Soliz Carries the Club for Camarillo

David Soliz barely can cultivate a good growth of stubble on his 22-year-old chin. Even when he does, each milestone victory by the Camarillo American Legion baseball team forces the first-year coach to go from bearded to baby-faced.

Three times Soliz shaved his whiskers as a show of celebration as Camarillo made its way to this weekend’s state tournament in Yountville.

Camarillo (33-5) will play San Jose (26-20) on Saturday in the opening round of the six-team, double-elimination tournament. The top two teams will advance to the Southwest regional in Las Vegas and Northwest regional in Yakima, Wash., respectively.

Soliz, a former pitcher for Rio Mesa High and Cal State Los Angeles, has led Camarillo to its first District 16 title and a berth in the state tournament in 11 years. Thus, with last weekend’s 9-5 victory over Claremont at UCLA for the Area 6 championship, once again it was time to reach for the razor.

“It’s a superstition-type thing,” Soliz said, stroking his clean-shaven chin. “[The players] sort of expect it. But this will be the last time. I figure if we can become state champions, I deserve to keep it.”

What Soliz deserves even more, perhaps, is credit for running a taut ship that has steamed forward. Soliz barely is older than his players--including his 18-year-old brother, Rich, the team’s top pitcher--and until a few months ago considered the players to be close friends.

One might have expected matters to be conducted more loosely. But while Soliz is willing to shed his 5 o’clock shadow at the swing of a bat, he is unwilling to tolerate the throw of a bat. Or batting helmet. Or tantrum.

Players have thrown all three, although rarely since the season’s first week. Soliz, who holds a degree in criminal justice and has considered a career in law enforcement, laid down the law early and has enforced it to the letter.

“The guys have tested me a little bit,” he said. “But I have to be strict not to let them take advantage of me. One thing I told them right off: If you throw a tantrum, you’re coming out.”

Catcher Mark Muller, perhaps the best player on a team composed largely of players from Camarillo and Rio Mesa highs, learned the hard way after an early season bat-throwing incident. A trip to the bench resulted.

“We got into it a little bit,” Soliz said. “He said something like, ‘This is summer ball.’ I said, ‘Look, if you don’t like it, there’s the gate. Get your stuff and get out of here.’ ”

Art Espinoza, 26, one of two Soliz assistants, said the exchange “set the tone” for the season.

“When he did that in front of everybody, everyone got his respect,” Espinoza said. “To do that to your superstar, that shows something.”

More difficult was dealing with his brother, whose record is 10-0. But Soliz did not hesitate to make an early season trip to the mound after watching Rich kick at the dirt in frustration.

“He said, ‘You do that again, you’re coming out,’ ” Rich Soliz said. “I was surprised. When we got home, I kind of chuckled about it. I said, ‘You know as well as I do you won’t take me out.’ He said, ‘Don’t test me.’ ”

On another occasion, Rich arrived late for practice, explaining he had been delayed while having a stereo installed in his pickup truck.

“He said, ‘Dad said it’s OK,’ ” David Soliz said. “I said, ‘Your dad is not your coach. I’m your coach.’ He said, ‘What’s the problem?’ I said, ‘Rich, you’re no different than anybody else on the team. The fact that you’re my brother, we’re going to put that aside.’ ”

Said Rich: “He just wanted to [establish] a line of discipline because he’s really young and everybody, I guess, was waiting to see what he was going to do. But I like it. He’s helped me a lot.”

After a three-year career at CSLA, where he set a school record for appearances (85) and ranks second in saves (15), Soliz gave up on the dream of playing professionally and planned for a career in law enforcement. He was recruited by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Dept. but twice declined job offers after landing a job last spring as freshman baseball coach at Camarillo High.

Soliz currently is pursuing a master’s degree and a teaching credential at CSLA and plans to become a high school teacher and baseball coach.

“A lot of people were telling me, ‘You’re turning down an instant career, instant job security,’ ” Soliz said. “It was tough to turn down, but that’s behind me. My biggest reason was, I wanted to stay on the baseball field. And I’ve always wanted to coach at my high school and teach at my alma mater.”

Marty Garcia, the legion team’s business manager, hired Soliz on the recommendation of Scott Cline, varsity baseball coach at Camarillo. And he has not regretted the decision.

“I thought he was in his 30s--just by the way he conducts himself,” Garcia said. “He’s very mature, but he relates to the kids very well. That’s one thing I’m very pleased with.

“As far as I’m concerned, David is going to be with my team for a long time.”