Readers Come to the Defense of North Torrance Baseball Coach

This letter is in response to a letter published in the South Bay sports section on May 20 by Michelle Schelske. Her letter was a cheap shot at a North Torrance High baseball Coach Dan Campbell, who, in my opinion, is one of the South Bay’s best upcoming coaches.

I am a Southern Section umpire with 12 years of experience. I am also a high school soccer coach with seven years of experience.

North always had an exceptional baseball coaching staff with Jim O’Brien and Mike Neily. Upon their departures, the program turned dismal under their successors. I saw a program go from enthusiastic and well-coached to utterly pitiful.

Last season North hired Campbell. When I stepped on the field for the first time to umpire a game at the school, I was in awe of how prepared the North program appeared to be. There was hustle, encouragement, determination and leadership. The players respected Campbell and he respected them.

I have umpired eight North varsity games over the past two seasons. Never once was I disappointed in Campbell’s performance as a coach or gentleman. He has taken a derailed program and put it back on track. Furthermore, it is once again a pleasure to umpire a North game knowing the coaching staff and players are giving 110%.

Schelske states in her letter: “There has been no involvement on behalf of Campbell or the North athletic department with the local youth program in the area.” I have umpired North’s American Legion games during the summer, which goes well into July, and Campbell is the coach of that team. Schelske also might not know that the Southern Section puts restrictions on how much involvement a coach can have during his non-seasonal period, including summer involvement.

Schelske also states: “We need the North athletic department to assist in developing clinics, summer programs, pitching classes and drill instruction so that when young men enter high school they are skilled players.” Again, there are Southern Section rules that restrict a coach’s contact with youths who are not yet in high school.

Schelske also states: “. . . baseball is their only chance to earn a college scholarship. If Campbell cannot produce a .500 season, scouts will not come to North games.” I have umpired more than 300 high school games, and I assure you, scouts will come to watch teams with less than .500 records.

I have no personal ties to Campbell. The only times we have spoken were during home-plate rituals and lineup changes at games. If Schelske is implying that the North program can do better without Campbell, I’m sure the school’s administration would have replaced him by now.

MICHAEL COLLINS

El Segundo