Pirates baseball turns to backyard for talent
Del Marine always knew where he belonged in life.
“My goal was to become a junior college baseball coach,” he said.
Let’s just say Porterville College’s administration isn’t arguing with Marine’s decision making.
“Del is a hard worker,” Eric Mendoza, first-year PC director of student programs and athletics, said. “He’s committed, there’s no doubt about that.”
Marine, the Pirates’ head baseball coach, is dedicated to manufacturing victories with home-grown talent.
When the Moorpark College alum was picked up by hitting coach Steve Cox in January 2007, 90 percent of Porterville’s players were from out of state, Marine said.
With his staff’s assistance, Marine managed to reel in an outstanding crop of athletes from local high schools.
“When I took over this job,” he said, “my plan was to recruit locally.”
The Pirates will have a projected 35-player roster in 2009, 23 of whom are from Tulare County, Marine said.
“That’s the most important thing,” he said. “We’re a community college. We need to have the face of the community.”
Among those coming in are Steven Jones (Monache), Bear Alvarez (Porterville High), Steven Dummar (Granite Hills), Jack Griggs (Exeter), Tyler Montano (Bakersfield), Joey Duran (Tulare Western), Ross Hebert (El Diamante) and John Korsgaden (Mt. Whitney), just to name a few.
Jones, The Porterville Recorder’s All-Orange Belt Baseball Player of the Year, was a catalyst for the Marauders.
He batted .422 with 38 hits, 35 runs scored and 28 RBIs. Not to mention, Jones garnered a 2.64 ERA in 50 1-3 innings of work while adding 47 strikeouts and seven saves.
“I’m not sure how the whole college thing is going to go,” he said June 22, “but I’m looking forward to it.”
A.J. Watts, Granite Hills’ former baseball coach, was also landed by Marine. Watts will be the infielders coach.
“He brings the knowledge that’s needed to work with young, talented players,” Marine said of Watts. “He’s the perfect guy for this job.”
The Pirates were humbled two years ago when they finished 6-34 overall and 5-23 in Central Valley Conference play.
But Marine and company picked up the broken pieces last season by capturing the CVC’s third-place spot with 13 wins.
“From where we started to what we’ve accomplished now,” Marine said, “I’m very pleased. I’m very excited with where we’re going.”
Porterville will lose the talents of Raul Cepeda and Nic Figueroa from its 13-11 campaign.
Both were given full-ride scholarships to Missouri Baptist, a nationally ranked NAIA school.
Cepeda, who led the CVC with a .404 batting average, and Figueroa (.352) were selected to the conference’s first-ever Gold Glove Team.
“It’s always tough when you lose a guy who batted .400,” Marine said. “You can’t replace Raul or Nic, but I was happy to have coached them.”
But Marine is assured of his squad’s capability to compete with the likes of Fresno City, Merced and College of the Sequoias.
And he’s not the only confident one.
“I’m excited about the future of Porterville College baseball,” Mendoza said. “I think the community will be pleased with the product Del puts on the field.”
