Redondo’s Coach and Pitcher Acclaimed as Best in Bay Baseball

Behind the winningest baseball team in Redondo High School history was a player-coach relationship built on mutual admiration.

Scott Davison wanted nothing more than to help Coach Harry Jenkins reach a CIF Southern Section championship game. Jenkins pulled for Davison to eclipse all pitching and hitting records within the player’s grasp.

As it turned out, Jenkins did not reach the CIF finals and Davison did not break all of the records. But they came close.

Jenkins guided Redondo to a 30-3 record, the Pioneer League co-championship and a spot in the CIF 4-A Division semifinals in his 19th year as coach, while Davison established records by registering an 18-1 pitching mark and a .437 batting average in his senior season.

For their efforts, Jenkins and Davison have been chosen The Times South Bay coach and player of the year.

Davison heads 11 players on the all-star first team. Rounding out the squad are pitcher Greg Davis of North Torrance, catcher Jose Sanchez, first baseman Heath Jones and shortstop Jeremy Varner of El Segundo, shortstop Royce Clayton and pitcher-first baseman Danny Melendez of St. Bernard, third baseman Jesse Esphorst of Miraleste and outfielders Rodney Garcia of San Pedro, Aman Hicks of Gardena and Henry Schelb of Redondo.

With a player of Davison’s stature returning, Redondo was expected to have a winning season. But the coaching of Jenkins, who has won 10 league titles in the last 13 years, was recognized as another reason for the team’s success.

“I think a lot of people have overlooked his coaching,” said Harbor College Coach Jim O’Brien, who coached at North Torrance High when Jenkins took over the Redondo program in 1970.

“I know Scott Davison is a great pitcher, but I don’t think he would be the player he is without Harry. Sometimes I’ve looked at Redondo and I don’t know how he’s done it. He’s had teams that looked like a bunch of skinny JV kids.”

Aside from Davison, Redondo did not have an overabundance of talent. The Sea Hawks had one other all-CIF player, first baseman Tom Doyle. It took the emergence of several other players to make Redondo the only prep team in Southern California to win 30 games. The Sea Hawks were eliminated in the semifinals of the playoffs by eventual champion Covina, 6-1.

“It was a rewarding type of team,” Jenkins said. “I think the teams we had here in ’79 and ’81 were more talented. The ’81 team had three pitchers (Dan O’Dell, Greg Carne and Chris Johnson) who at one time or another made the all-CIF first team. That team had a lot of depth and overall talent.

“This team started with less overall talent and improved. Henry Schelb was a great surprise. Nate Perry had a great year. Brian Davison ended up having a great year. Scott Taylor played better. It was neat to see them improve.”

Jenkins, whose 339-179-14 career record includes 12 straight trips to the playoffs, says one of the keys is finding the right players for the right positions.

“There are certain positions you have to have to be successful,” he said. “You have to have a catcher who can throw the ball and a pitcher who can get it over the plate. You have to be strong up the middle.”

Jenkins’ eye for talent was demonstrated in 1983, the year after Aviation High was closed. Wayne Wilson had been an outfielder for Aviation, but Jenkins noticed the player’s arm strength and made him a pitcher at Redondo. Wilson became the Sea Hawks’ ace and was drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Orioles.

Jenkins didn’t need to move Davison. The right-hander entered high school with a reputation as a dominating pitcher and shortstop, and those were the roles he filled during four years on the varsity.

“He was a star coming in as a 14-year-old,” Jenkins said. “I always kept that in mind.”

Davison was 7-0 as a freshman, laying the groundwork for a prep career that would see him climb to second place on the all-time state win list with a 48-6 record. Former El Segundo and Baltimore Orioles standout Scott McGregor holds the state and CIF records with 51 wins.

Davison’s records and other near-records include:

* State and CIF records for career hits (149).

* CIF records for career runs batted in (142) and single-season RBIs (58 in 1987).

* Second place in CIF career strikeouts (511) and single-season strikeouts (218 in 1988).

* Second place in CIF single-season wins (18 in 1988).

Although Davison was aware of his records, he said they weren’t important to his success.

“I’d much rather get a hit to knock in two runs to win a game than break an RBI record,” he said.

Performing in the clutch was one of Davison’s trademarks. In one of his best performances, he pitched a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts and hit a three-run homer to lift Redondo over Valencia, 4-2, in a second-round playoff game.

Davison’s only loss of the year came to Covina in the semifinals, ending his quest for the best perfect season in CIF history. Offensively, he paced Redondo in batting average, home runs (9, tied with Schelb), doubles (11), triples (5), runs scored (42), RBIs (42) and stolen bases (15).

