Tarazon Replaces Cardinal as Coach at Channel Islands

Al Tarazon attained a long-sought personal goal this week when he was selected to replace the retiring Don Cardinal as baseball coach at Channel Islands High.

Tarazon, 32, coached the Channel Islands junior varsity from 1987-90 and coached the varsity at Pasadena for the past two seasons. Returning to Channel Islands was always foremost on his mind.

“We kind of talked about it before I left (for Pasadena),” Tarazon said. “I went away to get some varsity experience until Don decided to retire.”

Pasadena finished 13-7-1 this year under Tarazon, a 1978 graduate of Santa Clara High. Pasadena was 7-13-1 in 1991.

One league’s coach of the year will replace another. Cardinal, 59, who retired after 26 seasons at Channel Islands, was selected Marmonte League coach of the year after the Raiders finished 21-7, 9-5 in league play; Tarazon, who coached Pasadena to its first league title in 17 seasons, was named Pacific League coach of the year.

“(Al) is very popular with the kids and he’s a good people person,” said Ken Benefield, principal at Channel Islands. “(Pasadena) won a league championship, so he’s obviously doing something right.”