Segerstrom starter Issac Acosta throws a warm-up pitch to catcher Zack Bretza Friday. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Segerstrom High School’s baseball team took the field Friday afternoon for a home Golden West League game against Kennedy just like any other game this season.
In a span of 24 hours, the season had changed dramatically for the players and coaches on the squad and the parents of the players.
On Thursday, the team’s game with Kennedy at Segerstrom was cancelled. Later in the afternoon, CIF officials announced that the program had been put on probation for several CIF violations. The specific nature of the violations has not been disclosed by CIF or Segerstrom officials.
As a result, the team, which was leading the Golden West League, was forced to forfeit all of its victories and is ineligible for the CIF playoffs, a goal and dream for every high school player who puts on a baseball uniform.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
Thursday night, Santa Ana Unified School District officials announced that the school’s principal and the long-time baseball coach Erasmo Ramirez had been removed. Fermin Leal, chief communications officer for the district, said Friday the team will play out its season but games won’t count on the Jaguars’ record. No interim coach has been named, he added.
Games will count on the records of other league teams, Kennedy coach Tom Monahan confirmed. So Kennedy will be awarded a win from Tuesday’s league loss to Segerstrom.
It had been a memorable season for Segerstrom. The team was in contention for a league title and players were looking forward to the CIF playoffs. Segerstrom also had a perfect game earlier this season and captured a non-league victory over California at the Halo Classic at Angel Stadium.
The Jaguar players showed the same fight and determination they have all season on Friday in Friday’s 5-2 league loss to Kennedy, which jumped into third place with the win.
Spirits were high in the Jaguars dugout.
Senior catcher Zack Bretza, as he does for every game, shook hands with the home plate umpire before the first pitch. After holding Kennedy scoreless in the top of the first inning, the Jaguar players in the dugout were cheering for their teammates as they came to the plate after singing to between innings music.
They cheered loudly and congratulated Adrian Covarrubias as he scored the first run of the game. Despite the news of the probation Thursday, the mood in the dugout was light and upbeat.
“The adjustment is hard,” said assistant coach Sebastian Lopez, one of the coaches who will be running the team the rest of the season in response to a question about the probation after the game. “We did come into this game not fully planned correctly like how we should of. But with what we have, I have confidence that we can win ball games with what we’ve got.”
Lopez and the other coaches who have been named to run the program met with Athletic Director Nick Canzone on the field before the game. The decision to play Friday’s game was not made until a few hours before the first pitch and Monahan, the Kennedy coach, said it was up to Segerstrom officials whether to play the game.
It’s believed that Segerstrom was without some varsity players who were declared ineligible. The Segerstrom coaches spent time with the players in a pre-game meeting and then met again after the game.
“I can’t tell you what is going through their minds but it is heartbreaking for anything of this matter to happen but they’re able to push through, they’re tough kids, we played our hearts out and it’s just unfortunate that we got the loss,” said Lopez, a varsity assistant.
“They’re fighters, they are fighters and every game from now on, we’re going to have that fight no matter win or lose, we’re going to come out here and play our hardest, no matter what.
“After the game, I told them I’m proud of how we played today, I understand it came at a loss but I was proud of how we played, we just need to clean up little things here and there and I believe we can win the next one. Motivation for this (the rest of the season) is that we’re playing for the kids who don’t have the chance.”
Bretza, who started at catcher, then came on to pitch in the seventh inning allowing one unearned run and striking out three, said he was proud of his teammates.
“I’m just happy that regardless of whatever happened, we were able to come together as a team, all of us came out, like today, guys who couldn’t play were in the dugout, guys who couldn’t play were out here fighting, we had to use our lower level guys but everyone came through and I’m proud of the way we played as a team regardless of what happened in the last couple of days,” he said.
Bretza declined to comment about the probation, but added:
“I’m just happy, I could tell everyone wanted to be here, it’s not like we were dreading coming here. Everyone was excited to come and play as a team.”
Segerstrom returns to action with a non-league game Monday at Garden Grove.
“I just hope our guys can come together and bond and get as many wins as possible,” Bretza said.
Monahan, the Kennedy coach, decllined to comment when asked his reaction to the probation on Segerstrom. But he credited the Jaguars effort.
“They did not give up and they weren’t going to come out here and give up, they had something to prove to their coach,” he said.
Parents of former Segerstrom players told OC Sports Zone after the game they plan to attend Tuesday’s Santa Ana Unfied School District board meeting to voice their concerns about the probation.
A parent of one of the players has also started a petition asking for signatures to re-instate Ramirez as head coach. Guy Lemmon, president of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation, is among those who have sent a letter to Ramirez supporting him.
Lemmon said Saturday he said he plans to sign the petition, noting in a comment to OC Sports Zone that Ramirez’ players “act and play and compete with respect and class,” and that Ramirez is “a great role model and mentor to all the young men you have come in contact.” Lemmon also sent his comments to Ramirez.
Segerstrom’s baseball team has been a participant in the Ryan Lemmon Spring Tournament and his senior players have played in the Ryan Lemmon Senior Showcase.
Other coaches in Orange County, including long-time coach Bob Flint, have also voiced their support for Ramirez.
Canzone, the athletic director, supervised the game, but was not available to talk to OC Sports Zone. Ramirez, the former head coach, declined comment earlier this week.
CIF officials have also declined comment, referring OC Sports Zone to Segerstrom.
Editor’s note: OC Sports Zone can only use named sources for its reporting on stories.
RELATED:
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
More Stories
Orange County high school baseball highlights and final scores for Friday, April 18
Cypress completes sweep of Foothill and inches closer to Crestview League crown
Kennedy captures much needed Golden West League victory against Segerstrom