HE'S A PRO NOW-Nick Giarraputo served as Simi Valley's ace pitcher on the mound last season. In early June, he was drafted by the New York Mets as a third baseman. Giarraputo signed a contract shortly thereafter, and quickly joined the Mets' rookie ball team in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Summer's here and that means it's time for kids to hit the beach, go on vacations and enjoy the good life.

Nick Giarraputo has other plans, though. He has to go to work this summer.

After a couple weeks that have been wilder than Mr. Toad's ride, Giarraputo can now start his dream job playing baseball every day for the New York Mets in their rookie ball league in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

In the last few weeks, Giarraputo has had finals at Simi Valley High, been drafted by the Mets in the 12th round of the MLB Amateur Draft, graduated from high school and gotten on a plane to Florida to begin playing third base.

"I was contacted by the Mets a couple days before the draft and they just wanted to know my situation," Giarraputo said. "I watched the draft on the Internet at my house with my family members. I was nervous as the 10th and 11th rounds were going by. Just as I was talking to my dad about what happens if nobody drafts me, I interrupted him, pointed to the computer screen and said, 'There I am!'"

According to Giarraputo, what happened next was bedlam.

"My dad jumped on the couch and started yelling while I was screaming in front of the computer screen," Giarraputo said. "It was all just so crazy. It's hard to describe in words."

The Mets made contact with Giarraputo about a half hour later. A week passed before Giarraputo signed with the team.

With the Mets in town that week against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Giarraputo wanted to go to a game and cheer on his new team, but he had other things to worry about, like a senior awards banquet and his graduation from Simi Valley.

Less than two days after graduation, Giarraputo was saying goodbye to all his friends for the summer and heading on a plane across the country.

Giarraputo happened to have good company on the plane with him, as his longtime friend and rival from Royal High, Kevin Harrington, sat on the plane next to him.

Harrington was drafted just two picks after Giarraputo and was leaving to play rookie ball with the Minnesota Twins.

"All week after being drafted I was really excited and calm," Giarraputo said. "Then the flight to Florida came and I was really nervous. The first day I had to find a doctor and get my physicals taken care of. It was an easy first day as I just told myself to relax and get in shape before the real fun began."

Giarraputo's fun began in Vero Beach, as his Mets team was in town to play the Dodgers.

Giarraputo noticed the pitcher was throwing very hard for the Dodgers and he would have to adjust.

Standing at the plate moments later, Giarraputo laced a clean single down the third-base line for his first professional hit.

"You notice right away that the players here are better and that everyone here belongs," Giarraputo said. "It's different from high school in that way and that you have to wake up every day at a quarter to 6 in the morning and do a bunch of workouts. And you play every day, except Sundays, so I am a little sore right now after the fourth game only, but I'm sure I will get used to it."

Though Giarraputo's high school days are now behind him, he credits SVHS head coach Matt LaBelle and his staff for getting him prepared for the next level.

"He taught me how to play the game the right way," Giarraputo said. "He was more of a friend than a coach and he taught me how to be a leader."

Giarraputo said it's a little strange not being a leader on the team right now, but he still goes into every game with the attitude to play his absolute best.

"I am just having fun here, playing every day," Giarraputo said. "I haven't gotten homesick

yet, but I'm sure that will come into play later. I still talk with my family and friends every day after the games to keep in touch."

When Giarraputo isn't on the diamond, he passes his time by playing video games back at his hotel room. When asked how cool it would be to be playing a baseball video game with him in it, he laughed.

"Yeah, that would be cool," he said. "I guess that would be one way to know you made it."