Eastview Coach to Return to the Stands

s is the end of the road for Joe DiLeva.

DiLeva, the insurance salesman who managed the San Pedro Eastview Little League All-Stars into the semifinal game of the Little League World Series, said he won’t return to the league next year as a coach or manager.

“I’m going to retire,” DiLeva said, forcing a smile after San Pedro was beaten Thursday by Connecticut, 6-3.

San Pedro’s coaching staff has been a cooperative effort by five men, according to league President Gary Miley, with Nick Lusic designated as the coach in the dugout here. Little League rules allow only two adults in the dugout.

Lusic said he will return to assist coaching next season in the Eastview regular season. Bob Elliott, Mark Grgas and Rick Harper have not announced their plans, although Grgas is expected to return.

Only one of the five men who helped direct Eastview to Williamsport has a connection with the players. Harper’s son, Tim, was the No. 1 pitcher and a shortstop. DiLeva’s son, Anthony, 11, was an alternate all-star this year.

“I’m going to be a coach in the stands,” kidded DiLeva. “I’ll come back one more year, but not as a manager. I want to watch my son play.”

DiLeva has managed in Eastview for six seasons. He said he was not interested in any other position with the league.

League members recognized that this team would be formidable more than two years ago, Miley said, and from that point plans were made to help the players go as far as they could in playoff action.

For example, Lusic, known for his ability with pitchers, made himself available to any pitcher on any team in Eastview’s regular season this year. When DiLeva agreed to manage the team this season, the stage was set. “We all worked together,” Miley said. “Some coaches made concessions.”

That is unusual in other leagues, Miley said.

“Usually coaches might tell you, ‘Hey, I’ll coach my own kid.’ ”

San Pedro advanced to the Southern California finals last year, starting six 11-year-olds. They were beaten in that tournament’s championship game.

“I didn’t know how strong we would be last year, but then I saw what they did in the sectional and I knew they would be good,” Miley said.

Miley lit a cigarette and smiled.

“But I had no idea we would be this good.”