SAMOHI — The Vikings baseball team has recruited an arresting group to help with its fundraising efforts.
Samohi’s varsity squad will take on the Santa Monica Police Department in a charity scrimmage game on Friday, Feb. 19 at home. While the game is free to attend, the proceeds from food and beverage sales will go to help the team improve its field and buy new equipment. This is the second fundraising event the team has sponsored since new Head Coach Sheldon Phillip-Guide took over the program last year. The team held a poker tournament late last year attended by a number of professional ball players and celebrities.
It was during the poker tournament that SMPD Officer Francisco Franco approached Phillip-Guide about organizing the game.
“The point is to have fun,” Phillip-Guide said. “Nothing too serious.”
He said that increased parent and civic participation has enabled him to increase the team’s fundraising efforts from last season. He’s happy with the amount collected to date, but would “love to get more.”
“We’ve done pretty well,” he said.
Aside from the game against the police, the Vikings have been taking part in American Legion games this winter. Phillip-Guide said the team has played well, earning a 3-1 record with two games left. Both games will take place at Samohi’s baseball field both this Saturday and next. First the Vikings will take on Palisades — weather permitting — and Maywood in the finale.
He’s satisfied with the results thus far, but said that consistency is what he’d like to see more of.
“Some days our pitching looks good,” he said, “some days it needs more work.”
Phillip-Guide singled out senior pitcher Ethan Corn as a player who has developed well during off-season play. He wouldn’t confirm that Corn will be in the starting rotation, but added that he will get the chance to compete for one of the spots.
The Vikings open the season at Moorpark on March 5.
