Master’s Stays Relatively Close to Find Coach

Keeping it in the family, The Master’s College has hired Chris Harrison as its interim baseball coach.

Harrison, 30, will replace his older brother Pat, who became an assistant at the University of Oklahoma last week after three seasons as the Mustangs’ coach.

Chris Harrison, who was an assistant at Master’s for the past two seasons, will coach the Mustangs next season and will be evaluated for a long-term position after the campaign.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” he said. “We are looking forward to continuing to build a strong program that will be in contention for a district championship.”

Under Pat Harrison, Master’s compiled a 65-79-1 record and qualified for the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics District 3 playoffs in 1988 and ’90.

The Mustangs were 26-22 this year. Their three all-district selections were underclassmen.

Third baseman Andy Martin (.376 batting average during the regular season, 33 runs batted in) and center fielder Sheldon Sparks (.333) were first-team picks and second baseman Craig Johnson was a second-team selection. Martin will be a sophomore, Sparks a junior and Johnson a senior next season.

“We should have an improved team next year, based on what we have coming back,” Harrison said. “But we are questionable right now at shortstop.”

Incoming freshmen Hamilton Morales, from Tulsa, Okla., and Steve Smith, from San Diego, are expected to vie at shortstop.