San Benito High Athletic Director Randy Logue may want to change
his vocation on his resume to
”
fireman
”
. Logue has had three varsity coaches resign since he was hired,
which means more work and more headaches when it comes to replacing
them.
”
A lot of this job is putting out the litte fires as quickly as
possible, then try to get the big fires under control,
”
said Logue.
”
Hopefully, by the end of the year, I’ll have everything at level
ground where I can control it. They’re are parts of this job I like
and parts I don’t like. I wished I could have tagged along someone
for a couple of months to see how this job is run. Unfortunately,
one gets some curveballs thrown at you in this job.
”
San Benito High Athletic Director Randy Logue may want to change his vocation on his resume to “fireman”. Logue has had three varsity coaches resign since he was hired, which means more work and more headaches when it comes to replacing them.
“A lot of this job is putting out the litte fires as quickly as possible, then try to get the big fires under control,” said Logue. “Hopefully, by the end of the year, I’ll have everything at level ground where I can control it. They’re are parts of this job I like and parts I don’t like. I wished I could have tagged along someone for a couple of months to see how this job is run. Unfortunately, one gets some curveballs thrown at you in this job.”
Logue is in the process of replacing three spring coaches at the varsity level. Resigning their posts were Neal Andrade (baseball), Ed Cecena (boys tennis) and Joel Sims (boys swimming). Andrade moved on to take the Gavilan College job. Cecena will be the new boys varsity basketball coach at Anzar High, while Sims had hinted last season that he wasn’t going to return due to time commitment.
“I feel that we can find a swim coach,” said Logue. “With San Benito Aquatics, there seems to be enough people around here that are interested in swimming. Tennis is the one that is hard to find. People who play tennis don’t necessarily like to coach.”
Nearly all other coaching positions are filled. Monica Sandoval was rehired as junior varsity girls soccer coach. Logue said he’s narrowing down the JV boys soccer position later this week.
Rick Dukes reports that a total of four applicants have applied for the head varsity baseball position. One is a teacher at SBHS, two are teachers at other schools and another is a non-teacher who lives in town. Dukes will be setting up interviews this week for next week, hoping to wrap up the selection by mid-Oct.
Dukes, offensive coordinator for the Baler football team, scouted Palma last Friday night as the Chieftains lost to Serra 14-7. The Chieftains, whose other loss was to the No. 1 team in the nation – De La Salle – could be the best 1-2 high school team in the country. The Balers end the regular season at home against Palma on Nov. 14.
“Palma is tough,” said Dukes. “They only gave up the one touchdown to a team who averages 40 points per game. Those kickoff returns hurt.”
The Padres Angelo Fobbs-Valentino returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a TD. Fobbs-Valentino’s 55-yard kickoff return set up the second TD, a 28-yard run by, who else, Fobbs-Valentino. The Chieftains also didn’t play talented two-way player Luke Lippincott, who was out with an injury suffered against DLS.
Meanwhile, the Balers (1-1-1) are at a physical Seaside (3-0) team this Friday night. This is expected to be one hard-hitting contest.
“They’re fast,” said Dukes of Seaside. “They have speed we don’t have.”.
The Tri-County Athletic League season begins for volleyball and tennis this week. Both teams are at Live Oak Tuesday with tennis at 3:30 p.m. and volleyball at 6:30 p.m.
The Baler golf team is at RLS Tuesday and has to virtually run the table to have any chance at a Central Coast Section berth for the third straight year. Santa Catalina leads the current standings with 20 points. Gilroy is second with 19. The Balers have 14, one point ahead of Monte Vista Christian. Only the top team in the league is guaranteed a CCS playoff spot, though, the second place team should receive an at-large bid. The league tournament on Oct. 20 could give the Balers hope, as well.
Girls H20 polo hosts the Hollister Oktoberfest this Fri-Sat. Baler boys polo is at the St. Francis Invitational this Saturday.
Plenty of ex-Balers playing for the Gavilan College Rams (2-2), who defeated Mendocino College Saturday afternoon 35-18. Nick Buzzetta, a three-year starter while at Balerland, started at quarterback and will get the nod this Saturday when the Rams host powerful San Mateo College this Saturday at 7 p.m. Buzzetta has been battling Patrick Ames for the starting spot.
Rams head coach John Lango, whose son Mike is a starting nosetackle on the Baler varsity, feels San Mateo is better than Sierra College. Quite a statement. The Rams lost to Sierra 65-0.
Roy Sims, a star defesive tackle for the Balers in ’99, is starting at defensive end for the Rams after first journeying to Fresno State out of high school. Other ex-Balers listed on the Rams roster are Cameron Shutts, Arnold Rivera, Chris Wahl, Travis Byers, Matt Engwall, Clay Peer, Cal Doty, Adrian Correa, Kenny Vaccarezza, John Conroy and Robert Pickett.
Shutts, however, has had his season ended due to an injury. Shutts has been getting interest from the University of Kansas, according to John Lango.
And Ivan McGee, not Willie McGee, is at Hawaii-Hilo. Ivan was an outstanding outfielder for Baler baseball, then spent two years at Monterey Peninsula College.
