Extra Innings Create Extra Tension in the Fall

Like an infielder eaten up by a ground ball, the best high school baseball players are getting caught between hops.

Juggling the growing demands of their school squad with the lure of major-league scout teams puts them in the throes of a conflict on weekends during the fall.

“I’m playing all over the place,” said John Puccinelli, a junior infielder at Notre Dame High who has played for each of the three local scout teams in the past two years.

“I’ve talked to [Notre Dame Coach Tom Dill] about it and he understands I have to play with scout teams, but he doesn’t want me to totally ignore his team. I go to a good amount of the Notre Dame games, but make a point to go to scout games too.”

High school off-season programs have become more organized in recent years, with nine-inning games scheduled every weekend. Many Valley schools play in a league at the Westhills youth field complex. Marmonte and Frontier League teams belong to a league in Ventura County.

Southern Section rules prohibit high school coaches from “organizing, sponsoring or coaching” the off-season teams, but most coaches watch the games and evaluate talent.

The rule was relaxed in the City Section this year to allow coaches to be on the field during “league game competition,” but not during practices.

Scout teams in the area have enjoyed a resurgence after almost dying out a few years ago. The Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates field teams of mostly Valley and Ventura County high school talent and game times often conflict with the high school leagues, creating a tug-of-war for the best players.

Loyalty to a high school team must be weighed against the greater exposure and higher level of competition scout teams provide.

Players wanting to please everyone while doing what’s best for their career often end up pleasing no one.

Officially, coaches have no choice but to excuse players from the high school games. Southern Section and City Section rules prohibit making off-season games mandatory.

Pressure is applied in subtle ways, however. One coach who did not wish to be identified because he said he is unclear about the Southern Section rule, put it this way to one of his catchers:

“The most serious battle on this team is at catcher. You have to make sure I see you enough this fall so I can make an honest decision in the spring.”

Did the coach break the rule?

“It’s a violation if a coach is going to the game and using it as an evaluative process,” said Bill Clark, the Southern Section administrator in charge of baseball. “But to tell you the truth, it’s impossible to enforce.”

Clark received several complaints this fall from parents and scout league coaches pointing fingers at high school coaches. The Southern Section responds by contacting the school principal and reporting the complaint.

“It’s usually a case of somebody upset because he’s not getting the kid he wants,” Clark said. “But regardless of the motive, if it sounds like a violation, we follow through.”

One of the calls to Clark was made by Craig Wallenbrock, who coaches the Orioles’ scout team. Several of Wallenbrock’s players told him they feel pressured by high school coaches.

“The coaches tell a kid they can learn to play without him or somebody else is taking his job,” Wallenbrock said. “It’s a blatant violation and it’s really sad.

“Coaches who oppose scout teams are just insecure. Players need to be with someone other than their high school coach for part of the year to gain a different point of view.”

Proponents of scout teams say their value goes beyond playing in front of college recruiters and major league scouts.

Players who become complacent surrounded by less-talented high school teammates take a look down the dugout in a scout team game and realize they must continue to improve to compete against the best.

Score isn’t kept, so a hitter might be more prone to experiment with a wood bat and a pitcher might try a new grip on his change-up.

Instead of facing high school opponents every week, scout teams often play junior colleges, small four-year colleges and even men’s adult teams.

High school coaches have a different goal. They are trying to build the best team possible for next season, a difficult task when the best two or three players are constantly absent.

“I tell my guys it’s fine and dandy to play scout ball but I want them to play with their teammates once in a while because we have a goal to achieve in the spring,” said Westlake High Coach Chuck Berrington, who has five players on scout teams--infielders Scott Dragicevich, Ryan Cope and Kevin Howard, catcher Doug Hutton and pitcher Jeff Boyle.

“But I’ve got some great players who need the exposure scout teams offer. It’s their future and they think it’s a big deal. Who am I to say they can’t do that?”

Displaying loyalty and leadership with teammates is as important as stepping up to the stronger competition of scout teams, high school coaches argue.

Even some scouts sympathize.

“Coaches have a legitimate gripe because a kid’s first obligation should be with his school,” said Bill Hughes, a scout for the Rockies.

The most coveted players have the most obligations and are found on several rosters.

They learn infield play from Rockies’ coach and former shortstop Nez Balelo, batting technique from Wallenbrock and put it all together for the high school team.

Six players from the region play on both the Orioles’ and Rockies’ scout teams: Dragicevich, infielder Brett Wayne and pitcher Mike Byer of Royal, second baseman Chris Martinez of Chaminade, shortstop Wes Rasmussen of Moorpark and first baseman Woody Cliffords of El Camino Real.

Monroe pitcher John Ennis plays for the Rockies and Pirates, coached by Andy Levinson.

Puccinelli plays for the Pirates and Orioles this year and played for Balelo last year.

“I’m open to instruction and I think there is more than one way to do things,” Puccinelli said. “But when I go to high school games I definitely do things Coach Dill’s way.”

The main problem for players is squeezing all the games into their weekends.

No effort has been made by high school or scout teams to coordinate schedules to minimize conflicts.

“When we can’t get the prospects to our games, it defeats the purpose of the scout teams,” Levinson said. “Scout teams may or may not survive depending on whether we can continue to get the prospects out there.”

Although some high school coaches might welcome their demise, others recognize the value of scout teams and tailor their programs accordingly.

Crespi Coach Scott Muckey has players on each of the three local scout teams. He figures when one of his stars is absent from a high school game, it opens playing time for a freshman or sophomore he needs to watch anyway.

“The result is that more Crespi ballplayers are playing every weekend,” Muckey said. “I have no problem with that.”