Ouster of Claremont baseball coach sore subject

Claremont High School baseball coach Mike Lee has been fired as coach, Wolfpack athletic director Rick Dutton said today.

Beyond that, there is nothing coming out of the school or school district.

"He's been relieved of his duties," Dutton said. "He's no longer the coach - that's all I can tell you."

Dutton then referred me to Devon Freitas, the assistant superintendent of personnel for the Claremont Unified School District.

A call was placed to Freitas and answered by a secretary. Informed the call regarded Lee and the reason for his dismissal, the secretary excused herself.

A woman, who did not provide her full name, then picked up the phone and said "There is no comment. It's a personnel matter and not for public discussion."

Then she hung up.

Obviously, the dismissal of Lee as baseball coach at Claremont is a sensitive topic in Claremont.

Claremont is now advertising for a new coach. Lee was its fourth coach in as many years.

Prior to Claremont, Lee resigned from the Westlake High job early in the 2007 season. Before that, he coached at Santa Paula and Newbury Park high schools.

Dutton also said Annie Lawrie is the new girls volleyball coach at Claremont. She replaces Sean Douglas. Lawrie formerly coached at Alta Loma and Santa Ana Mater Dei, as well as for some club teams.

- John Murphy
909-386-3853
berdooman@aol.com

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