San Carlos Native Makes it to the World Series

So what if baseball announcer Tim McCarver mispronounced his last name? That didn't stop San Carlos' Daniel Descaslo from successfully bunting in his first at-bat in a World Series game. Nor did it keep him from fielding a ground ball in the 9th inning to help the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 in Game One of the Fall Classic.

Born and raised in San Carlos, Daniel Descalso batted .397 during his time at UC Davis. He also hit 22 doubles -- the second most in school history.

But his success didn’t stop there.

Last night his name was announced as part of the St. Louis Cardinals roster before Game One of the World Series. And to make it a bit sweeter, it was also his 25th birthday.

Descalso – who attended St. Charles School in San Carlos, and St. Francis High School in Mountain View - wasn't in the starting line-up, but did come in later in the game. In addition to last night's bunt,  he's had a hit and a run in six at bats so far this postseason.

“Baseball’s been part of my life since I could walk,” Descalso said on KNBR radio yesterday morning. “My dad would pitch me wiffle balls since I was two.”

Descalso primarily played 3rd base at UC Davis, where he studied economics, but has wandered around the infield throughout his career. He was drafted in 2007 by the Cardinals and has primarily rotated in at 2nd base this year.

“I grew up as an A’s fan,” Descalso said. “I was always the only A’s fan of all of my friends.”

The manager of the A’s during his youth was Tony La Russa, who is the current manager of the Cardinals. During that same time, Mark McGwire emerged as a power-hitting star in Oakland. Now McGwire is now the hitting coach in St. Louis.

Descalso did an interview on KNBR yesterday morning, in which he talks about the Cardinals’ run to the World Series and his childhood in Northern California.

He's also active on Twitter. Follow him here.