Cordes new REV baseball coach; two other coaches named

James Cordes has been named the new baseball coach at Redlands East Valley, athletic director Rhonda Fouch said today.

Cordes replaces Steve Hernandez, who retired as coach after last season.

"We're excited," Fouch said. "He's familiar with the program, having been a volunteer under Steve (Hernandez). It should be a smooth transition."

Cordes was an assistant to Hernandez from 2004 through 2006. He was also an assistant at the University of Massachusetts and coached at Boston College High School, as well.

Cordes, 26, will be starting his first year as an English teacher at REV.

He played high school ball in Idaho and was the starting shortstop at the University of Redlands, graduating in 2004.

"It (REV) is a strong, talented program and I just want to come in and pick up where they left off last season," Cordes said. "We want to play aggressive baseball. We want to get hitters' counts and jump on fastballs and go from first to third on the basepaths and second to home. We think at REV that we have the components to do that."

REV is the two-time defending Citrus Belt League season. It went 26-4 and made the CIF-SS title game for the first time last season, losing 7-0 to Lake Forest El Toro in the championship game.

Also taking over programs at REV are Emily Abbott, who is the new boys and girls swimming coach and Katie Husband, who takes over the girls soccer program.

Abbott is a teacher at REV. She swam and played water polo at Redlands High School.

Husband has been the junior varsity soccer coach and also coaches track and field. She replaces Cristina Ballard, who has moved to the Bay Area with her husband Ben and will be coaching at Walnut Creek Northgate High School. .

Ballard was the All-Sun County Coach of the Year at REV for the 2006-2007 season.. .

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