No regrets for Rebels’ Sferra after transfer from Arizona State

Near the end of his sophomore year at Arizona State, J.J. Sferra was ready to call it quits on his baseball career. He had grown tired of the game he grew up playing.

There was more to it than that, some "personal stuff" he still is reluctant to discuss in detail. But he walked away from the Sun Devils' team and had no plans to look back.

"I was at a point in my life where you hit some adversity with some family issues and stuff like that," he said. "It was kind of personal stuff. I just got burned out and talked to my family and decided it was time for me to take some time off.

"I kind of needed to be with my family and find my life again ... and see if I wanted to play baseball again in the future."

While sitting out the 2007 season, Sferra worked as an assistant at a hospital and bussed tables at an Italian restaurant to help pay for school. After a year away from baseball, he discovered he couldn't stay away.

"At one point, I was done and I was retired," he said. "But I kind of found myself again and regrouped with everything that was going on. I had that fire to come back and play again. I got my mind right."

Sferra remembered a recruiting call he received as a high school senior in Phoenix, and he dialed UNLV coach Buddy Gouldsmith.

"I called Coach Bud, and he said, 'We need an outfielder, so we would love to have you.' It all fell into place," Sferra said.

The Rebels' final homestand of the season, today through Saturday against No. 14 Texas Christian, will serve as last call for Sferra and seven other UNLV seniors at Wilson Stadium.

Sferra, who had a 28-game hitting streak end in late April, leads Rebels regulars with a .385 batting average.

"I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to come back and play baseball again," said Sferra, a center fielder and leadoff hitter who has started 104 games in his two years at UNLV.

It was almost predetermined that Sferra would attend Arizona State, where his father, Jay, was a longtime assistant coach. But Gouldsmith courted him anyway.

"I just called and said, 'J.J., I love the way you play, and I think you could have a great career at UNLV if you want something other than Arizona State,' " Gouldsmith said.

Sferra listened but signed with the Sun Devils, and it seemed to be the right move. He hit .311 while starting 56 games as a freshman, and he hit .323 as a sophomore before leaving the team in the spring of 2006.

"Whatever it was, it made him question his desire to play," Gouldsmith said. "I think the change inspired him. Baseball is in his blood.

"He's not a real emotional guy, and not a vocal guy. I can count probably on three fingers the number of times I've seen him clap his hands. But he wants to be out there when the game is on the line. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with him."

The Rebels (26-27, 9-12 Mountain West Conference) have played sub-.500 baseball in Sferra's two years, but he doesn't second-guess his decision to leave Arizona State, a traditional power.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he said. "I've met a lot of cool guys here, some best friends, so I'm very thankful for it."

Gouldsmith said the 5-foot-10-inch Sferra has a legitimate shot to play professionally this summer.

Sferra recently graduated with a degree in university studies, with sociology and music as his two concentrations. He plans eventually to go to graduate school and start a career in counseling or social work.

"I'm going to get as much education as I can," he said. "I know I want to help people."

• NOTES -- The games today and Friday are at 7 p.m. ... UNLV will honor Sferra and fellow seniors Marc Baca, Joe DiMaggio, Corey Hales, Anthony Morel, Bryan Resnick, Ryan Thornton and Jesse Wight before Saturday's game at noon.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.