Joseph A. Garcia / Star staff Ernie Carrasco, right, an assistant football coach at Channel Islands High, watches sophomore Bobby Diaz throw a pass during a physical education football class. Carrasco, a former two-sport star at Channel Islands, will be one of five inductees into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame during a banquet tonight.

If Ernie Carrasco no longer opposes mammoth offensive linemen, or faces the cleanup hitter with the tying run at third, the lesson remains the same for life:

Get knocked down, get back up.

Less than two months after undergoing surgery for a kidney transplant, the former Channel Islands High sports star has tackled life's adversity like he once did quarterbacks.

With gritty determination.

"That's one of the things that helped me as an athlete," says the 47-year-old Carrasco. "I always want to do better than everybody else. If the doctors say I won't be completely back for three or four months, I want to do it much faster."

Carrasco, now a physical education/history teacher and assistant football coach at Channel Islands High, will return to the classroom in the fall. He's already made it back to football practice, overseeing the Raiders' defensive linemen in the weight room.

Tonight, he'll be at the podium at the Marriott Ventura Beach, accepting the honor as one of five newly inducted members in the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.

The former two-sport standout at Channel Islands High who later played college football at the University of Utah and pitched professionally in two major league organizations, is part of a stellar Class of 2008.

Along with Carrasco, the latest Fab Five feature Steve Hoffman, the women's soccer coach at Ventura College; Jim Bittner, the football coach at Moorpark College; Kevin Smith, the cross country and track and field coach at Oak Park High; and Willie Ruiz, the former soccer star at Simi Valley High.

Carrasco earned his place in the county hall of fame with a sterling playing career that included Marmonte League MVP honors his senior year for both football and baseball.

But his poise and grace in thriving through kidney transplant surgery, performed April 16 at the UCLA Medical Center, puts an exclamation point on his Hall of Fame credentials.

His sister Susan, who donated her kidney to her oldest brother, said Ernie is a star in life, too. As the oldest of five children, he has been a sibling to live up to.

"When I found out that Ernie needed a donor for his kidney transplant, to me it was like a calling," said the 32-year-old Susan, a college/career technician at Oxnard High. "My father (Ernest) and mother (Dolores) are great role models for our family. But Ernie, as the oldest, has always been such a strong figure for the entire family as a person and as an athlete. He's a dedicated person who values his life so much.

"He doesn't drink. He doesn't smoke. I looked at it like a sports challenge. He needed someone to step up to the plate, and I was glad to do it."

Ernie is touched by his sister's sacrifice.

"She and my son Daniel discovered they were matches for my kidneys," he said. "I didn't ask them to do it. To me, it's not something you can ask someone to do. But she stepped up for me. We have always been close, but we're still 15 years apart in age. She made a big sacrifice."

Carrasco discovered the nature of his failing kidneys during a routine physical in 2000. Doctors determined that the cleansing mechanism in his kidneys — almost like a car's air filter — were slowly clogging.

"They told me it would only get worse," he said. "They might fail in 3 or 10 or 15 years. Nobody knew."

As it turned out, the kidneys lasted eight years. Carrasco had the option of continuing full-fledged kidney dialysis, or seeking a transplant. His sister's generosity enabled the transplant to take place in April.

Less than 60 days later, Carrasco is regaining his energy as his body accepts the transplant.

"When the surgery was scheduled, I was just hoping I'd be ready for the hall of fame dinner," he said with a laugh. "I was worried that my face would be all bloated from the chemicals, and I'd have to go up and make a speech. But I'm happy how everything has worked out."

Carrasco's background as as athlete has helped steel him for life's curveballs.

He earned league MVP and all-county honors in two sports his senior year, collecting 31 sacks for the football team and finishing 11-1 as a right-handed pitcher.

After graduating in 1979, he accepted a football scholarship to Utah, made the traveling squad as a freshman, but opted to leave after his sophomore year.

As a 6-3, 220-pound defensive tackle, he was routinely matched up against linemen 30 to 50 pounds heavier.

"I knew I would never make the NFL," he said.

