Steve Ciniglio, born and raised in Malibu, began his involvement with Malibu Little League first as a player in 1965 and then returned as a coach in 2000. A graduate of Santa Monica High School in 1973, Ciniglio has kept the game of baseball near and dear to his heart.
Ciniglio has served in various capacities for Malibu Little League. Aside from coaching more than 25 teams combined between Malibu Little League and Pony Baseball since 2000, he has been the president of the league for two terms, commissioner, vice-president, umpire chair and coaching coordinator. In total, he has been president of Malibu Little League for four years and Pony Baseball for five years.
Ciniglio, 56, was influential in the $100,000 Fields Improvement Project that was approved by the City of Malibu for all of Bluffs Park in 2005. This included new infields on the baseball diamonds and the soccer area being completely resodded. He spearheaded the purchase and installation of the electronic scoreboards on the diamonds and the construction of the score booths behind home plate on both fields.
Recently, his Dodgers team won the Little League middle division championship (ages 9-10). Ciniglio will run a youth baseball camp this July 11-14 and August 8-11 along with current league President Connie Connors.
The Malibu Times caught up with Ciniglio to discuss his association with Malibu Little League.
Talk about your devotion to teaching and coaching the game of baseball to Malibu’s youth.
“Well, first I want the kids to have fun. Baseball is supposed to be fun. Secondly, to have the kids learn something and, finally, for them to want to continue to play. My goal is to keep kids playing in our system.”
What intrigues you about the game of baseball, and why do you like coaching youth baseball?
“I love baseball. In its purest form, it is an amazing game. To watch these kids perform and have fun is special. If you make the game fun, they generally want to play. If they want to play, they will get better. If they get better, they gain confidence. Confidence breeds success. Success brings it back to fun and it becomes a big circle.
“There is nothing like watching a kid enjoy the game. To see the look on their face when they succeed is an amazing feeling.”
What advice do you have for coaches who want to be involved in the league?
“We have to remind ourselves that these are just little kids. Just the other day we had a team party at the beach and they were making sand castles. You have to step back. I always told my coaches when I was president to take your egos out of it. It’s not about you guys, it’s about them. The more people you can get to continue to play, the better off for everybody.
“Baseball is not an easy game. It is not for everybody. You have to bat; you have to field the ball yourself. Maybe you pitch. There is no hiding like in other sports. We need coaches to encourage kids and stop being so intense. It’s a kids’ game.
“It’s not all about winning. The bottom line is if you go 15-2 and win or 15-2 and lose, two weeks later nobody remembers. Don’t take it so personally. Just teach the kids, make it fun and make sure they want to come back next year.
“It’s also about character building. When my teams lose, the kids say after the game to me, ‘It’s about character building, Coach.’”
Talk about your experiences playing Malibu Little League as a youth.
“The league was founded in 1955. I began playing in 1965 at age 10 for five years. We played here at the corner of Webb Way and Pacific Coast Highway. It was great. We actually had a kid named Byron McLaughlin who went on to play in the Major Leagues (Seattle Mariners and California Angels). He lived on Malibu Road. He was the first person I ever saw have a batting cage in the basement of his house.
“I loved the game but only played one year in high school. So when my youngest son, Michael, joined the minors division, I wanted to get back in full force. And I’ve been a part [of it] ever since.”
You were inducted into the inaugural Malibu Little League Hall of Fame a couple of weeks ago. What did that mean to you?
“I knew it was a big thing. I knew the other three people being inducted. It was special to be recognized by your peers and players. All the teams were on the outfield grass. When they announced my name, I started to walk up to accept my plaque. As I began to walk, a couple of my players called out my name, ‘Steve, Steve,’ and ran out to give me a high five and I thought, ‘That’s wonderful.’ And then a wave of kids kept coming and coming. It was like, ‘Wow.’ I had tears coming down my face. It was more than I ever expected. It was overwhelming.
“I’ve had parents send me photos of the moment. Coaches have told me it’s one of the most touching things they had ever seen in their lives. Something that they will never forget.”