After capturing a second consecutive league title this past year, the Malibu High baseball team reconvened on the diamond in early June in search of a new identity.
Gone were recent graduates Chase Lambert, Noah Simon, Chris Falk and Nick Anthony. An influx of sophomores from the junior varsity team moved up to join the returning players, and so began the rebuilding of a team for the 2015 spring season.
Malibu recently participated in the Valley Invitational Baseball League (VIBL) playing against some of the best teams from the San Fernando Valley.
The Sharks finished 3-9 but gained valuable experience in the process. Victories versus Royal, Burbank and Taft and close 1-0 losses to Kennedy and Paraclete showed maturity and progress.
“It’s gone OK. Coming from last summer where we won only one game in VIBL, we are competing a lot harder this summer,” Malibu assistant coach DJ Green said. “Between pitching and a scrappy offense, we should have a chance to win some games.”
The summer VIBL, now in its 14th year of existence, gave Malibu and its coaches an opportunity to look at their new crop of players.
First, the summer began on an ominous note when All-League junior Ezra Allen tore the labrum in his right throwing shoulder in a game. The injury will sideline the versatile Allen for four months. He is expected to make a full recovery by the start of the spring season.
On the bright side, the strong pitching of senior Andre Simoneau and sophomore Declan Sheridan proved to be the foundation of next year’s pitching staff.
“Our pitching has been great. Every outing from them has been money,” Green said. “They are stepping up and showing that they are likely going to be the two guys this year.”
Simoneau, a first-team all-league recipient, has been very meticulous this summer in fine-tuning his technique and throwing motion. He also has developed an off-speed pitch that he hopes will deliver dividends.
“It’s been successful. I’ve been working on my pitches and I feel more confidence in my off-speed stuff,” Simoneau said. “We’ve corrected my slider-grip. That adds another pitch to my repertoire. It leads to more confidence subconsciously and in turn shows in your actions.
“I refined my mechanics and am trying to maximize the torque in my motion. It’s added velocity this summer, better stamina and consistency too. Adding a physics element to pitching on top of changing the grip has added a lot.”
Junior shortstop Dylan Ross, junior outfielder Tim Thomas, senior first baseman Hunter McMillin and younger brother, Cade, a sophomore center fielder, have each had a productive summer at the plate.
“We’ve put in a lot of work,” Hunter said. “The young players have really improved and are getting used to varsity pitching. I like how it looks for the fall and into the spring season.”
Senior Bronson Bard has been working hard in a possible closer role for MHS as he balances time between football and baseball. Bard plays scout ball against some of the best talent from Ventura County.
The return of senior third baseman Austin George should have a huge impact upon the program. George tore his ACL in his right knee during football a year ago and has slowly worked his way back into the lineup.
“Playing baseball again has been fun,” he said. “I need to get my knee back into shape. It’s not 100 percent yet.”
A slew of promising sophomores are auditioning for various positions such as catcher, second base and left field.
Justin Truschke, Trevor Simonian, Ben Cohen, Dylan Kretschmar, Brendan Morrison, Rocky Morris, and juniors Miles Murray and Jordin Taylor form a nucleus that went 13-5 and won a league title on the JV team.
Truschke, a talented right-handed pitcher; Simonian, the JV’s best power hitter; and Cohen, a slick-handed infielder, could be strong additions for the Sharks in the coming season and years ahead.
