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Hillers roll past Helix 8-0 for CIF D-II Title

The Hillers got out front early with a 7-run 1st inning and never looked back against the #2 seeded Highlanders on their way to claiming the D-II Championship at Tony Gwynn Stadium.  Another dominating complete game, 2-hit pitching performance by Joe Musgrove gave the Hillers in to their fifth D-II title in the past six consecutive seasons.

McCoy finally standing tall with Blue Jays

ARLINGTON, Tex. • Looking at Mike McCoy, you would not imagine a kid who once had hoop dreams.

But during his final year of high school in California, he honestly thought he had a future in on the hardwood.

"I had a really good senior year in basketball - 23 points a game, six or eight assists a game, 86 three-pointers," he said. "But no recruiters."

To everybody but McCoy, the reason was obvious. Even his father had tocall him on it.

"I was short," he said with a chuckle.

He still is. But that was less a barrier in the sport that gave him a long-term job and finally, at age 29, a spot on the opening-day roster of the Toronto Blue Jays.

McCoy stands 5-foot-9, weighs 175 pounds and plays six positions, which is why the Jays rewarded him for a sizzling performance in spring training. He is the proverbial 25th man on the roster, which means he will not play much and may not even stick around for long, once the inevitable Las Vegas shuttle begins.

For now, however, he fits the stereotypical description of the scrappy big-league utility guy whose performance belies his size. And after a breakout season at Triple-A last year - .307 average, 40 stolen bases, .405 on-base percentage - he figured he might have turned some heads in the front office of his employers, the Colorado Rockies.

Instead, the Rockies placed him on waivers and the Jays claimed him. Primarily a shortstop, McCoy also can play second, third and all three outfield spots. His versatility and 2009 numbers made him attractive, even more so after he batted .400 with a .486 on-base mark in spring training.

So on Monday, for the first time in his career, McCoy stood along the third-base line alongside major-league teammates during pre-game ceremonies on Opening Day.

After seven years in the minors and a brief September callup with the Rockies last year, he had to pinch himself.

"Big crowd, big ceremony," he said with a smile. "Just to be here in the big leagues on Opening Day, it was awesome. For me to make an Opening Day roster as a 34th-rounder, I was pretty happy."

Yes, the St. Louis Cardinals waited that long before drafting McCoy in 2002. He spent six years in the Cardinals' system before he was traded to Baltimore, then to the Rockies.

His minor-league career was patchy and there were times when he worried it might end before he ever sniffed the big leagues. "I've had some struggles in my career," he said. "There have been times when I was like, ‘Whoa, am I going to be able to get a job next year?' I remember in '08, I was hitting, like .200, and I'm wondering, ‘What's going on? What's going to happen to my career?' "

Then, suddenly, he snapped out of his slump, hit .343 in his last 39 games and kept up the beat for the full 2009 season.

He says his turnaround actually started in 2007 when he was still in the Cardinals' system. One of his coaches was Rick Eckstein, the brother of former Jay David Eckstein and currently the hitting coach for the Washington Nationals. Eckstein gave McCoy a curt message.

"He basically told me I'd never make it to the big leagues with my swing, trying to guide the ball and stuff," McCoy recalled. "He got me to focus on getting on top of the ball and getting more of a straight line to the ball with my swing."

The lesson stuck. "Something just clicked for me in my approach. I kind of matured as a hitter, understanding that I'm not going to drive theball that much. I just need to get on base and steal bases." general manager, says McCoy's approach is ideal for his reserve role. "Everything he does is very compact," LaCava said. "He should play off the bench very well."

PARENT MEETING REMINDERS:

For those of you that have forgotten or did not attend our parent meeting at the beginning of the year,  let me reemphasize the following, because I do not have the time nor the inclination to speak to each parent that has in someway violated the following:

- Parents do not speak to coaches about playing time

- Parents do not talk with their child during or after a game.  Once the athlete is on the field they need to focus on the game/practice and instruction.  The parent needs to respect these boundaries

- Parents will cheer and encourage our student-athletes.  We will not make comments about any players in a negative manner be it on our team or the other.  You represent Grossmont High Baseball.  Any continued negative comments or behavior you will be asked to leave and not come back. 

- If you have a problem with playing time your student-athlete needs to talk to their coach about.  Not mom and dad.

Again this is not little league or a travel team.  Everyone here has been an all-star

at some point.  REMEMBER:  THIS IS GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL.

Jim Earley

Head Baseball Coach

Grossmont High School

Griffin Named WCC Co-Pitcher of the Week

Former Foothiller right-hander threw a complete game against Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday.

March 29, 2010

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Freshman right-hander Aaron Griffin was named WCC Co-Player of the Week for this week, it was announced by the conference office on Monday. He shares the honor with Pepperdine's Matt Bywater.  The native of El Cajon, Calif. tossed a complete game and earned the victory over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday of last week en route to the selection. The Pitcher of the Week selection is the second this year for the Lions, as sophomore John Lally took home the honor on March 9.

Griffin was outstanding on the hill for LMU against Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday, as the Lions defeated the Titans, 4-2. The freshman had a shutout headed into the ninth inning when Fullerton posted two runs in the frame. Griffin used 119 pitches (73 strikes) to record the complete game and improve to 2-1 on the year. He faced 34 hitters and retired 15 of 16 batters from the second through the seventh, including 10 straight from the fourth into the seventh. Griffin allowed seven hits, a walk and two runs while striking out five. The two runs and three of the seven hits came in the ninth inning. The complete game was the first for the Lions since Lee Roberts tossed nine against Gonzaga on May 15, 2009.

LMU finished last week with a 5-0 record after defeating Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday and then sweeping a four-game series over Albany at home over the weekend. The Lions return to the field tomorrow when they host USC at 3 p.m. at Page Stadium. Griffin will take the ball as LMU's starter.

Scoreboard Raising

Coach Earley would like to extend a HUGE thanks for all those who helped to get the new Scoreboard functional.  Financially, Physically, or Materially, all is greatly appreciated!  Thanks to...

Sam Griffiths-for pulling it all together. Without him we could not have gotten this done.

For the actual purchasing of the scoreboard:
County Board of Supervisors ( Diane Jacobs)
Grossmont High School ( Theresa Kemper)

Donations to install the scoreboard:
The Dan Brennan Family        The Boney Family ( Sprouts)      The Gillespie Family

The Ryan Family                      The Clarke Family                       The Barnard Family

Bill Mattus

Materials:
Richardson Steele- Poles / I-Beams
George Wessels- Concrete
Fordyce Construction- Project management
Ron Hudgins- Holes / Drilling / Cages
Scurlock-Cages

Installation:
Dan Brault- If not for him, it would still be in the box
Jeff Coon                Dave Rice                  Mr. Timmer
Mr. Eckley               Mr. Potter

I apologize if there is someone I am missing, but thank you so much to everyone.

Thanks,

Jim Earley

Grossmont's Ex-Baseball Coach Wins Top Honor
Rob Phillips, who guided Grossmont High to an unprecedented four consecutive San Diego Section baseball championships, has been named the 2008 Western United States Coach of the Year by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association. Sportsmanship Teamwork Strength Character Discipline Dedication. Phillips is among eight individuals in the running for the organization's national Coach of the Year honor. The winner will be announced in December at the group's convention in Chicago.

Phillips, 48, stepped down in June after 12 years as coach at Grossmont, the only school in the section to win four straight baseball titles. He handed the title to Jim Earley.