Baseball: Keith Jones steps up to the plate and delivers.

San Gabriel baseball coach Mike Proctor has taken a medical leave of absence after undergoing surgery last Friday, San Gabriel athletic director Pat Hill said.

Proctor stepped down to have an undisclosed surgery that had been on hold because of insurance approval the last year. Proctor, a walk-on coach who is an L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy, was in his fourth season at the helm before his medical leave. His last game was last Tuesday.

In his place for the remaining four games of the season will be former football coach Keith Jones. Hill said she approached Jones about filling in for the remainder of the season and he accepted.

Jones' first game was supposed to be last Friday but could not attend because of a prior commitment. He dressed up for Tuesday's game, which the Matadors (2-13, 1-10) lost, 11-1.

Jones stepped down last year as football coach after 11 seasons at the helm. When the girls basketball program needed an interim coach, Jones, who has also coached track and wrestling among other sports, stepped in.

"I just can't say no," Jones said. "The way our district is run, and all districts, you have to get certified, you have to get CIF courses, finger prints, cleared, and since I already have that -- if it's (in the middle of the season) like its been the last couple times -- it's an easy fit.

"It's easy for me to help out. That's mainly the reason why. I don't want them to cancel any games, and I don't want the kids to be sacrificed."

As for wearing a new sports uniform, in this case a baseball uniform, Jones said: "I looked sharp yesterday."

It's uncertain if Proctor, who is 14-60 in four seasons with the Matadors, will return.

"We haven't decided what we're going to do," Hill said. "I haven't talked to him since the surgery, so I don't really know."