Last year, the Point Loma Pointers baseball team was eliminated from the CIF playoffs by a Santana High team that went on to win the local division championship before reaching the state title game and losing a tough 1-0 decision. This season, the head coach of that team has taken the reins of the Pointer varsity.
Rigoberto Ledezma, who is also a PLHS parent, was hired to lead the Pointers and he has already made an impact on his athletes. Players hustle from point to point, remain focused on games while in the dugout, shout support to teammates and, in a big change from previous teams, no foul language is audible from mouths young or old.
And Ledezma has significantly increased the mental involvement of his 20 players as he constantly is giving signs and instructions to every batter and base runner to increase the chances of successful plays and decrease the number of mistakes or errors.
He can constantly be heard giving positive feedback to players: “Good job, young man!” “Nicely done!”
And how do his teenage players respond? “It’s so much better,” said one returning player. “A 100% improvement,” said another.
Ledezma is supported by a group of coaches returning from previous years including Kyle Harvey, Nick Schroeder, Joe Storniolo, and Barret Frost. Returning after several years is popular Pointer English teacher Jon Posternack and the new pitching coach is Alan Strong.
After winter ball, the Pointers began the season on Feb. 28, losing a lead to top-10 team Torrey Pines before a 3-2 defeat. But Ledezma’s players presented him with his first win two days later, a 7-0 shutout of Mt. Carmel with junior left-hander Matthew Garrison on the mound.
To date, the Pointers have posted a 5-3-1 record, the tie coming when Ramona High caught the Pointers and forced extra innings. After eight innings umpires ruled darkness prohibited further play.
League play opens April 10 for the Pointers with a 4 p.m. home game against Madison, currently 4-4. Other Western League teams with current records are St. Augustine (6-1), Cathedral Catholic (6-2), Patrick Henry (6-2) and Christian (5-3).
Batting leaders for the Pointers include Druw Frost averaging .333, Eli Montgomery has seven hits, Griffin Ice has two doubles, and home runs have been hit by Michael Hall, Will Sanford, and Branden Keeling.
On the mound, Garrison has pitched 14.2 innings posting a 2.39 ERA, walking five and striking out 20. The team’s ERA is now at 3.37. Kai Dickinson has not been scored on in 4.2 innings of relief, Sanford has struck out 23 opponents and allowed only a.125 batting average.
In fielding, the Pointers have only committed eight errors in 57 innings of play with 11 players owning a perfect 1.000 average.
CIF Div. II rankings have the Pointers sitting at number five of 18 teams.
GIRLS SOFTBALL
The Pointer varsity sports a 5-2 record under head coach William Hunyady. His girls have scored 45 runs and given up only seven with five shutouts. Leading pitcher Ryoko Schroth has an ERA of 0.35 and opponents are batting just .062 against her. Avery MacPherson is batting .529 to lead her team. Only six errors have been committed in 49 innings
The Pointers are in second place in pre-season City League play. The other league members, with current records, are Christian (7-0-1), Scripps Ranch (5-3), Canyon Hills (5-3), and University City (4-6-1). League play begins April 12 when the team travels to Canyon Hills. In CIF Div. III, the Pointers are rated fourth of 15 schools.
The junior varsity team under head coach Chris Ghio did not allow a run for its first four games, winning by a combined 59-0. They are currently 8-3 and looking forward to City League play.
