L.A. MISSION COLLEGE EAGLES
BEGIN BASEBALL SEASON ON JAN. 31

The Los Angeles Mission College men’s baseball team returns to action after a five-year hiatus when it begins non-conference play on January 31 in the Rio Hondo Tournament.

The game against Rio Hondo College marks the start of a 13-game, non-conference schedule before the Eagles’ first conference game on February 20 against Bakersfield College. The 24-game conference season follows, as well as games in the Ventura Tournament (April 15-17).

The first home game for Mission College takes place on February 1, when the Eagles host Oxnard College in a 2 p.m. contest at El Cariso Park in Sylmar.

Budget cuts forced Mission College to end athletics in 1997, but the program was revived this year. Men’s and women’s soccer marked the return of the athletics program last fall, with men’s baseball and women’s softball on the schedule this spring.

Despite a rich baseball history at Mission College, Coach Dave Mallas, in effect, had to build a program from scratch. But Mallas is optimistic about the coming season.

"I think people will be surprised," he said. "We’ve managed to recruit some of the top players around."

Mallas, former assistant baseball coach at Los Angeles Harbor College, said he expects the team’s success to revolve around three key players: catcher Jose Carillo, pitcher and first baseman Adam Geery, and Miguel Gonzales, third base and pitcher. The three freshmen were All-City players last year as high school seniors.

Carillo, a Van Nuys resident, played last year at Birmingham High School, where he batted .430, hit seven home runs and knocked in 33 runs. He made the All City team three times and was named West Valley MVP last year.

Geery of Mission Hills had an outstanding career at Kennedy High School, both as a pitcher and first baseman. From the mound, Geery struck out 108 batters and had an earned run average of just 1.72. He was named first-team All City three years and once made the All State team. At the plate, Geery batted .486 as a junior and .420 as a senior.

Gonzalez, a Pacoima resident, played last year at San Fernando High School, primarily as a pitcher but also at third base. As a pitcher, his ERA was 1.09. As a hitter, he batted .375.

Mallas is joined on the bench by assistant coaches Brian Baisch, Emmett Markulis, and Kevin Serr.

Mission College competes in the Western State Conference. The Eagles will play all of their home games at El Cariso Park, 13100 Hubbard St., Sylmar.

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