Lightning ready to play ball

Sage Hill School is itching to play someone other than Sage Hill.

While other local programs have competed in at least five tournament games, the Lightning have played only twice.

They went 10 days without a game when they opened the season with a 5-0 loss at Windward of Los Angeles on March 2.

Sage Hill improved to 1-1 after a 15-2 win over Whitney Tuesday.

“We’re tired of intrasquad scrimmages,” said Sage Hill first-year coach Mark Talmo. “One thing I know is that we can play defense.

“As for our bats, we haven’t been tested.”

Once the Lightning face other pitchers than their own, Talmo will learn if his guys can hit. He said they have 20 games left to prove themselves.

He thinks they’ll improve on last year’s .253 team batting average.

Big gaps in between games can take a player out of a groove, or prevent one from starting.

Once the season gets in full swing, Talmo’s looking for six returning starters to be swinging lights out.

Those players are Tom Multari (utility), Doug McAfee (first base), Chris Griffin (designated hitter), Danny Hurst (pitcher), J.J. Beruldsen (right field) and Mason Sayer (second base).

Hurst had an unconventional no-hitter against Whitney with eight strikeouts and 12 walks.

Multari, a junior, led the team last year with a .375 batting average in 32 at-bats, earning him second-team All-Academy League honors. McAfee, a senior, made honorable mention after driving in 11 runs.

Talmo said to watch for freshmen Sean Vogel and Alex Jimenez to receive a lot of playing time.

When Vogel is not starting on the mound behind the team’s ace in Hurst, he’ll play center field. Vogel went three for four in Sage Hill’s win over Whitney.

Jimenez will relieve, and so will junior Travis Duncan, who Talmo said sat out last year after transferring from Corona del Mar.

The new faces and 10 returning players give the Lightning a solid chance of improving on last year’s records (6-15, 5-10 in league). Talmo already likes the team’s loose approach because he’s laid back.

“I’m more of a player’s coach, so we all get along great,” said Talmo, who stepped in after Bert Emerson left after four years as coach. “This is new to me, being the head man of a high school program, but I’m enjoying it so far. How can you not coaching in Newport [Coast] and on such a beautiful field.”

Talmo has coached in high school before while living in Maui, where he was an infielders coach at Seabury Hall in 2003. He left Hawaii and coached semi-pro ball in Southern California.

But once he saw Sage Hill’s field, he decided to inquire about coaching. He got hired in January, leaving him little time to put together some early tournament games.

But the Lightning will get their shot at a tournament. They’re playing host to one April 4-7. Maybe by then Talmo will see his team in full stride.

“I think we can hit the long ball and hit the gaps. We have some hitters that will step up and hit this year,” Talmo said. “They’re just excited to play some real games.”

THE LIGHTNING

3 Tom Multari Jr.

4 Tony Parra Jr.

5 Brian Hurst Fr.

6 Doug McAfee Sr.

7 Alex Jimenez Fr.

8 Joey Puishys Jr.

9 Craig Jackson So.

10 Mason Sayer Jr.

11 J.J. Beruldsen Jr.

12 J.J. Schumacher Sr.

13 Danny Hurst Sr.

14 Patrick Vorwerck Fr.

15 Sean Vogel Fr.

21 Chris Griffin So.

23 Dusty Orrantia Fr.

Coach: Mark Talmo (first year)