Afghanistan native new to baseball helps Des Moines North snap 103-game losing streak

One Des Moines North player has had a unique journey to becoming a pitcher, trading in a cricket ball for a baseball.Sadaqat Safi moved from Afghanistan to America in April 2022. Once he settled into a new home, he wanted to play baseball."He showed up the first day — sandals, no glove, no hat, no cleats," head coach Alex Gauer said. "We don't turn any kid away." It didn't take long for the staff to notice the rising freshman's talent, so his coaches put a ball in his hand and sent him to the mound. "He's thrown something before. Probably not a baseball, but he's definitely thrown something," Gauer said.The language barrier presents a unique challenge for Safi's catcher, Teagen O'Brien. Instead of calling pitches, O'Brien guesses them."Whenever I'm behind the plate, we kind of have like telepathy. ... I'll put my glove up, get his attention, and then I'll nod, say that I'm ready, he'll nod, say he's ready, and then game on," O'Brien said.After a few games of relief work, Gauer decided to take things to the next level. The staff gave Safi his first start against Hoover High School.Safi, who picked up a baseball for the first time just two months ago, threw a complete game, giving up just three earned runs and striking out six batters."The joy on his face when he would run off the mound, and he would do a little jump and click his heels after you get done with the inning. It was like you haven't seen a kid this happy," Gauer said."I'm here excited to play baseball because baseball is good," Safi said.North High School entered Tuesday's game against Marshalltown on a 103-game losing streak, not counting a forfeit win.Safi, who made his second start, pitched three innings, gave up just one earned run, and was the winning pitcher.The Polar Bears won 10-9, snapping the long losing streak.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

One Des Moines North player has had a unique journey to becoming a pitcher, trading in a cricket ball for a baseball.

Sadaqat Safi moved from Afghanistan to America in April 2022. Once he settled into a new home, he wanted to play baseball.

"He showed up the first day — sandals, no glove, no hat, no cleats," head coach Alex Gauer said. "We don't turn any kid away."

It didn't take long for the staff to notice the rising freshman's talent, so his coaches put a ball in his hand and sent him to the mound.

"He's thrown something before. Probably not a baseball, but he's definitely thrown something," Gauer said.

The language barrier presents a unique challenge for Safi's catcher, Teagen O'Brien. Instead of calling pitches, O'Brien guesses them.

"Whenever I'm behind the plate, we kind of have like telepathy. ... I'll put my glove up, get his attention, and then I'll nod, say that I'm ready, he'll nod, say he's ready, and then game on," O'Brien said.

After a few games of relief work, Gauer decided to take things to the next level. The staff gave Safi his first start against Hoover High School.

Safi, who picked up a baseball for the first time just two months ago, threw a complete game, giving up just three earned runs and striking out six batters.

"The joy on his face when he would run off the mound, and he would do a little jump and click his heels after you get done with the inning. It was like you haven't seen a kid this happy," Gauer said.

"I'm here excited to play baseball because baseball is good," Safi said.

North High School entered Tuesday's game against Marshalltown on a 103-game losing streak, not counting a forfeit win.

Safi, who made his second start, pitched three innings, gave up just one earned run, and was the winning pitcher.

The Polar Bears won 10-9, snapping the long losing streak.