Coach Revitalizes Hollywood High Baseball

Cary Cauley is serious about pitching.

The 31-year-old played the position during his college days at Cal State Fullerton, so when he took over as head coach of the Hollywood High baseball team in 2006, you could guess where the team's strengths would lie.

Cauley's first move was to build a temporary pitcher's mound out of wood and turf so his players could get on a throwing program in the offseason. A year later he upgraded, finding a small piece of real estate near the school's track to build a proper mound.

It was a serious move for a program that had been anything but before Cauley arrived. Hollywood was lifeless in the pre-Cauley era, winning five games in five years, according to the coach.

Things have certainly changed. The Sheiks have won at least 14 games in each of the past five seasons, and this year's team improved to 6-2 Friday after winning its second straight game over Santee.

"We're not a powerhouse by any means, but we are successful," Cauley said this week. "I think we do the right things to have the kids prepared."

Hollywood has its deepest team in recent memory. Junior Jose Chavez leads the way, a 6-foot-2 catcher/pitcher who has the talent to play at the next level. Senior right-hander Isidro Torres carried the pitching staff while Chavez was forced to sit out the first five games due to academic issues. First baseman Alan Ruiz has been the team's top run producer as a freshman, while junior third baseman George Onate has proven himself to be a dangerous weapon out of the bullpen.

"We have a group of kids that communicate a lot and help out one another," said Chavez, who made his season debut in on Wednesday. "We have a great pitching staff and some hitters. I think we can produce enough to win a league championship."

Preparation is the key fundamental aspect of the new Hollywood baseball experience. Cauley and the assistant coach, Billy Hall, who was a pitcher in the Houston Astros organization, run a year-round program that includes throwing, hitting and plenty of conditioning.

"Their mechanics are really sharp by the time they get to the season just because the offseason is when you do all that," Cauley said. "When you get in the season it's about just tweaking things, making minor adjustments."

The Sheiks are 4-0 in the Southern League, and they have a great chance to win their first division title under Cauley. The coach calls this season a "perfect storm" with the Sheiks possessing a talented roster and several of the team's traditional rivals either in a new league or in a transition phase.

"I think that this year we should definitely win a title," Cauley said. "Our goal is to go to Dodger Stadium because there's what the championship is. That's where I think we'll be with the talent we have and the mental makeup of the kids this year."

Despite his confidence and excitement about this year's team, Cauley said that winning titles takes a backseat to individual development in the program.

"The most important thing for us is that we want kids to play college ball," he said. "So if our record's not the greatest, but we get a couple kids to play (junior college) ball or higher, that's very important because that means we're doing the right things."

Cauley has done the right things so far. Only time will tell if it leads to a trip to Chavez Ravine.

Notes: Onate was named Player of the Week for his seven-strikeout performance in relief on Wednesday against Santee. Torres won the honor the previous three weeks. ... Torres and Ruiz lead the team with nine RBIs each. ... Chavez made his season debut on the mound Friday, going the distance in a 8-0 shutout win. He allowed just one hit, walking three and hitting two batters. ... The Sheiks meet 8-1 Maywood in a key home-and-home set next week. The first game is Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Hollywood, followed by a Friday rematch at Maywood at 2:30 p.m.