Prep column: Point of no return

Barry Faulkner

It was hardly Babe Ruth calling his shot, but it made a Friday

afternoon freeway foray into the Inland Empire a drive I won’t soon

forget.

Costa Mesa High senior Carlos Franco chose an unusual time to say

hello during the CIF Southern Section Division IV baseball playoff game

at Bonita High, with his Mustangs trailing, 4-3, just two outs from

elimination.

It was the seventh inning and I was watching from behind the backstop

when Franco strode to the plate after Nick Cabico drew a one-out walk.

Glancing up from my scorecard, I found Franco’s gaze fixed on me and

he pointed directly at me with his right index finger, before quickly

directing his attention back to digging into the batter’s box. I nodded

and smiled, the same smile Franco had induced many times the last three

years, as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed his uniquely emotional approach to

competition as well as our periodic, though brief, interactions.

Franco, who had already stroked RBI singles in the first and third

innings, promptly smacked a hit-and-run single through the vacated

shortstop hole to put runners at the corners, as the Mustangs went on to

tie the game and force extra innings.

After touching fists with the first base coach, Franco, once again,

looked and pointed my direction. This time, I pointed back, to

acknowledge his clutch accomplishment.

The eighth Costa Mesa error of the game made Franco the hard-luck

losing pitcher and I empathized as he cradled his head in his hands, when

it became clear the winning run would score on the fateful play. His

season and prep career, like those of his fellow seniors, were finished

and he appeared, at once, besieged by disbelief, sadness and finality.

After interviewing both coaches about the game, I approached the

inconsolable Franco, shook his hand and told him he had made it fun to

watch.

I can only hope I got my point across.

It’s this time of year, when high school seniors complete their

athletic careers and prepare to disperse into the world, that parents are

also struck by the realization of becoming booster alumni.

John and Linda Alshuler, who watched their youngest son, Charlie, wrap

up his last senior campaign Saturday when Corona del Mar lost to Santa

Ynez in the CIF Division IV boys volleyball title match, appeared both

saddened and relieved that their time in the CdM stands would now be

substantially cut back.

Charlie, a three-sport standout who followed older siblings Rob,

Nettie and Dennis Alshuler through the CdM athletic program, was, in the

words of CdM volleyball announcer Doug Orr, “the last of the A-Team.”

Charlie, chosen to represent the South in the Orange County All-Star

Football Game July 13 at Orange Coast College, will give his parents

official cheering chores once more, before heading off to the University

of Michigan, where he plans to play for the club volleyball team.

John and Linda, however, will continue to represent the A-Team by

supporting their nephews, who still compete in CdM uniforms.

I attended the Orange County premiere Sunday of “It Happens Across

America,” a feature-length documentary chronicling the 1998 El Toro High

football season.

The film, made by USC student Meng Johnson, whose younger brother

Larry was a senior running back for the Chargers in ‘98, is honest,

comprehensive, poignant and thoroughly entertaining.

El Toro, which was in the Sea View League that season, finished 2-8.

Included are brief clips of game action against Newport Harbor and Corona

del Mar.

Among the footage featuring locals is an interception by Newport

Harbor’s Billy Clayton, a long pass completion from Steve Gorman to

Sailor teammate Justin Jacobs, a quarterback sack by CdM defensive end

Alex Bottom and a touchdown run by then-CdM quarterback Dennis Alshuler.

For information about the film, check www.MengDynasty.com.

A vocal contingent of Corona del Mar High fans created no shortage of

atmosphere for the CdM-Santa Ynez CIF volleyball title match Saturday,

despite the fact that it took place in the smaller of two Cypress College

gyms.

The 1,200-seat venue, much smaller than the 3,000-seat gym the Sea

Kings had played their last four section title matches in, did, however,

limit spectators to one side of the court.

The public address system was also virtually useless. Colleague Tony

Altobelli accurately compared it to a system used at a fast-food drive

thru.

The recognition banquet for players in the Orange County All-Star

Football Game was held last week at the Brea Community Center and the

three-player Back Bay contingent added a touch of class to their

fashion-challenged teammates.

Newport Harbor seniors Alan Saenz and Chris Manderino, as well as CdM

senior Charlie Alshuler, each wore ties. Only one other Rebel player was

similarly attired.

Former Saddleback College coach Bill Cunerty, who founded the West

Coast Passing School that now employs CdM offensive coordinator Lyle

Lansdell, was the featured speaker at the All-Star football banquet and

he delivered a moving account of his involvement in the game.

Cunerty, representing Capistrano Valley High, coached the South to a

23-20 victory in the 1979 game. He said players and coaches from that

South squad bonded so well, they still hold an annual reunion the

afternoon of each successive game.