Following the graduation of 13 players, Highlanders start the process of rebuilding
By Steve Ames

Special to The Acorn

Kyle Wilkerson Second baseman

After graduating 13 from a team that went 25-4 and won a Marmonte League title, the Royal High School baseball team is working hard this summer to rebuild for next season.

They’ll return five players from last season’s squad that advanced as far as the quarterfinals of the Southern Section’s Div. I playoffs, and this summer they and players up from the junior varsity are competing for the Highlanders in the Valley Invitational Baseball League.

Going into this week Royal had a 10-5 record with a goal of being ready for the VIBL playoffs, which begin on July 20.

Despite the mass exodus of many of the stars from last year’s team, Royal head coach Dan Maye said this summer has already given him reasons to think positive.

Justin Czyrklis Catcher Photos by STEVE AMES

“It’s true, we lost a ton,” Maye said. “In one way, some people think we don’t have anyone returning because there’s no mainstay guy. But I’m really happy with the guys we have out there right now. They’re all trying to find out, ‘Am I going to be a starter?’”

Maye said Royal’s summer baseball schedule helps coaches to get an early feedback on which players will produce for a winning ballclub.

“I’m finding out which guys are coachable and which guys are listening to what we’re talking about,” Maye said.

He’s learning to distinguish between players who hear instructions and do what they’re told vs. the others who don’t.

Maye emphasized that the Highlanders are a young team. It’s mostly a mix of returnees, parttime players and role players from last year’s squad, he said.

A strong nucleus of players comprise the middle, including junior catcher Justyn Czyrklis, second baseman senior Kyle Wilkerson (who’s coming off surgery and has limited mobility), and senior Kevin Harrington, who plays football and has passing league games as well as action in a Connie Mack League.

Czyrklis is batting in the middle of the lineup. He caught half the season for the varsity, starting 14 of the 29 games in place of regular starter Robert Pena.

Maye said he wants to make sure this summer that all of his players get sufficient time to prove themselves.

“Right now, there’s two guys from each position from the JV team and it’s like giving each guy four or three innings each game and flopping them the next game,” Maye said. “(We’re) finding out who can really swing the bat. Defensively, they’re all fairly close and we don’t really work with them. We don’t practice.”

Senior Troy Hunter will be in left field. He pitched two innings in the Dos Pueblos game to expand his possible roles for next year.

“Pretty much the rest of it is JV. And two freshmen we brought up have done really well,” Maye said. “So far this summer, our pitchers have done really well.”

The coach said that senior Grady Ihnat has thrown effectively and that sophomore Tanner Peters usually throws about five innings and hasn’t given up an earned run in VIBL play. Last week, he threw five innings and shut out Dos Pueblos.

This summer the Highlanders have defeated the Crespi Celts, 15-9, Dos Pueblos Chargers, 9-0; the Harvard-Westlake Wolverines, 10-2; the Moorpark Musketeers, 5-1; the North Hollywood Huskies, 22-3; the Quartz Hill Rebels, 11-3; the Saugus Centurions, 10-1; the St. Bonaventure Seraphs, 3-0; the Sylmar Spartans, 3-0, and the Westlake Warriors, 20-3.

In the victory over Westlake, junior Kenny Walden, a designated hitter who was healing from an injured wrist, had two grand slam home runs, a double and a single and a total of 12 RBIs.

Royal’s losses have been to the Agoura Chargers, 2-1; the Alemany Indians 7-3; the Calabasas Coyotes, 7-5; the Cleveland Cavaliers, 7-3, and the Valencia Vikings, 5-4, the latter game in nine innings.

“The thing about summer ball is you (might) play seven games in eight days,” Maye said. “Pitching is going to get thin––especially when we don’t usually run anyone past five innings anyway, and in between the rest, they play positions.”

In addition to Royal, Marmonte League high schools participating are Agoura, Calabasas, Moorpark, the Simi Valley Pioneers and Westlake.

VIBL games began May 28 and will continue through July 17.

The 2005 Championship Game will be July 31. Pairings will be announced July 18.

The complete VIBL schedule and standings updates are at www.crespibaseball.com/vibl/ index.html on the Web.

The Simi Valley High baseball team will be reviewed next week..

Upcoming VIBL games

Sat., July 9

at home vs.

Simi Valley

Sun., July 10

away vs. Hart

Tues., July 12

away vs.

Havard-Westlake