Another Transfer Draws Ire of Critics

There is nothing new or novel about players transferring schools for athletic reasons. It seems to happen on a monthly basis.

But that never stops the finger-pointing and allegations that accompany such cases, including the recent transfer of four baseball players to San Fernando High.

Manny Flores, Abraham Gonzalez, Jesse Alvarez and Victor Martinez have been playing baseball together since they were 7 years old.

Next season, the foursome is expected to play together in high school for the first time after transferring to San Fernando amid allegations of recruiting, a violation of state rules.

Flores, an All-City outfielder for City Championship runner-up Poly last season, became the third player from Poly--following Gonzalez and Martinez--to transfer to San Fernando. Flores checked into school last week after moving in with his mother, who lives in the San Fernando area.

Flores, Gonzalez, Martinez and Alvarez, who transferred in September from North Hollywood, are members of the Sun Valley Park Bums, a travel team that has been together for a decade.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Bums finished second in a winter club tournament in Moreno Valley and qualified for a championship tournament in Florida in July.

It was the players’ dream, they say, to join Bum teammates Jose Montes and Jesse Moreno at San Fernando for one high school season together.

Never mind that Poly finished 25-8, won the East Valley League championship and played in Dodger Stadium for the City title last season while San Fernando was 5-22-1 and finished last in the North Valley League.

“You don’t have to worry about things with them,” Flores said of his longtime friends. “We work together as a team. We’re like a family.”

The departure of Flores and Gonzalez was met with skepticism by Poly Coach Chuck Schwal, who believes the two players were recruited, and perhaps enticed, to play at San Fernando.

“Those kids are not that organized,” Schwal said. “I’ve seen Manny’s notebook and I’ve seen Abraham in the classroom. They are truly immature kids being led astray by a group of unethical people.”

Schwal isn’t the only one crying foul.

A mother of a returning player at San Fernando is concerned that the transfer players are receiving preferential treatment from coaches.

“These other boys come in and are being given gifts, like hats, T-shirts and jackets,” said the mother, who requested anonymity. “And we have to pay for them.

“I try to teach [my son] to work hard for what he wants. He’s afraid now he won’t get the chance to play.”

San Fernando Coach Armando Gomez, 31, embarking on his fourth season with the Tigers, denies he had any influence in the players’ decision to transfer.

“All these guys started coming and I’m not going to turn them away,” Gomez said. “As long as I can look at myself in the mirror and know that we’re doing the right thing, that’s all you can ask for.”

While Gomez’s teams have been nothing special, he has managed to build a reputation for getting his players to the next level, be it college or the professional ranks.

Outfielder Larry Brown was drafted in the 12th round by Seattle last year after playing only one season at San Fernando.

“All of the scouts who were looking at me are still around,” said Gomez, a former pitcher at San Diego State and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

“We have scouts at every game looking at guys. That’s a kid’s dream to go to the next level.”

Gonzalez, who missed the first half of last season at Poly for disciplinary reasons, said Gomez’s reputation played a part in his decision to transfer in November.

“I saw how good the [Poly] team was last year and not one person went on to college,” Gonzalez said. “I want to go to college. I heard Gomez helps you out.”

Flores and Gonzalez deny they were recruited. And they can’t understand the allegations.

“Gomez is getting a bad rap,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not Gomez’s fault we all transferred. It’s just going in his favor.”