Alta Loma Baseball: Braves News

The Braves saw their post season hopes ended in a tough 3-2 loss to Etiwanda on Friday, May 13.  In their post game team meeting, the team suffered an arguably even tougher loss.  After 8 years at the helm of the Alta Loma varsity staff, Coach Ted Persell announced to an emotional team his plans to resign.

Players and parents expressed shock.  Laura Keenan, whose sons AJ (currently playing college ball at Chaffey College) and Chad (finishing his junior year at Alta Loma) have been key players for the Braves, expressed her surprise and concern, "We've never had another coach.  This is scary."  

The baseball field at Alta Loma High School was named in honor of former player Jason Coleman, who was tragically lost in a traffic accident, and each year a scholarship in his name is awarded to a graduating senior.  A representative of the Coleman family expressed their thoughts about Coach Persell as, "My family and I are extremely grateful and appreciative for all of your hard work and commitment to the Alta Loma baseball program. We cannot begin to thank you for your dedication in honoring my brother’s memory and integrating his values as core principle of the baseball program. We feel very fortunate that you embraced Jason’s memory and expanded the importance of what his award represents. You are a remarkable person who has unquestionably left an indelible impression on countless young men. Words cannot describe how fortunate we feel to know you and be a part of what you created at Alta Loma. We wish you much success on your new journey!"

Other parents also expressed their gratitude for Persell's contributions, noting how much he had taught their sons about baseball and what an impact he had had on their sons' high school years.  The new coach at Alta Loma High School will have some very large cleats to fill.

If preseason play was any indi­cation, there won’t be any easy baseball games in the Baseline League this season.

Alta Loma and Los Osos met in the final of the Dick’s Sporting Goods tournament Saturday, Eti­wanda reached the Chino tourna­ment final, Upland is the three-time defending league champion, and Rancho Cucamonga’s lone loss in the Dick’s Sporting Goods tourna­ment came to the top-ranked team in Division 3, Bonita. Then, of course, there’s the league’s new member, defending CIF-SS Division 2 champion Glendora.

Entering league play Wednesday, the league had a collective total of six losses. As impressive as that record is, the Baseline League is a couple of runs away from having an even better winning percentage.

Etiwanda lost the Chino tourna­ment final by one run to Riverside Poly, and Rancho Cucamonga’s loss to Bonita, last season’s CIF-SS Divi­sion 3 runner-up, was by a single run in the Dick’s Sporting Goods tournament. Los Osos’ lone loss came to league foe Alta Loma 7-3 in the Dick’s Sporting Goods tourna­ment final.

[courtesy Daily Bulletin]

It is with much enthusiasm that I welcome each of you to the 2010-11 Alta Loma High School Braves baseball season.  This year's Braves squad promises to provide its fans with an exciting season.  Our athletes have been working hard all year to prepare for Baseline Leauge competition.  We know that Coach Persell and his staff's emphasis on hard work and discipline will translate into success on the diamond.

On behalf of the Alta Loma High School Administration, Staff and Students, I invite you to enjoy this season with us.  In partnership with school staff, support of the parents and community is paramount to the success of any athletics program.  To that end, please join us in supporting Braves Baseball.  We will see you at the ball games.

 Go Braves!