DeKraai Resigns at Fountain Valley

Tom DeKraai, who led Fountain Valley to the Southern Section 4-A baseball title in 1985, announced his resignation Friday.

DeKraai, 34, was 97-52 in six seasons at Fountain Valley, including a 21-9 record in 1985 when he led a third-place team to the championship in Anaheim Stadium. The Barons qualified for the playoffs in four of DeKraai’s six seasons.

“I decided to resign a month ago,” DeKraai said. “Our district isn’t promoting athletics as much as it used to, and I lost a little of my enthusiasm this year. It was time for a change.”

DeKraai’s teams failed to win a Sunset League title but were often among the county’s top 10 teams. Among the top players he coached at Fountain Valley include Don Snowden (University of Arizona), Gary Schoonover (Brigham Young), Jim Doyle (Pepperdine), Jim Wayne (USC) and Bob Sharpnack (Oakland A’s farm system).

DeKraai will remain as a special education instructor at Fountain Valley.