Mira Mesa Advances to American Legion Regional

The life of a coach in American Legion baseball may be without the pressures generated in the high school ranks by administrators’ great expectations, but the job comes with headaches all its own.

“Many of the kids in American Legion play in other leagues, such as the Palomino and Coaches League,” said Ron Eicher, Mira Mesa’s American Legion coach. “Your big pitcher comes up and you ask him if he’s ready to play. He says, ‘Yeah coach, I’m ready to play, but I can’t pitch. I pitched yesterday in Palomino.’ ”

But Eicher doesn’t have such worries tonight, as his team begins play at 8 o’clock in the American Legion double-elimination regional tournament in Ontario. Dean Wilkins, Mira Mesa’s top pitcher, will start.

Ironically, Wilkins’ last start was in Palomino League play, but that was seven days ago. Wilkins’ last start in American Legion play was much more noteworthy, however, as he threw a no-hitter in a 19-0 win against Kearny in the playoffs.

Wilkins, a Mira Mesa High School graduate in 1984, walked just one batter in the no-hitter. Another strong pitching performance may be vital as the caliber of play improves as the league moves north.

American Legion baseball, for players up to 19 years of age, has cut back from 28 teams last season to eight in San Diego in 1985. According to Eicher, the expense of American Legion ball and opposition to post-high school players participating, caused many teams to create their own league--the Coaches League. The Coaches League serves as an off-season summer league for high school athletes.

“The coaches are tired of doing fund-raisers,” Eicher said. “It’s expensive to play American Legion ball. Still, I think the competition is as good as last year. The American Legion got their fannies in gear for the first time in 10 years. They gave us $500 right away. Hopefully, we will build from this in San Diego.”

Any postseason competition that includes traveling outside of San Diego usually creates mixed emotions for the coaching staff. Having to raise money for expenses dampens what should be the rewards for finishing on top. But the increased financial backing has similarly increased Eicher’s enjoyment.

“(The American Legion) is paying for the whole trip,” Eicher said. “They said they’ll be there and they’ll pick up the bill. Usually, we’re scraping for dollars. If we win, they said they’ve already got the plane fare for Oakland.”

Oakland will be the site of the state championships. Mira Mesa will have to win three games in Ontario to advance. Eicher said Jim Pritikin, a 1985 Mira Mesa High School graduate, will pitch the second game of the tournament.

Pritikin, 17, was the winning pitcher in Mira Mesa’s San Diego County American Legion championship game win against Kearny, 11-4. Pritikin, who also plays first base and the outfield, was the hitting hero as well with a home run, triple and single.

In addition to Wilkins and Pritikin, catcher Mark Robert provided heroics in the playoffs. A Mira Mesa High senior, Robert hit a game-winning, three-run homer in the seventh inning of Mira Mesa’s second-round playoff win against Mount Miguel. Mira Mesa lost to Kearny in the first round of the double-elimination tournament. Robert’s homer led Mira Mesa to the first of four straight wins.