Former SoCal coach tabbed

Rick Devereux

Charlie Phillips, who coached six seasons at what was then called

Southern California College, has been hired as the pitching coach for

the Fullerton Flyers professional baseball team.

“I bring experience,” Phillips said. “I’m good at teaching

mechanics and working on the mental aspect of the game, how to set

hitters up. Teaching comes naturally to me.”

Phillips teaches social studies at a continuation school in Santa

Ana. He has coached Corona del Mar Pony as well as Newport Harbor

Baseball Association teams.

Phillips was the head coach of SCC -- now known as Vanguard

University -- from 1989 to 1995 where the team garnered national

attention for its recruitment of Ila Borders, the first female

pitcher to post a complete-game college baseball win.

Phillips began his playing career in Little League, guiding the

first Orange County Little League team to the world series. He went

on to earn All-CIF recognition as a pitcher at La Quinta High in

Garden Grove.

He parleyed his full scholarship to USC into a ninth-round draft

choice for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent two years in the

Dodgers’ organization before spending three years with the Angels. He

progressed to the AAA team and even spent 12 weeks in the major

league camp before the season rubbing elbows with Hall of Famers

Nolan Ryan and Rod Carew.

“I don’t think my resume is going to motivate anyone,” Phillips

said. “Wearing the uniform and getting paid to play baseball is

enough motivation. If these guys can’t get motivated to play

professionally, then they shouldn’t be here.”

The Flyers play in the California Division of the Golden Baseball

League, an eight-team independent minor league. The Flyers play at

Goodwin Field on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. The San Diego

Surf Dawgs made headlines recently when they signed former major

league outfielder Rickey Henderson.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to get back into professional

baseball,” Phillips said. “This is nice because it’s in Fullerton, so

it’s local and my friends and family can come.”