New coaches, old faces

There are some new head coaches trolling the dugouts of the Newport-Mesa-area varsity baseball teams this season, but the names may seem familiar.

Of the five area teams, three have different head coaches than last year. Evan Chalmers has replaced Joel Desguin at Newport Harbor High. Jim Kiefer has taken over for David Austin at Costa Mesa. And C.K. Green has replaced Jon Green (no relation) at Estancia.

All three coaches are taking over struggling programs. Chalmers, an assistant coach for the Sailors the last four years, heads a Newport Harbor program that hasn’t been to the CIF Southern Section playoffs since 1990. The Sailors were 8-17 last year, 4-11 in the Sea View League under Desguin.

C.K. Green, a former Estancia baseball player and interim head coach in 2002, takes over an Eagles program that hasn’t been to the CIF playoffs since 1992. The Eagles won just four games last year under Jon Green, but already have three victories just four games into the season this year.

Kiefer, an assistant at Newport Harbor the last two years and head coach for the Sailors from 1996 to 2001, takes over a Costa Mesa program that started out strong under Austin then fizzled, winning just two Golden West League games.

Of the three, only Chalmers is trying out life as a varsity coach for the first time. Along with being an assistant at Newport Harbor the last four years, Chalmers was an assistant at Warren High from 1994 to 1997 and at Esperanza from 1992 to 1993, when the Aztecs won a CIF title.

“It’s been a huge transition [from assistant coach to head coach],” Chalmers said. “You have added responsibility with scheduling, getting the facility comparable to the other facilities in Orange County, you have to communicate a lot more with other coaches ? it’s a lot more time consuming.”

In trying to turn the program around, Chalmers has scheduled more games for the Sailors during the offseason and instituted a tougher nonleague schedule. The Sailors are moving to the Sunset League and Division I next year, and would like to make their last year in the Sea View League a memorable one. Newport Harbor has an experienced team ready to do big things.

“We’re loaded with seniors who are looking to make their mark,” Chalmers said. “We came close to contending for the playoffs last year, but couldn’t break through. They want to be the team that breaks through and makes the playoffs.”

“Evan is a great motivator,” said Corona del Mar Coach John Emme, who, in his ninth season, is the longest tenured varsity baseball coach in the Newport-Mesa area. “He’ll have his kids excited and playing with discipline and class.”

C.K. Green’s brief but wild ride to the Estancia head coaching position this season started as a player. A 2000 graduate of Estancia, he coached the Estancia frosh-soph team in 2001 before becoming a varsity assistant in 2002. That is, he thought he was going to be an assistant. Head coach Doug Deats resigned three games into the season and Green took over on an interim basis.

Green took 2004 and 2005 off from coaching as he earned a degree from Long Beach State, then got a job teaching at TeWinkle Middle School. After class, he drives to Estancia to coach the varsity baseball team, which has just 12 players on the roster but a good amount of talent.

Estancia hasn’t made the CIF playoffs since 1992, but Green said taking the third spot behind Ocean View and Westminster is a definite possibility if the team stays healthy.

“I coached against C.K. as a player,” said Emme, whose team is ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section’s Division III poll. “He was a heck of a player. I’m sure he’ll have his guys ready.”

Before spending the last two years as an assistant coach at Newport Harbor, Kiefer was an assistant at Servite for two years. He was the head coach at Newport Harbor from 1996 to 2001, so this marks a return to the coaching ranks after a five-year hiatus ? not that it was his goal.

“I wasn’t looking for a head coaching job, but the situation presented itself,” Kiefer said. “I like the possibilities here at Costa Mesa High. I look forward to building the program the next couple of years.”

Costa Mesa has one returning full-time starter, so a lot of players who are unproven on the varsity level will have to step up in order for the Mustangs to get back on the winning path.

“Jim is a great baseball guy,” Emme said. “He needed a fresh start and he got one at Costa Mesa, where he’ll have a chance to win.”

With Emme at the helm, no Newport-Mesa team has a better chance to win year in and year out than Corona del Mar, perennial contenders for both Pacific Coast League and CIF championships.

“It’s been quite a ride,” said Emme, who is optimistic about this year’s team despite a slow start. “We’ll see what happens. These are coachable kids. They really are a great group. And the competition they have against each other in practice should raise their level of play in games.”

CORONA DEL MAR SEA KINGS

Coach: John Emme (ninth year)

2005 record: 18-10, 9-6 in Pacific Coast League

Returning starters: SS Jake Lemmerman (Jr.); OF-P Vinnie St. John (Jr.); OF-P Austin Elliot (Jr.); C Andrew Williamson (Sr.); 1B-3B-C Nick Peterson (Sr.); DH-1B-OF Chris Rosen (Sr.); P Eric Eadington (Sr.); P Matt Hauser (Sr.);OF R.J. Duernberger (Sr.); DH-1B Ryan Lance (Sr.).

Key newcomers: P Roger Ramillon (Sr.); 2B Greg Garte (Jr.); DH-3B Matt Doran (Sr.); OF Michael Ford; OF-P Kyle LaGrand; 3B-OF Gavin Juarez; C Michael DiRocco.

Key dates: at Newport Harbor March 15; at Northwood March 28; at home vs. Northwood March 31; at Tesoro April 26; at home vs. Tesoro April 28.

Outlook: The Sea Kings return seven starters from last year and entered the season ranked No. 6 in Division III. Jake Lemmerman leads the charge on offense and Eric Eadington (5-1 last year) will likely be the team’s No. 1 pitcher. Eadington leads a staff that will include Matt Hauser, Vinnie St. John, Austin Elliot and Roger Ramillon.

Winning the Pacific Coast League will be challenging for Corona del Mar, which figures to battle Tesoro (ranked No. 8 in Division III) and Northwood for the title.