All-Area Baseball: San Dimas' Leyland earns player of the year; South Hills' Smith coach of the year
Here it is, more prestigious than All-League, tougher to crack than All-CIF, it's the infamous, non-political Tribune All-Area baseball team, which represents the top 23-players in the East San Gabriel Valley for the 2009 season.
To purchase a reprint of the all-area cover page, click here.
TRIBUNE ALL-AREA
Baseball
Player of the year: Josh Leyland (San Dimas, Sr.)
Coach of the year: Kevin Smith (South Hills)
First team
Pitcher: Erik Salcido, San Dimas, Sr.
Pitcher: Derek Klena, South Hills, Sr.
Catcher: Jerry McClanahan, Bishop Amat, Jr.
Infielder: Richy Pedroza, Northview, Sr.
Infielder: Jiovanni Mier, Bonita, Sr.
Infielder: Thomas Jenson, San Dimas, Sr.
Infielder: Erik Lewis, Damien, Jr.
Outfielder: Kevin Ponzo, San Dimas, Sr.
Outfielder: Jacob Smigelski, Glendora, Jr.
Outfielder: Mark Garcia, Damien, Sr.
Utility: Andrew Melchor, Nogales, Sr.
Second team
Pitcher: Nico Calderaro, Bonita, Sr.
Pitcher: Brady Zuniga, Bishop Amat, Sr.
Catcher: Jake Bailey, Charter Oak, Sr.
Infielder: Christian Ibarra, South Hills, Jr..
Infielder: Jason Plowman, Bonita, Sr.
Infielder: Ryan Arnold, Northview, Sr.
Infielder: Nick Bergara, Bishop Amat, Sr.
Outfielder: Chris Allen, Charter Oak, Sr.
Outfielder: Chester Pak, Diamond Bar, Sr.
Outfielder: Jon Hernandez, West Covina, Jr.
Utility: Christian Huerta, Sierra Vista, Jr
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San Dimas' Leyland earns player of the year honors
By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
SAN DIMAS - San Dimas High School catcher Josh Leyland was not just the best player Saints coach Mike Regan has been around.
He also was the hardest working and the most humble, forcing Regan to chuckle when describing him.
"I know it sounds like I'm getting carried away, but I have so much respect for a guy who works as hard as he does and who carries himself like he does," Regan said. "I'm probably going to miss him more than anyone I ever coached, too."
Leyland couldn't have scripted his senior season any better.
The power-hitting catcher batted .506 with an area-leading 11 home runs and 38 RBIs.
He shared Valle Vista League MVP honors with Northview's Richy Pedroza, and was named the CIF-Southern Section Division IV most valuable player after helping the Saints win their first divisional title since 1985 with a 4-2 victory over Torrance in the championship game at Angel Stadium.
After signing a national letter of intent to play at Washington State, Leyland's dream season continued when he was drafted in the 16th round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland A's, leaving Leyland in awe of how the final chapter of his high school career unfolded.
For his efforts, Leyland has been selected the San Gabriel Valley Tribune's Player of the Year for the 2009 season.
"I never envisioned all this happening to me," Leyland said. "I promised myself I was going to work hard in the summer and off-season to have a chance to have a great senior year and get drafted.
"Then we started winning and I wasn't consumed by the personal things at all. I had the greatest bunch of guys around me, and it was a dream to finish the year with a championship at San Dimas. It wasn't one guy; our team had one heartbeat and we all played a part in keeping it beating."
How far has Leyland come?
Just a year earlier he was in the shadows of his older brother, Jordan, who is now at UC Irvine.
Josh Leyland batted a modest .370 his junior year and had just two home runs and 11 RBIs.
"He worked unbelievably hard to have the season he had," Regan said. "I take zero credit. He worked with his family in his back yard in the batting cage and set out to prove to everybody that he was one of the best players in the Valley and ended up having a phenomenal year.
"It got to the point where teams stopped pitching to him. I really didn't have to say anything to him all year about his hitting because he came up to the plate with a plan and executed that plan to perfection."
The most flattering comment may have come from Northview coach Darren Murphy after the Vikings intentionally walked Leyland four times to squeeze out a 7-6 victory in March.
"I'm sure a lot of people thought they were watching a Giants game five years ago," Murphy said at the time. "But that's out of respect for (Leyland). He's the Barry Bonds of the area."
Leyland has a big decision to make next.
Will he honor his commitment to Washington State, or sign with the Oakland A's by the Aug. 15 deadline and begin pursuit of his dream of playing in the major leagues.
"I'm not sure," Leyland said. "I'm talking to my family and realize that Washington State is a great program and offers me a chance to play baseball and get my education at the same time.
