Millikan may be the hardest high school in Long Beach to leave—and that’s not a knock on the school’s graduation rate.  It seems like Millikan is filled with coaches who played at the school, from cross country coach Pedro Ramirez to basketball coach Jeff Breuklander, to baseball coach Scott Glasser, who was a Ram back in 1992, the last time the Rams won a CIF championship.  In his fourth season as the baseball coach, Glasser’s not the only returning Ram on this roster, as Millikan is returning seven senior starters from last season’s exciting squad, who opened league play with a thrilling upset of eventual CIF runner-up Wilson.

“Our strength is definitely our pitching,” says Glasser.  “Because we have a lot of returners, defensive continuity is not an issue—they might make mistakes, but it’s not because they don’t know what to do.”  What the Rams hope to do is continue their climb back up the ladder—two years ago, they finished fifth, just out of a playoff spot, and last season they moved up to third.  With their experience and their pitching, if these Rams get their bats going, they have a definite chance to finish even higher this season. 

Glasser (whose top assistant is also a Millikan graduate) would love to keep helping restore that luster to the blue and gold.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jonathan Singleton, 1B, P – Singleton is Millikan’s best returning senior on a team full of good returning seniors.  The preseason All-American is a big-time recruit (landed by Long Beach State) who won a home run derby in the Metrodome in the offseason.  He’s struggled in the offseason (batting under .150), but when he gets it going, he’ll probably be the most feared hitter in the league.

Andrew Culver, P – Culver is the Rams’ best returning pitcher, and their best pitcher from last season (he closed the game against Wilson last year).  He’s the leader of a very even pitching staff this season, and if the Rams struggle to put runs up, they’ll be leaning pretty heavily on Culver.

Josh Frye, P – Frye is the Rams’ best newcomer, a junior pitcher who will see significant time.  He’s thrown more than anyone else during nonleague play, 17+ innings with a 2.4 ERA, and 11 strikeouts.  If Frye has a good season, he could put the Rams over the top.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

Coach Glasser on the number of Millikan graduates who come back to coach: “That’s a tribute to the coaches we played for, and the tradition they instilled in us.  And also to the principals here, hiring us and realizing that’s important.”

On having so many players back: “This is the first team in years that could really compete for the league title…but we could also be fifth place.”