By Alan Matthews
April 12, 2004

Baseball's teaching and equipment industry offers an endless number of tools, videos, mechanisms, batting tees and pitching aides to help high school age players gain an advantage.

Teams and individuals invest hundreds of dollars each year on the latest technology or newest trends in an effort to boost a batting average of shave an ERA.

Lately, the players at St. Francis High in Mountain View, Calif., haven't spent much time searching through Baseball America's Marketplace for that magic tip or nifty gadget. The past four seasons, they've had their own personal big league hitting guru at their side.

Return To Roots

Carney Lansford grew up in Santa Clara in northern California. A 1975 graduate of Wilcox High, Lansford went on to play 15 seasons in the major leagues, participating in three World Series and twice leading the American League in batting and on-base percentage.

Following his playing career, Lansford coached alongside Tony La Russa and was a manager in the minor leagues. But while managing in the minors he realized he might not be instructing the right players.

Lansford's two sons, Josh and Jared, showed signs of their father's talent at an early age and as they neared high school, Lansford felt a change of scenery from their adopted home in Oregon would benefit them both.

"Back in '99 I was managing in Triple-A Edmonton with the Angels," Lansford recalls. "We were living in Oregon and it was a great place to raise a kid but in terms of baseball competition and the opportunity to get better, it's not the ideal situation.

"Being born and raised in the Bay Area, I knew how competitive it was down here and that if (Josh and Jared) really wanted to get better, play more games and get some good instruction, this was an area that would be a good fit."

Lansford began his search for a school that offered the best opportunity for his sons to develop in the classroom as well as on the field. Lansford's decision came down to two schools: Bellarmine College Prep High in San Jose and St. Francis.

"Really, the same things applied to St. Francis and Bellarmine," Lansford said. "They both offered outstanding academic reputations as well as strong baseball programs so the decision was really made by Josh. Bellarmine is an all-boys school and, well, he didn't exactly want to go to an all-boys school."

Now a freshman third baseman at San Jose State, Josh became the only player to start for four seasons at St. Francis. The Lancers won back-to-back West Catholic Athletic League titles in 2002 and 2003 and a sectional championship (California does not have a state champion) in 2001.

Jared, a junior at St. Francis, also plays third base and was batting .455-1-17 through 33 at-bats. He was garnering attention from scouts and major D-I recruiters.

The addition of Lansford and his talented sons supplemented what was already a well-established and successful program. The Lancers were 15-0 and ranked No. 12 in the latest Baseball America/National High School Baseball Coaches Association top 25 poll.

Veteran coach Chris Bradford is in his 31st season at the helm at St. Francis and had a career record of 632-259, including four sectional titles during his tenure. An impressive list of alumni ranges from Athletics president Mike Crowley and Santa Clara head coach Mark O'Brien to Athletics outfielder Eric Byrnes and Cardinals prospect John Gall.

Winning Recipe

Bradford and Lansford blended immediately and after working with the junior varsity at St. Francis, Lansford joined the varsity coaching staff as a full-time assistant last season. His invaluable experience as an accomplished hitter combined with Bradford's baseball savvy and even-keeled approach with the players have St. Francis playing at a high caliber. The players have been receptive to the instruction, although it may come from a different source and in a different vernacular.

"We have a different language when we talk with the hitters," Bradford said. "I think they're hearing the same thing twice, but maybe in a different way and that's a benefit. Carney has a huge work ethic. He is hugely competitive and the hardest worker you'll find. There's no amount of time he won't spend, not only with his sons but all our kids."

The positive impression Bradford made on Lansford before Lansford relocated to the area was fortified as Lansford began to spend more time around the program.

"Chris is as fine a high school coach as you'll find," Lansford said. "He knows the game. I've seen a lot of high school coaches and you don't always know what you're going to get. He knows how to treat the players. He knows when to get on them and he also allows them to have fun. It's worked out tremendously."

Jared Lansford holds down the cleanup spot in the Lancers' loaded lineup, providing protection for three-hole hitter Daniel Descalo. A senior second baseman who has signed with California-Davis, Descalo was leading the team with a .538 average, nine doubles, three home runs and 18 RBIs to go with a .596 on-base percentage. At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, he isn't considered a potential draft choice but he makes life miserable for opposing pitching nonetheless.

Although southern California owns a reputation as one of the nation's most competitive hotbeds of prep baseball, the Bay Area has a rich tradition, as well. In the 11 years since Baseball America and the National High School Coaches Association began conducting a national poll, the final poll has included 39 California schools. Of those, 11 are located in San Jose or further north.

St. Francis competes in the deepest of the Northern California conferences. The WCAL is home to strong programs such as Bellarmine, Archbishop Mitty High and Valley Christian High of San Jose, as well as Serra High of San Mateo (Barry Bonds' alma mater).

"There are a 100 teams in our section," Bradford says. "It's ridiculous the number of high school teams. It's like about five states.

"The sentiment is our league has five strong teams each year, any of which could beat any other team in the state. I think we can compete with anybody in the country."

With a special coaching staff, the Lancers have with their own unique advantage. It's one that requires no assembly, just a willing pair of ears.

AROUND THE NATION

• Tomball (Texas) High lefthander Troy Patton pieced together a six-inning perfect game against Cypress Falls High of Houston in late March. Patton struck out 11 of the 18 batters he faced to improve to 6-0, 0.43 with 61 strikeouts and 11 walks in 32 innings. He had allowed just five hits in his six starts, with three no-hitters.

• In his first varsity start, Rancho Bernardo High (San Diego) junior lefthander John Dutton shut out then-No. 20 La Costa Canyon High of Carlsbad, Calif., 3-0. The victory ran the sixth-ranked Broncos to 6-1 and served as a token of payback, as well. La Costa Canyon (6-2) beat Rancho Bernardo to win the San Diego Section Division I title in 2003.

• Crespi High of Encino, Calif., was suffering through a slump that had spread throughout its lineup. Once undefeated at 9-0, the Celts dropped a 6-0 decision to Mayfair High of Lakewood, Calif., in the first game of a doubleheader in late March and were shutout again, 3-0, by Chaminade College Prep of West Hills, Calif. "We have hit the skids offensively," Crespi head coach Scott Muckey said. "We are not hitting the ball hard and it seems everyone is in a slump. It's a nasty word but it seems to be the case."

Crespi first-team preseason All-American Trevor Plouffe was not immune. During a 30-inning stretch that saw the Celts plate three runs, Plouffe was 2-for-11, dropping his average to .517-6-17 in 29 at-bats. The Southern California signee had recorded 48 strikeouts and walked eight in 32 innings on the mound, as well. He took the loss against Chaminade, dropping to 4-1, 0.88.

• Shortstop Joe Spiers of Canyon Springs High broke a California high school record held by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall by hitting safely in his 44th game in a row. After going hitless in his first three at-bats in a 9-4 win against Riverside's Poly High, Spiers homered in his final at-bat to extend his streak. Spiers, a University of Hawaii signee, was bearing down on the national mark of 52, set in 1998-2000 by Brandon Bounds of Kokomo, Ind.