Baseball Coach

Nate Goellrich agreed that he's currently in a unique situation, but he is also heading toward what he called his best opportunity. Goellrich, who is Costa Mesa High's interim baseball coach, has been hired as Estancia's new baseball coach, Estancia Principal Kirk Bauermeister said Friday. For the past four years, Goellrich has been an assistant at Costa Mesa, where last season he was the associate head coach. He is in charge of the Mustangs' summer baseball program, as former coach Jim Kiefer stepped down June 23 to devote time to being the boys' athletic director, pursuing a master's degree and spending time with his family.

COSTA MESA - Estancia High is seeking a baseball coach after Tim Green resigned following two seasons at the helm. Green, whose son, C.K. was a second-team All-Pacific Coast League infielder last spring, stepped down in July to accept a teaching job at St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa. "Estancia is where I always wanted to be, but I wasn't hired as a teacher," said Green, 8-39, 6-24 in league games, after stepping up from the junior varsity when former coach Joe McKettrick resigned one game into the 1998 season.

Barry Faulkner NEWPORT BEACH - Joel Desguin, a 15-year coaching veteran with stops as an assistant at Corona del Mar High, Orange Coast College and several schools in Florida, was named varsity baseball coach Tuesday at Newport Harbor High. Desguin, 37, replaces Jim Kiefer, who resigned earlier this month after six seasons at the Sailors' helm. Desguin teaches physical education at Kaiser and Mariners elementary schools. He said he will work this year as a walk-on, then hope to gain a teaching position at Harbor.

Ralph Grajeda has resigned after four seasons as Vanguard University baseball coach. Grajeda, who said he would pursue another coaching job, was 98-95, 64-76 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. The Lions finished 2012 at 23-21. In 2010, Grajeda led the Lions to an at-large berth in the NAIA Opening-Round Tournament. The team was ranked in the top 25 for most of the regular season and finished 34-20. The Lions missed the postseason the last two seasons. "Vanguard University afforded me the opportunity to learn and grow as a head collegiate baseball coach in the toughest conference in the NAIA," Grajeda said in a statement.

Don't be surprised if the team on-base percentage of Tarbut V'Torah's baseball team makes a significant jump next season. Brent Dohling is the high school baseball coach at TVT, a Jewish Community Day School in Irvine with about 150 students. He also had a small part in the movie "Moneyball" starring Brad Pitt, Dohling playing the part of Oakland A's second baseman Mark Ellis. The entire idea of "Moneyball" stemmed from A's general manager Billy Beane's attempts to get more out of a limited payroll and compete with the big-spending teams like the Yankees.

Costa Mesa High principal Phil D'Agostino announced the school's new baseball coach, Jason Smith, with a bit of excitement and elation Monday. The relief comes from what is expected to be the final head coach hiring heading into the 2011-12 school year. D'Agostino filled openings at boys' and girls' athletic director, boys' soccer and football. The excitement comes from Smith, who enters with what D'Agostino called an impressive background. Smith is a former Orange Coast College assistant coach and player who last coached at La Quinta High in Westminster.

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli was resting comfortably at Hoag Hospital Thursday night after undergoing open heart surgery earlier to repair a weakened valve, said his brother, Tony Altobelli. John Altobelli, 48, preparing for his 20th season at the helm after a program-record 453 victories and capturing the 2009 state championship, began experiencing shortness of breath last season. After many tests, the weak heart valve was determined to be the root of the problem.

University High's Chris Conlin was diagnosed with cancer last month, but the long-time high school coach is maintaining a positive outlook in an effort to beat it. Conlin, University High's baseball coach for the past 23 years, learned he had squamous cell carcinoma in his neck in September. He had surgery to remove the mass soon after and just this week began a seven-week program of radiation and chemotherapy therapy. Conlin is still at school for now, continuing his duties as co-Athletic Director and an assistant coach on the varsity football team.

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli has been named the Orange Empire Conference's Male-Sport Coach of the Year, as voted by conference administrators. "It's quite an honor," said Altobelli, who is in his 20th year. "It's always nice to be recognized by your peers for the work you've been doing - especially when they work just as hard. We've had quite a remarkable season and hopefully, it will continue for another couple of weeks. " The Pirates (33-4-1), ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 1 by a national poll, are hosting one of the Southern California Super Regional playoffs this weekend.

On the last days of the Costa Mesa High baseball season, Coach Jim Kiefer talked about next year and how so many players planned to return. Kiefer has decided he will not join them next season. Kiefer informed his players on Wednesday that he stepped down as coach to concentrate on being the boys' athletic director, and to pursue his master's degree and to spend time with his family. Kiefer led the Mustangs for six seasons, guiding them to the Orange Coast League title two years ago. The league crown was the program's first since 1978 and one of Kiefer's finest moments.

