BASEBALL : Former Canyons Baseball Coach Gillespie Feels Right at Home in Valley Area With His 1st Recruiting Class at USC

Mike Gillespie, the baseball coach at USC, is certainly no stranger to the Valley. He lives in Valencia and formerly coached at College of the Canyons. Even so, after looking over his list of freshman recruits for next season, you have to wonder if he has contracted Valley fever.

It is the spring of 1991. Holding a one-run lead in the ninth against archrival UCLA, Trojan catcher Jim Henderson calls a conference on the pitcher’s mound. Infielders Kevin Farlow, Danny Gil, Damon Buford, David Lee and Henderson discuss with pitcher Jeff Cirillo how the team will defense the next Bruin batter . . . .

That scenario could be realized. Gillespie has commitments from six Valley-area seniors for next season, and if each plays according to his position in high school and remains at USC, Gillespie theoretically could be looking at an all-Valley infield in the near future.

“To tell you the truth, I never really thought of it like that,” he said. “It could happen.

“All of these kids have great ability, and at the same time they’re all great kids and good students. Each one of them has a good chance of seeing playing time next year.”

The Trojans signed two first-team Times All-Valley picks in Henderson of Westlake and shortstop Gil of Poly. Third baseman Farlow of Kennedy, first baseman Lee of Hart and second baseman Buford of Birmingham also have committed to the school. Cirillo, a two-time Southern Section Small Schools Player of the Year at Providence, committed last weekend.

Gillespie said the players’ versatility helps their chances of playing soon.

“Right now we’re thinking about trying Gil and Farlow in the outfield. Lee and Cirillo both can pitch and hit, which doesn’t hurt their chances any. Henderson hits the heck out of the ball, so he’ll get some time soon, and Damon’s very quick and has good hands.

“What it all comes down to is how fast they’ll all make the transition.”

It’s been a transition for Gillespie, too. Next season will mark his second at USC, but this is the first group of athletes he’s been able to follow throughout the school season and personally recruit. USC finished 32-28 this year.

“We’re gratified with the way we played,” said Gillespie, who coached Canyons to three state titles. “We play some of the toughest teams in college baseball, and we were in every game well into the eighth inning. We were that close to doing some great things.”

Six guys and a coach from this side of the hill are hoping to push USC over the hill to success.