Former Baseball Coach at Anaheim Canyon Dies

Hi Lavalle, who coached Compton Dominguez and Anaheim Canyon to Southern Section baseball championships in his 35 years as a head coach, died Wednesday of complications from stomach cancer at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.

Lavalle, 75, coached at Dominguez from 1958-72 and at Canyon from 1973-92, recording a 453-331-17 record. After winning the 1972 Southern Section title in his final game at Dominguez, he turned what was then a new school at Canyon into an Orange County baseball power.

At Canyon, he reached three Southern Section title games and won the 3-A title in 1984 by defeating Lompoc. Nine of his players appeared in the major leagues, including Ken Landreaux, Jim Rooker, Rob Deer, Steve Scarsone and Doug Linton.

Lavalle remained on the Canyon staff after his retirement and worked with the pitchers. He was an assistant to Mike Najera and coached with his son, Kevin, during the last three seasons under Joe Hoggatt.

“He was the Canyon program,” Hoggatt said. “He started this program. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be where we’re at today. The best thing about him was that he was a teacher. Everyone knew him and no one had a bad word to say about him.”

Lavalle had been hospitalized since June 7 after undergoing surgery to remove tumors from his stomach.

Funeral services are pending.