Baseball: He went from throwing fastballs to flying F-15s

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I always knew Johnny Koegel was headed to success, whether that was in baseball or life. He was the starting pitcher as a sophomore for Woodland Hills El Camino Real in the 1997 City Section championship game at Dodger Stadium.

He had a 4.0 grade-point average and went on to pitch at the Air Force Academy.

Now here’s the update: He’s a captain and flying F-15s. He’s based in England and was deployed to the Middle East at the beginning of the Libyan crisis, according to his father, John.

But he’s back with his wife and two young sons after a six-month deployment. And he’s probably loosening up his arm for an adult league baseball game.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Top photo: Johnny Koegel returns to Lakenheath Air Force base in England. Bottom: Koegel is greeted by his wife and two sons.