New Los Gatos baseball coach Don Ardissone is all smiles as he looks forward to a new season, and a renovated baseball complex.

Working hard on baseball diamond at Los Gatos High

By Dick Sparrer

They're working hard this spring on the baseball diamond at Los Gatos High School... and not just the baseball players!

Friends of Wildcat Baseball have stepped to the plate this season to renovate the complex that the Wildcats have called home for nearly half a century. And just as the players will take a new approach to the game under new head coach Don Ardissone and his staff, so will the facility have a new looks thanks to the hard work of these volunteers.

"We've been meeting for months with the new coaching staff to identify the facility and equipment needs for the program," said Philip Shanker of Friends of Wildcat Baseball. "Thanks to a lot of hard work and generous contributors, some of the most pressing needs are being addressed."

The group has already reworked the infield, outfield and pitcher's mound, the backstop and outfield fencing have been replaced and the batting cages are being completely redone. But the Friends indicate that funds are needed to complete the renovation project that would also include works on the dugouts, bleacher area and scoreboard.

"The high school athletic department is supportive and has allocated some money," said Shanker, "but it isn't in a financial position to fund all the repairs."

Friends of Wildcats Baseball are looking for community support to raise $50,000 for the baseball field project.

"This is an excellent opportunity for the Los Gatos community to participate in creating a 'new millennium' for Los Gatos High School baseball," said Ron Denevi of Friends. "This spring, we hope the community will come to coach Ardissone's promising squad battle for the league title on our very own field of dreams."

To that end, the group is looking for donations in the following categories:

Hall of Famer: $3,000 or more-- Donors in this category will be included on a banner displayed at all home games for the next two years and on the Hall of Fame section of the permanent grandstand signboard, and will receive an engraved team photo plaque and inclusion on the list of donors.

MVP: $1,000 or more--Donors in this category will be included on the MVP section of the permanent grandstand signboard, and will receive an engraved team photo plaque and inclusion on the list of donors.

All-Star: $500 or more--Donors in this category will be included on the All-Star section of the permanent grandstand signboard, and will receive an engraved team photo plaque and inclusion on the list of donors.

Team Player, First Team: $250 or more-- Donors in this category will receive an engraved team photo plaque and inclusion on the list of donors.

Team Player, Second Team: less than $250-- Donors in this category will receive inclusion on the list of donors.

For more information on the program, call Denevi at 408.356.2136, Shanker at 408.358.3559 or Joe Sweeney at 408.356.3000.

New Coaches

Ardissone is no stranger to baseball at Los Gatos, but he's usually watched the Wildcats from the visitor's dugout.

The new head coach was a successful varsity head coach at both Bellarmine and Cupertino before taking over the Los Gatos program this past summer.

The veteran coach will head up the staff that also includes Smiley Verduzco, a former Bellarmine and Cupertino assistant; Al Pezino, a former Australian Baseball Federation national coaching director; and former Wildcats Brad Sanfilippo, Brian Chiala and John Musser.

Slow Start

The Cats are off to a slow start in the 2000 season with just one win and a tie in the first seven games of the year.

Los Gatos opened play last week in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, and the Cats lost a tough 5-3 decision to Milpitas.

Frank Alioto singled and doubled to drive in two runs, and Ben Shanker and Alex Burda each doubled, but the Cats came up a couple of runs short against the Trojans.

Milpitas jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Alioto's two-run double sparked a three-run rally in the fourth that gave Gatos the lead. The Trojans fought back with three in the home half of the sixth, though, and held on in the seventh for the win.

Markus Willard blasted a solo homer and also singled, but the Wildcats dropped a 12-3 nod to St. Francis in a nonleague game to open play last week.

Steve Sweeney singled and doubled for the Cats and Burda had two hits. Joey Warren also doubled for Los Gatos.

The Wildcats had lost their first two games of the Wilcox Dads and Grads tournament, falling 8-0 to Valley Christian and 6-4 to Live Oak.

Shanker singled and doubled to account for just two of the five hits Gatos could muster in the loss to the Warriors.

Willard and Sweeney slapped two hits apiece and Matt Torres tripled, but the Cats lost 6-4 to the Acorns.

The lone win for Los Gatos this season came in the tournament when the Cats turned back Mitty 7-4. Steve Chase was the winning pitcher and Torres came on to get the save. The Gatos hurlers held the Monarchs to just four hits.

Burda doubled and singled twice to lead a 14-hit attack for the Wildcats. Torres singled and doubled to knock in two runs, and Chris Denevi singled and doubled. Willard added two hits and Warren doubled.

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