Complex sentence: In sandlot baseball games, Lassiter was an ace pitcher; and according to his friends, who affectionately referred to him as "Bud," he was the player everyone wanted on his team.
Split into simpler sentences: In sandlot baseball games, Lassiter was an ace pitcher. According to his friends, who affectionately referred to him as "Bud," he was the player everyone wanted on his team.