As Coaching Goes, Shimizu Shows He’s a Good Scout

The approaches of Cleveland Coach Bob Braswell and Kennedy Coach Yutaka Shimizu, in terms of pregame scouting, are decidedly different. The results, though, are often similar: Cleveland (16-2, 6-0 in league play) and Kennedy (12-4, 5-1) will play for first place in the North Valley League at 7 tonight at Kennedy.

Shimizu prefers to see an opponent play as many times as possible. Braswell does not spend nearly as much time scouting. In fact, Braswell simply would prefer to see a lot less of Shimizu.

“Shim’s the tactician, the magician,” Braswell said. “I don’t even waste my time sending anybody over to scout his games because it wouldn’t do any good. He just changes everything all around every game.”

Shimizu feels otherwise. Braswell, in fact, has a running gag with Shimizu and Taft Coach Jim Woodard, who also has scouted several Cleveland games this season.

“Every time I look up in the stands, I see those two,” Braswell quipped. “I keep telling them that they’ve seen more Cleveland games than I have.”

Shimizu said that he scouts more games than Woodard and that there is a reason.

“He remembers everything,” Shimizu said of Woodard. “Not me, I have to see somebody two or three times before it sinks in. Heck, I just go from day to day.”