Master’s Aims for Full Slate This Time

NEWHALL â€”  The Master’s College baseball team makes no secret of its primary mission: to glorify God.

So, when eight players were caught viewing pornographic materials on the Internet last April, pulling the plug on the season was not considered a drastic measure. Swiftly, the school canceled its last nine games, finishing with a 14-20-2 record.

As an assistant already chosen to become head coach this season, former San Diego Padre minor leaguer Monte Brooks, 31, was left in a daze.

“It was such a sudden thing, it happened so fast,� Brooks said. “There is a standard that each Master’s athlete says he will represent. They didn’t uphold the standard.�

None of the eight players returned this season, and they are replaced by eight freshmen, including several who will be in the lineup today when the Mustangs (1-1 or 0-2) visit Cal State Northridge.

Only Danny Cato, a junior from Saugus High, and right fielder Jim Young return to the starting lineup, and only right-hander Lance Wallace returns to the pitching staff.

The scrappy Cato moves from second base to shortstop, where he provides leadership and sound defense. He batted .321 with 22 runs batted in and 14 stolen bases last season.

Young, who can also play catcher, hit a team-high six home runs, drove in 19 runs and batted .253.

Wallace was 3-4 with a 5.44 earned-run average on a team with a 6.00 ERA. Improving the pitching staff was a priority for Brooks.

“It’s a whole new staff except for Wallace, and some of the position players will get some innings on the mound,� Brooks said.

Cato and Heath McElwee, a senior transfer from Northridge who will play first base and bat cleanup, also will pitch.