MIRA COSTA — Sometimes a win is more than just a win.
Santa Monica High School’s baseball team beat Mira Costa, 7-2, on the road in a non-league game on Wednesday, running its record to 2-4 on the season.
The victory came against a team whose coaching staff includes former Samohi Head Coach Rob Duron. Now an assistant coach at Mira Costa after resigning from Samohi at the end of last season, Duron was a polarizing figure in his time with the Vikings.
Samohi’s Alonzo Gonzalez, the team’s top pitcher, threw five innings giving up a pair of earned runs to collect the win. Andrew Montanari pitched the final two innings in relief without allowing a run.
Duron left Samohi amidst a chorus of complaints from parents and players, making Wednesday’s victory that much sweeter for the team.
New Samohi Head Coach Sheldon Phillip-Guide, who once played under Duron at Samohi, said that the win wasn’t enhanced by the fact that it came against his former coach. He did admit, though, that it was huge for some of the players who thought that they weren’t given a fair chance last season, including battery mates Gonzalez and Julian Solomita.
“I’m happy for them, but for me, it’s just another win,” Phillip-Guide said during the ride back from Mira Costa. “I’m happy that it shows that [Athletic Director] Norm Lacy did the right thing by hiring me.”
daniela@www.smdp.com