"But do I want to live my dream now or go to college for a few more years? My dream this year was to get drafted and go play ball the rest of my life. But it's not an easy decision. It's a great decision to have, but it won't be easy."
Whatever he decides, Regan has no doubt he will reach his goals.
"He is going to do great," Regan said. "I had other kids who I didn't think could handle playing professional baseball, but Josh is a hard worker. He will not get beat out because someone out-worked him. He will grind it out and give himself the best chance. That I have no doubt about."
fred.robledo@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2161
SMITH EARNS BASEBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
By Steve Ramirez
WEST COVINA - It's one of the cardinal rules of the coaching profession: Never replace a legend. Replace the guy who replaces the legend.
South Hills High School's Kevin Smith is the exception.
Smith took the reins of one of the area's most tradition-rich programs, succeeding area legend Jim Bastion, and the results have been quite rewarding.
Smith has guided the Huskies to 10 league titles in his 11 seasons at the West Covina school, topping it off the past two years by advancing to the CIF-Southern Section Division III finals last year and winning the division this past season.
For his efforts, Smith is the San Gabriel Valley Tribune's baseball Coach of the Year.
"It's always going to be that way here (at South Hills), and I knew that when I took the job in 1998," Smith said.
"Jim did a wonderful job here. He created the foundation, and it was hard, really difficult, to (carry on).
"Here, it's not good enough to just win league or even go deep in the playoffs. You have to win. Over (my) 11 years here, we've done that. We tried to continue the tradition.
"Yes, there's pressure, but just like everything else, it's pressure you put on yourself, because whoever coaches at South Hills is going to have good baseball talent."
But Smith, who is 373-154 in coaching stints at Sierra Vista, Baldwin Park and South Hills, and 228-67 with the Huskies, has molded that talent into champions.
was more noticeable this season. South Hills, after finishing second to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in Division III last season, returned just four seniors this season and added two promising freshman.
The team struggled from the gate, losing its first three, but rebounded to share the San Antonio League title with rival Nogales.
"This team surprised me, the way they came together," Smith said. "We had just four seniors, then to start like we did. But the kids never gave up. We got better and continued to improve."
The big test was in the playoffs, where South Hills suddenly caught fire, surviving scares against Quartz Hill (4-3), Hemet (7-5) and No. 2 seed Bonita (4-3) before hammering Corona del Mar and No. 1 Beckman to win South Hills' fifth CIF-SS divisional title, in an impressive 8-2 victory over Beckman in the Division III title game at Angel Stadium on June 6.
"I thought the big difference between this year and last year was this year we went through the front door," Smith said.
"We had to win two 4-3 games to get to the semifinals. It was more difficult, but it never phased our kids, who just said, `Who's next?' "
Another ingredient for South Hills' run, which was keyed by senior Derek Klena, juniors Christian Ibarra, Dakota Behr and Cody Doyle, and freshmen Tyler France and CJ Saylor, was the addition of former Mt. San Antonio College coach Art Mazmanian.
The coaching legend made an immediate impact.
"I think God intervened," Smith said. "He is close friends with one of our coaches, and they were talking and he handed over the cell phone and I talked to him. We had lunch, and I made the suggestion he come out and look at us.
"He was just a huge shot in the arm for us. The kids looked up to him, and he kept us on our toes. He brought something more to the table. It was a blessing, and I hope he stays with us."
Another aspect of South Hills' run to the Division III championship was that the Huskies, with such a young squad, will be in prime position to make it back-to-back titles next season.
But Smith would first like to savor the moment of this year's crown a little more.
"We're still kind of on Cloud 9," Smith said.
"I'm just so proud of these kids and the way they responded this year. We didn't play well early, but its not how you start, but how you finish."
steve.ramirez@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2296
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Have any of you looked at the Knowledge Coach Shibley has...this is one coach that has the experience and the passion to be a coach. As a coach, Shibley has gone out of his way to improve things, if you don't like the way something is being done maybe actually speak with the coach about it.
Ego, I think that should be a question for some of the players on the 09 team. That's to bad, I think Coach Shibley actually wants his players to have a passion for the team not just all about me me me.
To bad we finally have someone who is working his A** off and people still complain.
DB Whine,
Remeber we are from Diamond Bar 47.50 a bottle
Cante Sha Blanc.
Shibley's still a terrible Coach no matter how much wine you drink .99 cents or a $100.00 bottle.The truth is the truth.
No ...Diamond Bar player aren't quitters. They're fans are . Talk about lack of setting an example of whining of teh highest order. Why would anyone want to coach at DB wirh parents who complain and air dirty worthless laundry and players who can't win in the Sierra League. You guys sound like former rich kids who got left out of the will and finally have to pull yourselves up by your own bootstraps.
