City Players Agonize Over Strike Threat : Majority of Coaches Say They Will Join Teachers in Walkout

City Section baseball players struck a united front indicative of life these days in the Los Angeles Unified School District. They, too, are confused, upset and are battling conflicting feelings.

With a proposed teachers’ strike just a weekend away and the baseball season jeopardized by a coaches’ walkout, players struggled to find solutions that would satisfy a common goal--they just want to play baseball.

Teachers are likely to strike Monday over wages and other issues, and Chatsworth senior infielder Rich Aude spoke for many of his brethren when he proclaimed Friday, “I think it stinks.”

“I think the teachers deserve more money but the strike comes at the wrong time,” he said. “Maybe I’m just mad because we’re not going to play baseball.”

None of those surveyed in a sampling of some of the Valley’s best players want to see the baseball season interrupted. But if there is a strike Monday, many will return to school wondering what to do next.

In a survey of the Valley’s 17 City Section baseball coaches, 14 said that they would honor picket lines and 13 would boycott Tuesday’s games that mark the end of the regular season.

Only Reseda’s Mike Stone said he would both cross picket lines and coach his team Tuesday. Curt Yarrington of Verdugo Hills said he will neither strike nor coach. (Please see chart, Page 21).

El Camino Real’s Mike Maio has yet to decide on a strike stance but said that he would join his team. However, he indicated that he would refuse to play Tuesday’s game against Chatsworth if Coach Bob Lofrano is not present. Lofrano has said he will not coach Tuesday.

“I’m not trying to be an outlaw,” Maio said. “I respect every coach’s opinion but if Lofrano isn’t there, there won’t be a contest and we won’t accept a forfeit.”

Baseball coaches from the City’s 49 high schools are set to meet Monday to discuss plans for the playoffs if a strike is not averted. The playoffs will begin May 24. The district plans no change in its sports schedule and has devised no contingency plan.

Players expressed sympathy for their coaches, but their main concern was playing. When asked whether his team would play without Coach Rich McKeon, Taft catcher Adam Zutler said, “I respect his position but I’d take the field without McKeon. We’re not striking.”

But others expressed loyalty to their coaches. Sylmar players voted as a team Thursday to refuse to play without Coach Gary Donatella. Monroe’s Tim Costic, The Times’ Valley Player of the Year in ‘88, said that playing without Coach Kevin Campbell would be difficult.

“We understand that teaching comes first and baseball is second,” he said. “If they put administrators out there I’d rather not play.”

Van Nuys shortstop Mike Engler spoke for many when he expressed unfocused anger. The Wolves have clinched a playoff berth for the first time in 26 years and the prospect of no playoffs rankles him.

“I’m not mad at the teachers but I’m angry that the one year we put it together, we might be deprived of the playoffs,” he said. “But the teams shouldn’t play if the coaches aren’t there.”

Although Kennedy shortstop Gino Tagliaferri said he respected Coach Manny Alvarado’s position, the team’s quest for an appearance in the City championship game at Dodger Stadium must go on.

“I wouldn’t feel right without our coach there,” he said. “But we’d have to put our foot down and think of ourselves. They’re trying to get more money but we’re trying to get to Dodger Stadium.”

HOW THEY STAND What City Section baseball coaches say they will do in the event of a teachers’ strikeagainst the L. A. Unified School District.

COACH WILL WILL School STRIKE COACH WAYNE SINK Birmingham Yes No JIM SMITH Canoga Park Yes No BOB LOFRANO Chatsworth Yes No TOM SMITH Cleveland Yes Und. MIKE MAIO El Camino Real Und. Yes DARRYL STROH Granada Hills Yes No TOM LUCERO Grant Yes No MANNY ALVARADO Kennedy Yes No KEVIN CAMPBELL Monroe Yes No BRIAN YORK North Hollywood Yes No JERRY CORD Poly Yes No MIKE STONE Reseda No Yes STEVE MARDEN San Fernando Yes No GARY DONATELLA Sylmar Yes No RICH McKEON Taft Yes No KENJI MOCHIZUKI Van Nuys Yes Und. CURT YARRINGTON Verdugo Hills No No

KEY: Und.--Undecided.