Ralph Grajeda has resigned after four seasons as Vanguard University baseball coach. Grajeda, who said he would pursue another coaching job, was 98-95, 64-76 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. The Lions finished 2012 at 23-21. In 2010, Grajeda led the Lions to an at-large berth in the NAIA Opening-Round Tournament. The team was ranked in the top 25 for most of the regular season and finished 34-20. The Lions missed the postseason the last two seasons. "Vanguard University afforded me the opportunity to learn and grow as a head collegiate baseball coach in the toughest conference in the NAIA," Grajeda said in a statement.

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli has been named the Orange Empire Conference's Male-Sport Coach of the Year, as voted by conference administrators. "It's quite an honor," said Altobelli, who is in his 20th year. "It's always nice to be recognized by your peers for the work you've been doing - especially when they work just as hard. We've had quite a remarkable season and hopefully, it will continue for another couple of weeks. " The Pirates (33-4-1), ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 1 by a national poll, are hosting one of the Southern California Super Regional playoffs this weekend.

Keith Wendell Long Keith Wendell Long died from complications with chronic bronchitis on Friday April 13th at his residence in Huntington Beach, CA. Keith was only 27 years old with a bright future ahead of him.   Keith is survived by his Mother and Father,  Sandy and John Long, and three sisters, Kimberly Long, Chrissy Fish, and Alexis Mottl-Long, his Grandmother Nancy Long,  and his loving  girl friend of 5 years Kimi Sugimoto.   Keith was...

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli was resting comfortably at Hoag Hospital Thursday night after undergoing open heart surgery earlier to repair a weakened valve, said his brother, Tony Altobelli. John Altobelli, 48, preparing for his 20th season at the helm after a program-record 453 victories and capturing the 2009 state championship, began experiencing shortness of breath last season. After many tests, the weak heart valve was determined to be the root of the problem.

University High's Chris Conlin was diagnosed with cancer last month, but the long-time high school coach is maintaining a positive outlook in an effort to beat it. Conlin, University High's baseball coach for the past 23 years, learned he had squamous cell carcinoma in his neck in September. He had surgery to remove the mass soon after and just this week began a seven-week program of radiation and chemotherapy therapy. Conlin is still at school for now, continuing his duties as co-Athletic Director and an assistant coach on the varsity football team.

Don't be surprised if the team on-base percentage of Tarbut V'Torah's baseball team makes a significant jump next season. Brent Dohling is the high school baseball coach at TVT, a Jewish Community Day School in Irvine with about 150 students. He also had a small part in the movie "Moneyball" starring Brad Pitt, Dohling playing the part of Oakland A's second baseman Mark Ellis. The entire idea of "Moneyball" stemmed from A's general manager Billy Beane's attempts to get more out of a limited payroll and compete with the big-spending teams like the Yankees.

Costa Mesa High principal Phil D'Agostino announced the school's new baseball coach, Jason Smith, with a bit of excitement and elation Monday. The relief comes from what is expected to be the final head coach hiring heading into the 2011-12 school year. D'Agostino filled openings at boys' and girls' athletic director, boys' soccer and football. The excitement comes from Smith, who enters with what D'Agostino called an impressive background. Smith is a former Orange Coast College assistant coach and player who last coached at La Quinta High in Westminster.

Nate Goellrich agreed that he's currently in a unique situation, but he is also heading toward what he called his best opportunity. Goellrich, who is Costa Mesa High's interim baseball coach, has been hired as Estancia's new baseball coach, Estancia Principal Kirk Bauermeister said Friday. For the past four years, Goellrich has been an assistant at Costa Mesa, where last season he was the associate head coach. He is in charge of the Mustangs' summer baseball program, as former coach Jim Kiefer stepped down June 23 to devote time to being the boys' athletic director, pursuing a master's degree and spending time with his family.

On the last days of the Costa Mesa High baseball season, Coach Jim Kiefer talked about next year and how so many players planned to return. Kiefer has decided he will not join them next season. Kiefer informed his players on Wednesday that he stepped down as coach to concentrate on being the boys' athletic director, and to pursue his master's degree and to spend time with his family. Kiefer led the Mustangs for six seasons, guiding them to the Orange Coast League title two years ago. The league crown was the program's first since 1978 and one of Kiefer's finest moments.

Baseball in Alaska seems to make as much sense as snowboarding in the Bahamas, but don't tell that to Tony Cappuccilli. Cappuccilli is the head coach of the Anchorage Bucs, a collegiate summer league team that plays in the Alaska Baseball League, recognized as one of the top summer leagues in the country. It's a summer job for Cappuccilli, who will return to Irvine after the season and resume his job as assistant baseball coach for Irvine Valley College. Cappuccilli, 30, just finished his second season at IVC and he plans to be there for a few more years, but he isn't the type to sit still for long.