Davison is negotiating with the Montreal Expos, who drafted him in the fourth round. He already has a scholarship to USC.

“As a complete player,” Jenkins said, “he’s the best I’ve ever seen.”

Davis, the other pitcher on the all-star first team, led North to the Bay League championship and the CIF 5-A playoffs. The right-hander was 8-5 with a 1.65 earned-run average and also led the Saxons with a .361 batting average. He was named most valuable player of the Bay League.

Sanchez enjoyed a record-breaking season for El Segundo. The catcher set school marks for hits (50), home runs (11) and triples (5) to help the Eagles tie Redondo for the Pioneer League title and reach the second round of the 4-A playoffs. He also led the team with 45 RBIs. Sanchez regained his place as one of the South Bay’s top defensive catchers after overcoming a shoulder injury suffered in football.

Another El Segundo player, Jones, completed a three-year varsity career with a big year at the plate. The 6-5 first baseman paced the Eagles with a .469 batting average and was second on the team in home runs (10) and RBIs (44). The right-hander also was an effective pitcher, posting an 8-4 record with 85 strikeouts in 76 innings.

St. Bernard’s Clayton was regarded as the top infielder in the South Bay. The slick-fielding shortstop batted .513 with 10 home runs, 8 doubles and 32 RBIs to help the Vikings win their third straight Camino Real League title and reach the semifinals of the CIF 2-A playoffs. He was the 15th draft choice in the nation by the San Francisco Giants and has a scholarship to USC.

If there was a defensive rival to Clayton, it was El Segundo’s Varner. The shortstop made only four errors in 31 games and was a terror at the plate with a .433 batting average, a school-record 14 doubles, 7 home runs and 35 RBIs.

Danny Melendez of St. Bernard, the only junior on the all-star first team, was the triple-crown winner in the South Bay. The pitcher-first baseman led the area in batting average (.563), home runs (14) and RBIs (50), aside from racking up impressive pitching numbers. The left-hander was 7-2 with a 1.49 ERA. Melendez’s only losses were to Redondo and to Norte Vista in the CIF 2-A semifinals.

Miraleste’s Esphorst was one of the area’s most consistent hitters. He led the Marauders with a .494 average (43 for 87) and had an on-base percentage of .590. The third baseman struck out only five times in 105 plate appearances.

Garcia helped San Pedro to its second straight Marine League championship by leading the Pirates in batting (.500), home runs (9), triples (3) and RBIs (32). A sore arm prevented him from pitching, but he was a mainstay the entire season in left field.

Hicks, a virtual unknown before the season, impressed enough scouts with his hitting, speed and strong arm to be drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Orioles. He signed last week. The left-handed center fielder led Gardena with a .526 batting average and 20 stolen bases.

Schelb, a transfer from Cleveland High in Reseda, made a big contribution to Redondo’s season. The left fielder hit .363 with 35 runs scored, 9 home runs and 32 RBIs. The right-hander was also effective as a pitcher, posting a 7-1 record with 2.08 ERA, including a no-hitter against Dorsey.

1988 Baseball ALL--STARS

Name School Year Position W-L/Avg. Greg Davis North Torrance Senior Pitcher 8-5 Scott Davison Redondo Senior Pitcher 18-1 Jose Sanchez El Segundo Senior Catcher .435 Heath Jones El Segundo Senior First Base .469 Royce Clayton St. Bernard Senior Infield .513 Jesse Esphorst Miraleste Senior Infield .494 Jeremy Varner El Segundo Senior Infield .433 Rodney Garcia San Pedro Senior Outfield .500 Aman Hicks Gardena Senior Outfield .526 Henry Schelb Redondo Senior outfield .363 Danny Melendez St. Bernard Junior Utility 7-2/.563

SECOND TEAM

Position Name School Year W-L/Avg. Pitcher Pat Ahearne St. Bernard Sr. 8-1 Pitcher David Breneman Rolling Hills Sr. 6-3 Catcher Frnk Pena Bishop Montgomery Sr. .424 First Base Tom Doyle Redondo Sr. .381 Infield Lance Haworth Palos Verdes Jr. .344 Infield Nate Perry Redondo Sr. .407 Infield David Thorpe West Torrance Sr. .338 Outfield John Otte Banning Sr. .442 Outfield Torrie Sweet Serra Jr. .440 Outfield Jason Walton South Torrance Jr. .492 Utility Ricardo Bernal Banning Sr. 6-3/.439