Despite his major league highlights, Sox ace Curt Schilling says pitching Yavapai Junior College into the Junior College World Series in 1986 ranks as a memorable milestone.

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, April 28, 2006

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- If the question was how many World Series Red Sox ace Curt Schilling has pitched in, most would answer three -- 1993 with Philadelphia, 2001 with Arizona, and 2004 with Boston.

But there's one missing and it's probably the most important.

Twenty years ago Schilling helped Yavapai Junior College reach the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. He posted an 11-2 record in 1986 and his appearance for the Roughriders that May propelled him to stardom.

Schilling, now 39, was drafted by the Red Sox in January of 1986 -- the last year of the winter draft -- and his career has taken many different twists and turns. Now he can see the end of it.

"I've got another year left after this one and then I'm done," said Schilling yesterday. "God willing I can stay healthy the next two years, have good years and win a World Series, but after that I'm done. I couldn't be more ecstatic about what I've been given a chance to do."

He wouldn't change anything.

"Nothing," he said. "If it ended today I would be so blessed and grateful for all the things that have happened to me, JUCO being one of them because that was the foundation for everything and I wouldn't trade that for anything."

He was born in Alaska and grew up in Arizona. He played only one season for Yavapai because he was drafted by the Sox and wanted to begin his pro career as soon as possible.

"Just getting drafted was unbelievable," he said. "I didn't go to class very much that semester, it was all about having fun and playing baseball. I knew I was going to sign. Hindsight being what it is I was pretty stupid because I could have gotten hurt, but this is what I've always wanted to do."

When he played for the Roughriders, Dave Dangler was the coach and Schilling said that playing for him was crucial to him. That magical season set the foundation for a successful career.

Schilling's father, Cliff, went to all of his games when he played for Yavapai, and when his dad died two years later, Dangler and Schilling's former Roughrider teammates attended the funeral.

"Dave was a very pivotal man in my life," he said. "I was in my share of trouble that year, being away from home. He called me into his office one day, sat me down after the draft and said, 'You have to look at things very differently from here on out, because you're pitching for dollars now. This is about your future and your career.' He really made me focus on priorities, I didn't immediately change, but it was something I started to understand a little bit better."

On the field, 1986 molded his persona.

"It's one [year] that I remember as vividly as anything for a lot of different reasons," said Schilling. "It was a big year in my life because I was away from home for the first time. I played on a phenomenal team. It was the most talented team I ever played on."

That club was a close group of guys and Schilling stays in contact with most of them. The club posted a 36-16 regular-season record before the tournament.

"It was a storybook year," said Schilling. "It was such a fun group of guys. For me on a personal level it was a very big year."

It was the first time he pitched in front of a large crowd and signed autographs.

"It was an eye-opener," he said. "It's still one of my favorite years of baseball because of the team, the environment, the situation and the year."

When Schilling was struggling in the starting rotation last season, there was much discussion when the Sox decided to send him to the bullpen. It was a relief appearance in the JUCO World Series that caught the attention of pro scouts and vaulted Schilling to a higher level.

"I came in relief for the first time and I was throwing as hard as I ever had thrown in my life," he said. "I slammed the door and it was a big deal for the professional people."

He wasted little time becoming a pro and signed with the Sox less than a half hour after his team was eliminated from the JUCO World Series. Red Sox scout Ray Boone signed Schilling, who started his career with Single-A Elmira of the New York-Penn League.

"It was a whirlwind, but it was a phenomenal experience," said Schilling. "It was a special year for all of us. It was incredible. 1986 was one of the funnest years of my life, including pro ball. No question, on and off the field. I was crushed when it was over."

He'll have the same feeling after the 2007 season when he walks off the mound for the last time.

jmcdonal@projo.com / (401) 277-7340