Softball Sees Senior Leadership

Dick Amberik had retired from the eight-to-five grind and was 55 years old when he decided to become head coach of the Mira Costa High School softball team.

Eighteen years later, now 73, he’s still going strong. And so is the Mira Costa softball program.

“It keeps you young. It keeps you moving around,” Amberik said Wednesday. “I can still do a lot of things. This keeps you on your toes. … When you stop, there’s only one way to go.”

Coaching is in Amberik’s blood. One way or another, he has been a coach for 43 years, and he gives no hint that he’s ready to call it a career.

That’s good for Mira Costa, which has a strong softball program and is a Bay League contender year after year, 2011 being no different. The Mustangs reached the second round of the CIF playoffs last year and are off to a 4-1-1 start this season.

“The competition has been very, very good and we’ve done well,” Amberik said. “Our pitching has been surprisingly good, we have excellent defense and we’ve been getting great timely hitting so far this season.”

Junior right-hander Breanna Kelly has been the Mustangs’ leading pitcher. Going into Thursday’s home game against Marymount, Kelly was 3-0 with a .58 ERA. Freshman Shannon Savino is 1-0 with a 4.38 ERA.

“Breanna has been very good and Shannon has stepped in because we need the help,” Amberik said. “We’ve got good hitting, so we just need our pitching to keep us in the game.”

Junior third baseman Stefanni Lajeunesse has already committed to the University of Wisconsin. She’s hitting. 500 with two home runs in only 22 at bats.

Junior shortstop Meghan von Behren has committed to Loyola Marymount University and also is off to a strong start. She’s hitting .400 with a home run and six RBIs.

Second baseman Kamyle Glover and first baseman Chloe Krasnoff round out the infield. Krasnoff is hitting .333 with a home, one of five the powerful Mustangs already have hit this season.

Center fielder Taylor Glover, only a sophomore, is off to a great start. She leads the team in hitting with a .591 average (13-for-23.)

Junior catcher Katie Saunders, a returning All-CIF performer, supplies stability and hitting.  She’s hitting .364 with a home run and seven RBIs. 

Sophomore Nicolette Gialketsis, a catcher, third baseman and outfielder, is hitting .357. She bolsters the Mustangs’ outfield and adds depth everywhere else.

“I’ve got a good bunch of people with experience and the ability to come from behind when we have to,” Amberik said. “It’s a very balanced team this year... I’ve had other teams that more individual talent perhaps, but as a collective unit, this could be one of the better teams I’ve had.”

Considering how many good softball players have passed through Mira Costa over the past 18 years, that’s saying a lot. 

Fresh Start

After a rare period of turmoil for Redondo’s traditionally strong baseball program, the school hired former Long Beach Wilson coach Jeff Baumback during the summer. Baumback is Redondo’s fourth head coach in four years, but that trend is over, he said when hired during the summer.

“I’m here for the long haul,” said Baumback, who was just 30 when hired. “I want to run a program that is an extension of what I learned at Long Beach State [as a player] and Long Beach Wilson... This is my first go around and it’s a great opportunity. This is a great community. It’s going to be a process. I can’t wait to get started.”

What has Baumback learned since that introductory press conference? Early in his first season, he’s optimistic that the talent level is better than it seemed the past two years.

“I’m excited,” Baumback said. “I walked in and got handed a team that was 10-15 last year... as we started getting into practice, I saw that there’s a lot more talent than you’d expect on a team that was 10-15."

“That means we have a chance to some good things this season,” he added.

The drawback, Baumback said, is that Redondo’s talented players are not as baseball savvy as programs that have not been through so much turmoil.

“I just don’t think these kids have played a ton of baseball,” he said. “We’re still finding our identity early in the season.”

 Therein lies the long-term challenge for Baumback.

 “There are not quite as many year-round guys as some schools have that have a strong baseball tradition,” he said. “My challenge is to put in a program that is year-round, put in the structure so these young men can get the baseball experience they need to play this game.”

 In the meantime, of course, there is a season to be played. The Sea Hawks were 2-3 going into Thursday’s doubleheader at home against El Segundo.

“I expect us to be a little up and down,” Baumback said. “About 15 games in, that’s right around where we should have enough experience to get better.”

Now, as for that talent—Redondo has the first essential element of a Bay League contender, Baumback said. Right-hander Drew Kozain and left-hander Grant Wessel give the Sea Hawks a talented pair of starters.

“Those guys have worked hard and have improved a lot. We’re pretty solid at No. 1 and 2,” Baumback said. “I feel confident they’re going to give us a chance to win.”

Pressing for innings, Travis Fischvogt and Nycholas Bongiovanni give the Sea Hawks some good depth on the mound. There are several others, including Kevin Hedlund and Dylan Hatch, who could earn innings as the season progresses, Baumback said. 

“We have some depth on the mound,” he said. “We’re still searching to see who will be in the bullpen during league.”

The Sea Hawks’ offense is more than capable, Baumback said.

“Hitting wise, it’s a good lineup,” he said. “I really like our lineup. We’ve got some guys who can drive the ball, hit some doubles.”

Catcher Jake Jimenez and Hatch supply power in the middle of the lineup. Kozain, Matt Esparza and Cameron Bennett add punch and athleticism to the infield.

“One of the critical things for us will be playing solid defense,” Baumback said. “We need to improve the most in defense, but there’s healthy competition for spots on this team. I think that, along with game experience, will help us to get better.” 

Local Connection

The baseball teams at El Camino College and Harbor College are playing a three-game series this week. Fans of Bay League baseball, as well as JC ball, should be enjoying the series that ends Saturday because both rosters are dotted with players from PV, Peninsula, Redondo and Mira Costa.

Harbor’s roster includes outfielder Daniel Marquez (Redondo), hard-hitting Marc Venning (PV), pitcher Sam Andrews (Redondo), infielder Kyle DeMarco (Mira Costa), infielder Kris Cayton (Mira Costa), catcher Jackson Morrow (Mira Costa), outfielder Taylor Johnson (Peninsula), left-handed pitcher Roy Hughes (Peninsula), outfielder Nick Ridio (Redondo), infielder Danny Rojas (Mira Costa), infielder Mark Mainini (Peninsula), pitcher Logan Hooper (Peninsula), right-hander Brent Weber (Mira Costa), and pitcher Austin Chavira (Mira Costa).

ECC’s roster includes infielder Atlee Schwab (PV), utility man Cole Trezek (PV), pitcher Dylan Linke (Peninsula), infielder Peter Ives (Redondo), pitcher Michael Heredia (Redondo), pitcher Alex Mistuloff (Redondo), pitcher Alex Pettis (Peninsula), pitcher Drew Freeman (PV) and pitcher Mason Patterson (PV).