With his wife Lily being homesick, and with former teammates and opponents signing baseball contracts, Carrasco returned home to attend Oxnard College and join the baseball team.

A prodigious outing against UCLA where he struck out three batters in the ninth inning led to a contract offer for $30,000 from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Carrasco advanced as far as Double-A, but asked for, and was granted, his release when he wasn't promoted to Triple-A. In 1987, then pitching in the Minnesota Twins farm system, Carrasco threw 713 innings on a 45-degree night in Reno, Nev.

"The next morning when I woke up, I couldn't bend my arm at all," he said. "It was stuck in a 180-degree position."

Instead of undergoing surgery, Carrasco opted to retire from baseball.

As it turns out, that was the beginning of his ultimate success story.

As the father of three children (Teresa, Ernest, Daniel), Carrasco worked for five years as a truck driver, all the while furthering his education.

He earned degrees from Cal State Northridge in 1996 and Azusa Pacific in 1999. With teaching credential in hand, he accepted his first teaching position at Oxnard High.

He later moved to his alma mater, where he also served as the head baseball coach from 2003 to 2006 before health issues forced him to step down.

Today, he continues as the defensive line coach for the football team. With renewed health, he also might consider taking over the baseball program once again.

"The way I'm feeling, who knows?" he said. "We'll see what happens."

His family members are integral figures in local education, with Ernie a teacher at Channel Islands, his sister Susan at Oxnard High and their mother the campus supervisor at Channel Island High.

His mother is thrilled for the son's Hall of Fame honor.

"It couldn't have come at a better time," he said. "The kidney transplant has been difficult, but he's doing better and Susan is doing very well. For the family, this (the hall of fame) will be a celebration."r

The Fab Five

The five newest inductees in the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet tonight:

Jim Bittner

What he's done: For 29 years, the head football coach at Moorpark College. During that span he had amassed 193 wins, 12 Western State Conference championships and 17 bowl appearances in 21 years. In the past two years, his teams have gone 18-5, including an upset win the American Bowl last November over defending state champion El Camino.

Personal: The 73-year-old Bittner and wife Mary have two children, Jimmy and Mary.

Steve Hoffman

What he's done: Launched the first women's soccer team at Ventura College in 1996, and turned it into one of the state's top programs. He has compiled a record of 210-36-32, with 11 Western State Conference championships and berths in the state regional finals in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002. He is also Director of Coach Education and Player Development for California Youth Soccer Association and Olympic Development programs.

Personal: The 51-year-old Hoffman and wife Kathryn have three children, Melanie, Joey and Jaimie.

Ernie Carrasco

What he's done: Was the Marmonte League MVP for his senior year in football and baseball. Also was all-county defensive player of the year as a senior. He collected 31 sacks as a defensive lineman in 1978 and was 11-1 as a pitcher in 1979. Played football for two seasons at the University of Utah. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and pitched in both the Cardinals and Minnesota Twins' organizations. Was the head baseball coach at Channel Islands High from 2003 to 2006, and is currently an assistant football coach.

Personal: The 47-year-old Carrasco and wife Lily have three children, Teresa, Ernest and Daniel.

Guillermo "Willie" Ruiz

What he's done: He was an All-Marmonte League, all-county and third-team All-CIF-Southern Section player his senior year at Simi Valley High in 1989. As a four-year starter at Cal Lutheran from 1990 to 1993, he still holds six major program records, including most career goals (58), single-season assists (15) and career points (144). He was head varsity soccer coach at Simi Valley from 1998 to 2003.

Personal: The 36-year-old Ruiz and wife Cecilia have two children, Yashin and Kiara.

Kevin Smith

What he's done: Has reigned as one of the top distance coaches in Southern California since restarting the Oak Park High cross country program in 1986. As the boys' and girls' cross country coach, the Eagles have combined for 21 Tri-Valley League titles. The boys won four consecutive CIF-Southern Section championships from 2000 through 2003, while the girls won three straight CIF-SS titles and state championships from 2001 to 2003. The Oak Park track teams combined have won 20 league titles.

Personal: The 51-year-old Smith and wife Karlene have two children, Lauren and Emily.