Get over the past DB and stop the constant nitpicking complaining. What the next complaint...he tied your kids shoes too tight? Or are you going to tell me your players tie their own shoes?
Get a clue.
Eric Shibley is a weasel, the guy has no right coaching at the high school level. If Dennis Paul wasn't such a spineless jelly fish good ole Eric would be long gone! shibley needs to go back to his P.E. class and teach his students about physical education leave the baseball coaching to the real coaches. Good luck trying to scam money out of the parents next season, we are all on to you Shibs, $300.00 for a purple banner that you can't read? yea, I will be first in line with my money....your a jacka** Shib.
Fred, wipe your mouth. Did you ever play sports? I doubt it, but if you did it was probably at a school in the class of Ganesha.
What happened with Jio not making the all cif team? was that an oversight or not nominated or what? I have hard time believing cif would omit this kid, esp. 21st pick in the draft.
Diamond Bar is dropping down big time to a little pinto league maybe now we can actually win something. Hopefully Shibley just lets them play like they know how it's about the players not the coach.
Go DBHS!
Only at Dbar,
Eric doesn't want any leaders but himself! He had MANY speechs about every player is the same no leaders no captains the only "leader" was him.
The team in the very beginning of the season was NOT the same team at the end. Eric's lack of experience and over the top ego hurt the team. He couldn't connect with his players. Eric was so busy trying to step out of "Gonzo's" shadow reminding his players on a daily basis that he doesn't coach like "Gonzo's" and that he isn't "Gonzo" that he lost the players. There's only room for one leader and that's me (Eric) quote right out of his own lips.
P.S. I was embrassed for him at the banquet.
After numerous calls, the Sierra is the only league that did not send us its all-league results, sorry.
whatajoke,
Of course Kenny Mathews should have made 1st or 2nd Team, he had the numbers to justify selection, both on the mound and at the plate, but don't take away from DBar's lone entry, Chester Pak.
At least someone was recognized from DBar and that was from a team that failed to show up at the end of the season.
Talk about a joke, where was the coach and the seniors when their "leadership" was needed the most??
What happened to the Sierra League softball/baseball All-league honors?
Jerry Mac- Congrats on a great season. Don't worry the offers will start pouring in on July 1st.
Nicky B- The real MVP of the team. Glad to see you finally getting your props.
Brady- Big guy great job this year. I hope you're enjoying the good life in Hawaii.
If anyone from Diamond Bar should have made the team 1st or 2nd it's Kenny Mathews.
I think you meant to say the 14-12 Los Altos team that finished third in the Miramonte and advanced to the quarterfinals not the semi's....It was a good year, and I think we rewarded the most deserving from the Miramonte.
what is the difference between "All Area" and "All Valley" ?
Obviously All Area is the Tribune's picks? Who picks All Valley or is there such an honor?
Not a single player on either team from a Los Altos squad that went to the Semis?
Fred, good list, hard to argue with it, especially your first team. All those guys had the numbers to back it up, and their teams had the season to back it up too. Good job.
Props go out big time to Jacob Smigelski, who just completed an awesome junior year with the bat for the Glendora Tartans! Tremendous season Jacob! Not bad for a young man who has verbaled to Loyola Marymount as a PITCHER. Does anyone think he'll get a chance to be a 2-way player in college? Not many get that chance. Way to go Jacob!
Manny was second-team Tribune all-area in football and basketball, and played on the SGV all-star team in basketball. Baseball was much tougher this season to earn a first or second team spot, and his accomplishments in three sports speak for itself.
Congratulations to Chester Pak from Diamond Bar HS for making 2nd Team All Area!!!
Pak came through for the team this year in game after game at the plate and in the OF!!
Pak is only a Jr. so he will be back next year to lead the team as a strong Senior!!!
Pak gave up the oppty to be the starting SS for a Sr who did not deliver all season. SS, which is his natural position, but he is a "team" player first and concentrated on where he could help the team the most which was at the plate and in the OF!!!
Now if DBar can only get a real coach to lead this team they will be a strong contender next like they should have been this year. No coaching leadership and no Sr leadership this year and it showed at the end of the season!!
Congratulations Chester!!!
IT'S THROWING!
What about Manny Acosta??? Come on Fred. How do you put this On yesterdays paper but he doesn't make either 2nd of 1st team for his sport? I know lots of kids who play lots of sports but that doesn't make them player of the year does it? To me, player of the year must be All Valley in multiple sports. Shore was so I have no problem with her. Why not Chris Allen from Charter Oak?? What we can't give Charter Oak too much credit. The fact is, that school's sports are darn good, they play great competition, and they have good players. Stop throughing bones to the lower tiered schools (Montview League, Mission Valley League, and Valley Vista League) They don't even matter.
You obviously didn't give this much thought while eating your burrito at Albertos.