Can they do it again or was the Live Oak baseball alumni
’s win over the varsity squad a fluke last year?
Can they do it again or was the Live Oak baseball alumni’s win over the varsity squad a fluke last year?
On April 19, the rag-tag alumni team will look for its second win. The alumni game at 1 p.m. at Sarich Field will be preceded by the JV/freshman match for bragging rights at 10 a.m.
In between the two games, there will be complete gourmet meal of barbeque tri-tip sandwiches and a snack bar to raise money for the Live Oak varsity baseball program. There will also be special t-shirts available for purchase. Last year the alumni presented the baseball program with a check for $500 in what is the major fundraising event of the year.
“It has gotten bigger over the years and more people have come out,” said Live Oak coach Mark Cummins. “It is always a pleasure to see all the old players again. Everyone has fun. We are very proud of tradition at Live Oak, and these players are a big part of it. Coach Crossen is rallying the troops, and they should be able to give us a run this year.”
“The school has a pretty deep baseball tradition,” said alumni coach Jim Crossen. “And it got deeper when Mark Cummins came on staff in the mid 80s. I don’t think people realize how hard it is to run a competent baseball program.”
Can the old guys beat the younger guys?
“My players have been working out since August to give this great looking Live Oak team a run for its money,” Crossen said. “I won’t tell you where they have been working out. But some of them have been doing their workouts at lunch and dinner.”
If the potential roster of all-stars shows up, the team could be pretty good, Crossen said.
“We would like to get closer to that .500 record,” said Crossen, whose team is 1-3. “But it depend who shows up. If we have a bunch of guys show up not in shape it will be a blowout. I do a lot of praying the week before the game.”
Many of the players are returning from the 1995 and 1996 teams. The entire 1995 team, which made it to the CCS semifinals with a 21-6 record, made the first or second team all-MBL. All ten of the starters went on to play Junior College or Division 1 baseball.
Joel Sanders still holds the school record in ERA with a 1.10. Benji Sanchez was the Central Coast Section batting leader with a whopping average of .545.
There are many family ties running throughout the history of Live Oak baseball.
Neal Andrade (one of three Andrade brothers to play for Cummins) is the current varsity coach at San Benito High and a 1994 graduate. Allan graduated in 1992, and Wayne graduated in 1998.
Manny Souza, from the class of 1976, was the alumni MVP three years ago. Manny is the uncle to Billy Souza (1995) and brother to Al (1977) and son of assistant alumni coach Manuel, aka ‘Gramps.’ Each year the aromas of juicy burritos fill brought by Gramps fill the alumni dugout.
“While the Live Oak team sits over there in the sun starving, we are enjoying home made burritos over here during the game,” Crossen said.
Al Alciati, a 1967 grad, may be the oldest member on the team, but is a “natural left-handed hitter with a fair range for a 53-year old,” Crossen said. Both his sons Jon and Michael played for Division 1 schools.
Josh Becknall, who graduated last year and plays for Gavilan College, faced his older brother Jeff in last year game and got him out.
Other potential brother matchups are Kristopher Ferguson (1996) and Adam Ferguson (1998).
