MaxPreps Student SectionHead baseball coach Ryan Kirchoff of
California Lutheran (Wildomar, Calif.) High School is excited for this spring sports season in 2011. The baseball program has gained respect over the last few years under Coach K. In his six years as head coach, the C-Hawks have had six straight winning seasons, collecting 78 wins in total. Cal Lutheran is the three time defending Arrowhead League Champion, including an undefeated league championship in 2010. The Arrowhead League is on the rise in Division-6 baseball. California Lutheran, Upland Christian Academy, Hamilton High School, La Sierra Academy, and La Verne Lutheran consistently jockey for position atop the league standings. Kirchoff has also been the school's athletic director since 2007.
Coach K shared his expectations for this year's ball club; "to be league champion again, the league season to be more challenging, and to work on more player development than in years past." Some players will have to take on more responsibility to help lead this team to victory. Kirchoff has confidence in his sophomore outfielder and pitcher
Noah Schriefer. "I knew he would step it up and be a bigger part of the team. He's bigger and stronger from his freshman year, and has confidence from last season." Coach K's prediction has been spot on through 15 games this season. Schriefer has a 2-0 record in 11 innings pitched. The sophomore also leads the team with a .405 batting average. He has scored 21 runs, and driven in 11. Schriefer has also shown good discipline at the plate drawing 13 walks, boosting his on base percentage to an impressive .569.
Every good team needs solid players that go about their business each and every game without complaints or constant cravings for attention. Senior first baseman
David Schwark has been that player for Kirchoff at Cal Lutheran. Kirchoff considers Schwark to be his team's unsung hero because "he's not very vocal or loud, but he plays his position well." Kirchoff also appreciates how well Schwark fills the cleanup spot in his lineup. Schwark has been a big left handed bat in the C-Hawk lineup driving in 15 runs this season along with his .500 on base percentage.
Kirchoff really loves the leadership and experience of this year's team. His upperclassmen are "use to winning," which allows them to bounce back after a tough loss. He also lists "our infield play" as a huge strength. The C-Hawk starting infield includes four seniors along with a junior pitcher
Matthew Correia and junior
Jacob Cole behind the plate. Kirchoff hopes his team will start hitting more consistently up and down the lineup, communicate more often, and be confident in the outfield with two new outfielders.
Cal Lutheran has been a football-dominated school for as long as many can remember. Football games draw the biggest crowds and create the most buzz on campus including pep rallies and dress up days. Kirchoff knows it will be very tough for baseball to rival football in popularity, but he is happy that the baseball program "has created a buzz already with fans going to games and more guys coming out for baseball."
It goes without saying that the baseball program is in good hands with Coach Kirchoff. The passion of this head coach is contagious at Cal Lutheran. The C-Hawks enter Arrowhead League play looking to defend their league title, and gearing up for a playoff push. Cal Lutheran ends their regular season with a tough two week stretch of five games, including three against top dogs in their league. The C-Hawks are currently tied for second place in the Arrowhead, trailing Hamilton and tied with La Verne Lutheran with a 7-2 league record.
Only time will tell if Cal Lutheran will capture another league title. The C-Hawks will certainly gain confidence going into playoffs with wins to end the regular season, and will be a team to be reckoned with once that time arrives. What can be known for certain that Coach Kirchoff will continue to lead successful teams and keep his boys playing hard as Cal Lutheran reloads each and every season with baseball talent in sunny southern California.
