O’Neil Leaves St. Francis Coaching Job to Become Professional Baseball Scout : High school baseball: Former Crespi player resigns after posting 13-11 record in only season.

Tim O’Neil, who led the St. Francis High baseball team to a 13-11 record in 1994, has resigned after one season as coach to take a position as a scout for the Minnesota Twins.

In his first season as a varsity head coach, O’Neil guided the Golden Knights to a fourth-place finish in the Del Rey League at 6-6.

O’Neil, 28, a 1984 graduate of Crespi High, was a first baseman and outfielder for Gonzaga University from 1985-87. He served as an assistant at Gonzaga in 1988 before serving one-year stints as an assistant at Crespi in 1989 and Chaminade in 1993.

“This was a decision which was very difficult for me because of the feelings I have for my ballplayers,” O’Neil said. “However, this type of job does not come along often.

“It was difficult telling (the team) . . . but they understand it’s a pretty good opportunity for me.”

O’Neil said he will be based in Lexington, Ky., and be assigned to the Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia areas. He is scheduled to start in mid-January.

St. Francis Principal Tom Moran said a successor will be chosen within the next few weeks.

St. Francis will move to the Mission League next season, joining Alemany, Chaminade, Crespi, Harvard-Westlake, Loyola and Notre Dame.