Jeff Hiestand picked up his first plastic bat and ball not long after he picked up walking. At two years old, he was already being pitched to, and he could slam his plastic ball across the yard.
Two years later when Jeff started his first tee-ball league, his mother Julie said he couldn't figure out what they needed the tee on home plate. "He's always been able to hit the ball," she said. "And he's always wanted to play baseball."
Along with his toddler bat and ball, his parents gave him a football, basketball and golf clubs. Golfing entertained him some of the time. But, it was evident early on that Jeff's real passion was baseball. When Jeff's mom asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would reply; "a baseball, a golf or a meat-cut (like grandpa)."
For the most part, Jeff has given up golfing and meat cutting, but baseball has always been an integral part of his life. So his family decided to join the team. Before high school, Jeff's dad was often team manager or coach; his older sister Heather would announce or keep score and his mom took on the role of cheerleader, proudly calling out "that's my boy" every chance she got.
"We've always supported him," his mom said. "But we also taught our kids, you can't get through on anyone's coat-tail. You've got to do it yourself." Jeff took that advice to heart. "He's never been a brown-noser," she said. "It's just hard work."
Looking back, Jeff said he doesn't remember ever thinking he would even go on to play college baseball. He just played because he loved it. But Jeff's dedication payed off, and he played for Chino High School in Chino, Calif., where he set the school records for batting average, hit by pitches and walks.
He was also named first team all-league, team captain and MVP in 2000 and MVP in both pre-season tournaments and first-team all-league. He was later recruited to the American Legion team, which went on to become the Area Nine district and California state champions.
After his senior season at Chino High School, his mom said he took all the awards at the closing awards ceremony. "I was so embarrassed," she said. "I turned and apologized to the mother sitting next to me, and all she said was, 'he deserves it.'"
After a successful high school career, Jeff decided he wanted to keep playing, and he wanted to play for BYU.
"I tried to get my high school coach to call BYU and talk to Coach Law, but he said I wasn't good enough to play at BYU," Jeff said.
The University of San Francisco offered Jeff a scholarship to come and play, but he had already decided he would only play for BYU. "I didn't really know the difference between Division I and junior college baseball, I just wanted to come to BYU," he said.
Without the help of his coach, Jeff decided to take matters into his own hands. "I just decided I could come to BYU and try out and make the baseball team," Jeff said. "I didn't think twice about it."
Coach Vance Law remembers the first time Jeff showed up at the field his freshman year at BYU. He described Jeff as a brick of a guy, short, stocky, strong and basically fearless.
"Normally walk-ons come in and they're scared to death because their window of opportunity is very small, we've got a lot of good players," Law said. "But he hit a bunch of balls off the wall, a couple home-runs in tryouts and the next thing you know he's one of our main guys."
Jeff's freshman year as a walk-on he started 34 of 45 games, had the fourth best slugging percentage on the team at .556, hit home runs against every league rival except UNLV and was voted honorable mention Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
"Even as a freshman he had a major contribution throughout the conference tournament," Coach Law said. After his freshman season Jeff was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denver, Colo. Coach Law offered him a scholarship if he would come back to BYU and play after his mission.
"It wasn't like I wanted to play baseball so I could get a free college education," Jeff said. "But it worked out that way."
Jeff returned to the 'Y' in 2004, ready to play. He led the Cougars his sophomore season with a .651 slugging percentage and 30 walks to help the team finish second in the league. Jeff was called a top hitter returning for 2005, but prior to the season he broke his hamate bone in his right hand doing medicine ball pushups.
"I throw right and bat left, so it's my bottom hand when I bat," he said. "So it's the most important hand, and my throwing hand."
That still didn't stop Jeff, he went to practice that same day, and kept going. "I really wasn't able to play to my potential, but I tried to," he said. "I played the whole season. I only missed a few games to give my hand a rest."
Not playing to his full potential, Jeff recorded a 29-game hitting streak, led the Cougars with a .371 batting average and was on base all but one of his 50 games.
"Jeff not only played with a broken hand, he played well," Law said. "He was still able to get his hits, driving a lot of runs. I only wish we could have seen what could happen if he had been healthy."
In 2005, the Cougars came just one win away from winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament. Coach Law said he expects the Cougars to continue winning in the 2006 season just like 2005. And Jeff will be ready.
Jeff had surgery on his hand over the summer between his junior and senior season so he could be ready for his final season at the 'Y'.
Even with the surgically repaired hand, Coach Law says sometimes Jeff doesn't know how strong he is.
Normally, when Coach Law's players hit home runs he tries to shake their hands as they round third base. Even with his broken hand, Law said he was always cautious when Jeff comes around.
"He's a real big strong guy," he said. "So I try to temper that a little bit when I shake his hand or make sure I get in deep, otherwise he'll squeeze my fingers too hard."
But that makes for good hits, and that's what Jeff is looking forward to.
"I want to be able to contribute to the team as much as I can," he said. "We really are going to be good this year."
During the preseason, Jeff is focusing all his time towards baseball.
"I actually don't really have free time," Jeff said. "It's nice to have a break but all I want to do is play baseball."
Coach Law said he is also looking to Jeff this season for leadership.
"He's very competitive, he likes to win," Law said. "That's the kind of guy we want, who competes fairly, but is relentlessly trying to achieve the goals we set as a team and individually."