Over the years, some competitive baseball teams have donned the blue and gold of Bonita Vista High School. Several of those teams won league championships and a couple even progressed to the CIF finals. But until last season no baseball team from Bonita Vista had ever won a CIF title.
After a slow start in 2014, coach Vincent Gervais’ Barons caught fire and finished the season with 10 consecutive wins, an overall record of 24-10 and most importantly, the first CIF baseball championship in the school’s 45-year history.
With many of the players from that championship team back this season, optimism is running high that this year could also be special.
“We have a good core of our support players back this season,” said Gervais, whose team has started the 2015 season with a 10-2 record. “Our pitching and defense are solid, but we are still trying to find our offense. We’re off to a good start.”
Senior southpaw Ricky Reynoso is the ace of a strong group of pitchers.
“Ricky doesn’t have an overpowering fastball, but he throws strikes and he fools people with his change-up and curve,” Gervais said. “The kids get fired up when he is pitching. When he is not pitching, Reynoso plays first base. Ricky is headed to the University of Pacific next fall.”
Right-handed pitcher Daniel Schneemann has been best utilized this season as an effective closer.
“He throws hard and has an effective fastball and curve,” Gervais said. “Danny is very baseball smart and he starts at shortstop when he isn’t pitching. So far this season, he has been our best hitter.”
The returning senior is headed for BYU next fall.
At 6 feet, 5 inches tall, right-handed pitcher Kevin McCann towers over his teammates. His size and velocity have been attracting scouts for the last two years. McCann is headed to Arizona State in the fall.
Gervais knows that his solid pitching and defense will carry his team only so far. Lacking power, his offense relies on line drives and punching the ball through the holes.
At first base, the Barons will feature senior Cris Isaaks, a solid defensive first baseman and a good contact hitter. He had four hits in a recent game.
Senior second baseman Riley Regala is up from last year’s junior varsity team. Another contact hitter with the ability to bunt, Regala can also play shortstop.
Third base is shared by a pair of seniors: Parker Flippen and John Freeman. Flippen gets on base more often, but Freeman wields a more powerful bat. Both players can also pitch.
Parker’s twin brother Blake Flippen returns to his role in center field. This fleet-footed senior is the Barons’ lead-off man. He covers a lot of ground in center field.
Junior Andres Velasco returns to his familiar position in left field and sophomores Chris Luna and Chris Verdugo will share the duties in right field. Gervais believes that they could develop into two of the team’s best hitters.
Senior Chris O’Neill impressed last season behind the plate and returns there for 2015. He is awaiting a written offer from Cornerstone University (NAIA).
Junior John Beilstein gets the versatility award this season. Gervais hopes to play him in every position at some point during the season. Beilstein is one of the team’s best hitters.
With strong pitching, a solid defense and adequate hitting, the Barons should compete in the always tough Metro-Mesa League. Another deep post-season run is also a possibility.
Lions baseball tourney swings into action in 2015
The 65th annual Lions tournament — the nation’s oldest and largest high school baseball tournament — opened Monday with pool play around San Diego County, including several South County venues, and was scheduled to conclude Thursday with division playoff and championship games.
This year’s field included nine divisions and 136 teams.
All 13 Metro Conference teams were in action:
Classic Division
Montgomery: The Aztecs (5-5) dropped a 3-0 decision to Bishop O’Dowd in Monday’s opener and lost, 11-1, to La Costa Canyon on Tuesday.
Premier Division
Eastlake: The Titans (10-1) crushed Palisades, 10-0, in Monday’s division opener and stopped El Capitan, 5-4, on Tuesday to improve to 2-0 in pool play. Ben Ramirez slammed three doubles and collected four RBI while Jack Sandberg added a home run and two RBI and Casey Schmitt went 2-for-2 and drove in one run in Monday’s win. Schmitt picked up Tuesday’s win while Sandberg went 2-for-3 with a home run, Isaac Vargas went 2-for-3 with a double and triple and Julian Escobedo drove in the game-winning run.
San Ysidro: The Cougars (8-2) clubbed host Valhalla, 8-1, on Monday and shut out Northview, 3-0, on Tuesday to open pool play undefeated. Gilbert Suarez scored two runs and drove in two runs in Monday’s opener while Conrado Diaz cracked two doubles and drove in three runs and Herman Alvarado struck out five in a complete game performance on the mound. Jose Torres earned the win on Tuesday while Edgar Lopez stroked a triple and collected three RBI.
