Landress Replaces Raymond as Cleveland Baseball Coach

Steve Landress has changed hats at Cleveland High. Or more accurately, switched caps.

Landress, who coached the Cleveland football team from 1985-1990, has been named the school’s baseball coach.

Landress, 41, has coached the junior varsity baseball team for the past two seasons. He replaces Rich Raymond, who announced his retirement. Raymond was an interim replacement for Ray Todd, who retired a year ago because of medical problems.

Landress inherits a team that could contend for a North Valley League title. Several key players return, including Brian Basowski, Doug Rubin, Dave Cipolla, Robert Rundquist, Mike Petruzates and Julio Marcial.

“We’ve got some pretty good kids coming back,” Landress said. “I’m pretty excited about it.”

Landress coached the baseball team at Cleveland on an interim basis for one season five years ago and previously coached baseball at Manual Arts.

Last spring, Cleveland was 8-12 overall and finished last in the North Valley League at 7-10.

Cleveland was the lone team in the league--which includes defending City Section 4-A Division champion San Fernando--that did not make the playoffs.

“Hopefully, we can put it all together and make a run at this,” Landress said. “I’d really like to get us back in the playoffs.”