all of these seniors, but it works out. I have made some good friends,’’ he said.

Camacho and his teammates will make a lot more friends if they can go beyond the first round.