Otay Ranch: The Mustangs (4-6) rewarded new coach Marco Dickinson with a 5-2 win over Torrey Pines in Monday’s opener but fell, 14-8, on Tuesday to Vista. Alex Tovalin tossed a four-hitter while Francisco Chavez, Abraham Valdez and Cristobal Gutierrez each drove in runs in Monday’s win.
6A Division
Bonita Vista: The Barons (10-2) opened pool play with a 9-5 win over Coronado on Monday and a 4-1 win over La Jolla Country Day on Tuesday. Daniel Schneemann went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Chris O’Neill went 2-for-3 with two RBI in support of winning pitcher Mike Bloom on Monday. Ricky Reynoso picked up the win on Tuesday.
4A Division
Mater Dei Catholic: The Crusaders (4-9) dropped Monday’s opener, 4-1, to Nevada Union and came up short, 5-1, to Calexico on Tuesday.
Chula Vista: The Spartans (2-8) were shut out, 2-0, by Central Union in Monday’s opener and lost, 11-2, to Granada Hills on Tuesday.
Hilltop: The Lancers (1-9) dropped Monday’s opener, 6-1, to Westview and lost an 8-2 decision to St. Paul on Tuesday.
3A Division
Castle Park: The Trojans (2-9) were blanked, 9-0, by North Hollywood on Monday and lost, 11-1, to Mt. Miguel on Tuesday.
Mar Vista: The Mariners (2-8) fell, 8-7, to Escondido on Monday and were edged, 10-9, by Sacramento McClatchy on Tuesday.
Olympian: The Eagles (9-2) lost, 12-2, to Valley Center on Monday but bombed Southwest El Centro, 7-1, on Tuesday. Austin Mead pitched a complete game two-hitter to pick up the win on Tuesday while also going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI. Will Lampkin also went 3-for-4 with a pair of triples in Tuesday’s win.
Sweetwater: The Red Devils (5-6) lost, 11-1, to Serra on Monday, but shaded Grace Brethren, 8-7, on Tuesday.
2A Division
Southwest: The Raiders (3-11) dropped an 8-6 decision to San Francisco Washington in Monday’s opener and fell, 14-2, to Bishop’s on Tuesday.
Lions Tournament Games of Wednesday, April 1:
Classic Division
El Camino Real 8, Montgomery 0
Premier Division
Eastlake 6, Ramona 4
San Ysidro 3, Poway 2
Steele Canyon 13, Otay Ranch 4
6A Division
Las Vegas Desert Oasis (Nev.) 3, Bonita Vista 0
4A Division
Hilltop 3, Los Angeles Roosevelt 1
Mater Dei Catholic 11, Mission Bay 5
Chula Vista 8, South Gate 2
3A Division
Olympian 7, Layton (Utah) 0
Fallbrook 2, Sweetwater 1
High Tech San Diego 9, Castle Park 3
Woodland Hills Taft 10, Mar Vista 8
2A Division
Southwest 8, Linfield Christian 5
Lions Tournament Playoff Games of Thursday, April 2:
Classic Division
Semifinals:
Temecula Chaparrel 8, St. Augustine 5 (10 innings)
La Costa Canyon 11, Cathedral Catholic 5
Championship:
Temecula Chaparral 6, La Costa Canyon 5 (8 innings)
Premier Division
Semifinals:
Grossmont 5, Eastlake 4
Torrey Pines 5, San Ysidro 2
Championship:
Grossmont 4, Torrey Pines 3
6A Division
Semifinals:
Fresno Bullard 3, Santa Fe Christian 1
Las Vegas Desert Oasis 10, La Jolla, 3
Championship: Desert Oasis 9, Bullard 3
5A Division
Semifinals:
Simi Valley 9, Francis Parker 0
University City 7, San Pasqual 6
Championship:
University City 5, Simi Valley 4
4A Division
Semifinals:
Mission Bay 6, Granada Hills Kennedy 3
Westview 11, Monte Vista 4
Championship:
Westview 2, Mission Bay 1
3A Division
Semifinals:
Escondido 4, Mt.Miguel 3
Valley Center 5, Fallbrook 3
Championship:
Valley Center 2, Escondido 1
2A Division
Semifinals:
Hemet 8, Malibu 2
Placerville El Dorado 6, San Francisco George Washington 5
Championship:
Hemet 4, Placerville El Dorado 3
1A Division
Semifinals:
Northridge Heritage Christian 2, Minarets 1
Sacramento Capital Christian 10, Maranatha 3
Championship:
Capital Christian 5, Heritage Christian 2
A-Plus Division
Championship:
San Diego Jewish Academy 3, Chadwick 1
Consolation Games
Palisades 9, Montgomery 1
Moorpark 4, Otay Ranch 0
Sweetwater 4, Lowell 0
