Compton is a three-sport school: football, basketball, and track. Second-year coach Brian Reed didn’t shy away from this fact when trying to figure out how to help his squad improve this season. A perennial cellar-dweller that’s had a hard time winning any games the last few years, Compton has the beginnings of a new beginning going. Reed knew the first thing he needed to do was to bolster his thin ranks. “Usually, we had 15-20 kids in the entire program. This year we’re fielding frosh/soph and JV teams for the first time, and we’ve got about sixty kids. Those numbers dictate you’ll get some athletes.”
The way he filled the roster was by turning to the school’s primary sports. He brought Compton football’s defensive coordinator, Rory Dairy, on as an assistant, and Dairy has brought players with him. He and the other Compton assistants have been recruiting since September, trying to help raise the Compton program from the ashes. “We’re just trying to put it back on the map,” says Dairy.
So far the Tarbabes are 0-7, and have been outscored 91-5—Reed and his group of raw but talented players hope to improve on that significantly. Still, with the recent struggles and a mostly inexperienced group of very athletic ball-players, Reed is keeping his goals modest. “I’m just trying to get us off the floor,” he says.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jovan Bronson, 1BB/OF – Compton’s best hitter, Bronson is right handed but bats lefty. He’s one of the team’s most experienced players, and Reed says he’s an intelligent player as well, with a high SAT score and good knowledge of the game. Bronson has drawn a few local scouts to see Compton games.
Daniel Gutierrez, LHP, SS – Gutierrez is the Tarbabes’ best pitcher, a senior with the most experience out of the Compton bullpen. “We had to get the defense working behind him,” says Reed, who hopes with some error-prone positions corrected that Gutierrez will have a better season.
Marcel Dorn, 2B, SS – Dorn played baseball as a youth, but hadn’t picked up a bat since he was 12 when he joined the high school team. Now as a senior, Reed has high hopes for Dorn—”He has a good pop in his bat,” says Reed. “He hits for average, and he’s very coachable.”
WILD CARD
Jesse Frausto, IF – A freshman with wheels to spare and a lot of upside, Reed thinks Frausto will see some good field time this season. If he can grow throughout the season, he could be the face of his program for a few years to come.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“Basketball and football dominate here—baseball just isn’t the sport. Getting kids out has been a problem—once we get them, we keep them. Bringing in more football players has helped—they brought their competitiveness. Those are players who aren’t used to losing.” – Compton coach Brian Reed on introducing his school to baseball.