Westgate first baseman Blake Latiolais feels he has a new lease on life and almost, but not quite, a new arm to go along with it.

Latiolais, who missed almost a year of baseball due to elbow surgery, returns this summer to play for Westgate’s summer league team, the Westgate Wildcats, in Junior American Legion competition.

The WHS junior is also back at first base after a disastrous move to the outfield, which led to his shoulder troubles.

“I underwent surgery June 10, 2010. It’s just about to make a year,” said Latiolas. “We were taking practice and I was in the outfield and my coach hit a deep ball and I kind of stretched out the throw too much and I felt my ligament almost pop. It kind of hurt a little bit but I didn’t think it was a big deal, I never had that kind of pain before.

“I thought that I could play through it and when I made the next throw, I felt a huge pop and I knew at that point something was wrong.”

That something turned out to be a torn ligament in his elbow. Latiolais underwent what is commonly called Tommy John surgery, a procedure where the damaged ligament is replaced by one from another part of the body, usually from the leg.

“They replaced a ligament in my left elbow and took a piece of hamstring from my left knee,” said Latiolais. “It was hard to play knowing that you had to throw the ball. It just felt like someone takes a knife and stabs you every time you throw the ball.”

After dealing with the injury and the surgery, Latiolais felt that he had a new arm and a new outlook on life and the game he loves.

He returned during the high school season and played in about half of Westgate’s games.

“It was a comeback experience for me more than anything,” he said.

Now that he’s returned full time to baseball, there is no more outfield work for the WHS junior. It’s back to the infield and time at first base, where he feels his baseball future lies.

And playing summer ball allows him to get stronger and spend time getting better, which is something that he doesn’t have the chance to do during the prep season.

“You learn a lot over the summer that you really don’t have time for during the high school season,” said Latiolais. “All you can do during the high school season is play your game the best way you can. This is the time of year to work and to get better for the next level.”

“I take this time seriously. I know that a lot of players use this time to have fun with their game and I can’t be mad at them for that because it is a fun sport. But for me, it’s about getting better.”

Latiolais said that post-surgery, he feels he has a second chance to make an impression in his senior year and get a chance to play in college.

Westgate coach Jerome Jacobs sees what Latiolais is trying to do to get better.

“He’s trying to get back on the field,” said Jacobs. “He’s a great kid and is getting adjusted back to the system. This summer, I just want him to get his arm stronger. He already has great hands and quick feet.”

Latiolais said he feels a sense of rebirth, and now is the time to give 100 percent every time out.

“I feel like nothing can stop me now that I underwent surgery,” he said. “I’m planning to go all out this summer and give everything I have on the field. There is nothing stopping me now. I’m going straight to the top.”