Ty Moore
Photo by Louis Lopez
It won't take long to get a look at just how good the Monarchs might be, as they open the season March 1 by hosting Southern Section power Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.). While the Monarchs are loaded, Bishop Amat counters with USC-bound Rio Ruiz, a projected first-round draft pick, and pitcher Daniel Zamora should be ready to go.
Local outlook: Call said he looks for Trinity League rivals Orange Lutheran (Orange) and JSerra Catholic High School (San Juan Capistrano) to contend. But before league play rolls around, the Monarchs are one of 16 teams invited to play in the prestigious USA High School Invitational in Cary, N. C., March 28-31.
In addition to the Monarchs and rival Orange Lutheran, teams include American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.), Carroll
Jeremy Martinez
Photo by Louis Lopez
(Corpus Christi, Texas), Columbus (Ga.), George Washington (New York City), Gulliver Preparatory School (Coral Gables, Fla.), Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), Highlands Ranch (Colo.), Lee County (Sanford, N.C.), Oxford (Ala.), Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), Russell County High School (Ala.), and Sarasota (Fla.).
Overall outlook: As prepared as his teams are to compete, Call's approach to the game is simple. "We try to reach the kids with the same message - just get better every day. Just compete in practice or in a game."
He says the key to a strong program is consistency. "It's an approach we start with in summer to fall to season," said Call. "That includes senior leadership that is transferred to younger players.
Call notes that "consistency" includes a great tradition, great administration and a lot of community support for athletics.
If there was a downside at Mater Dei, Call said it might be that they have only one baseball field. Then again, he turns that into a positive. "It makes our practice time more efficient."
Coach Quote: "On paper, this Mater Dei team should stack up very well with those who have come before it."
- Burt Call
