Jason Phillips
New York Mets

By ERIC HOWARD
Daily Aztec Staff Writer

But as soon as Phillips got back to San Diego, he learned that his friend and former high school teammate Matt LaChappa had suffered a massive heart attack.
 

Phillips was not alone the next time he played as thoughts of LaChappa crossed the lines with him.
 

Phillips has decided to dedicate the remainder of his playing career to LaChappa, a pitcher in the Padres' minor league system.
 

"I want him to know what I did was for him," Phillips said. "I know if I was in his situation, he would do the same for me."
 

LaChappa would be very proud to see that Phillips is among the Aztec leaders in batting and RBIs.
 

Their friendship began long before they ever stepped on a baseball field together. The Phillips and LaChappa families have been friends for more than 20 years. Not only did Matt and Jason grow up together but Jason's father, Clyde, and Matt's father, Clifford, played in a fast-pitch softball league together on the Barona Indian reservation.
 

Clyde and the rest of the Phillips family have had a hard time dealing with Matt's heart attack.
 

"We were devastated," Clyde said. "It makes me appreciate my own kid's health."
 

Clyde has only fond memories of LaChappa.
 

"If you knew Matt, you knew he was an awesome kid," Clyde said. "He didn't drink or do things like that. He was a great kid."
 

Although the two families have been friends for more than 20 years, they were drawn even closer when LaChappa and Phillips played baseball together at El Capitan High School.
 

Together, they led the Vaqueros to three consecutive Grossmont League Championships.
 

Phillips was the star with the bat, hitting .469 with two home runs and 30 RBIs his senior season. LaChappa was the most dominant pitcher in San Diego county.
 

After high school, Phillips and LaChappa went their separate ways. LaChappa was drafted in the second round by the San Diego Padres and Phillips decided to continue his school career at San Diego State.
 

"We have a special relationship," Phillips said. "We were the only guys from our high school team still playing."
 

LaChappa had a terrific rookie season for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the Padres Class A California League affiliate. He was 11-7 with a 5.56 ERA, and led the league with 28 starts.
 

Phillips was a big contributor his freshman season at Montezuma Mesa. He hit .328 with two home runs and 29 RBIs.
 

The ex-Vaqueros teammates were both destined for stardom.
 

But, everything changed on April 6 when LaChappa collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital.
 

"Doctors have said that Matt has suffered neurological impairments," Padres spokeswoman Priscilla Oppenheimer said. "But there is still hope for improvement. It could be a while."
 

LaChappa remains hospitalized in a coma but was upgraded from critical to serious condition last week.
 

"I pray for him," Jason said. "I just hope he can come out of the coma."
 

Clyde said that Jason doesn't talk much about Matt, but he knows that Jason has really been affected by it.
 

"Whenever he's on the road, he asks me about Matt," Clyde said. "He wants to know if there is anything new."
 

The Phillips have not talked to the LaChappa family yet. Clyde said they are waiting for the situation to settle down before they visit Matt.
 

"It's hard to talk to (Matt's) family," Jason said. "I know it's a very difficult time for them."
 

Clifford had come to games to watch Jason play, but Jason1 longs for the day when Matt comes to see him.
 

"I don't know if Matt will ever play again," Phillips said. "But I hope someday that he can come watch me play."