The Vista Murrieta Broncos baseball team had to adjust quickly to the changes made at the top, which took place just a few weeks before the start of the regular season. The Southwestern League coaching carousel, which seems to happen around the area every three to four years, with the replacing of a head coach, hit quite a few local teams this school year. None had to adapt as quickly as the Broncos had to.
George Jones, who took over for Gary Matlock in 2018, an interim coach at the time replacing Matt Mosiello (now at Elsinore), was the head coach for the last three years at Vista Murrieta. Jones, who recently resigned, got the Broncos through the 2020 COVID year, and two seasons later would lead them to last year’s Southwestern League title with a 13-2 record, 17-12 overall. They also advanced to the postseason but fell in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs to Yucaipa.
While the details are non-existent to the media as to why Jones resigned just before the season, an assistant coach in the program, Michael Tousignant, was handed the keys. Tousignant will be given the “interim” title according to Carl Galloway, Vista Murrieta’s Athletic Director.
So far, the Broncos, who had to fight through the last week of wet weather like every other local team, are off to a good start. They are 3-1, and battling their way through the Loara tournament, a top preseason tournament for teams looking to play outside their local area, and usually against stronger opponents. While they will have to make up some of the canceled games from the past week, Vista Murrieta will have one more preseason game this week before they open league play against Murrieta Mesa Friday, March 3.
Last week, before the rain hit, the Broncos took one from Fountain Valley in tournament action, beating the Barons 7-6 behind a solid offensive performance by first baseman Joseph Castillo. The senior slugger went 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored, and an RBI double. Niko Urquidi got the win on the bump for Vista Murrieta with his two-shutout innings, striking out 3 batters and holding Fountain Valley at bay. The Barons put six runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, which got them within one run before Urquidi was able to come in and close the door.
Sophomores Brady Luyben and Vaughn Neckar contributed at the plate as well for the Broncos. Luyben was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and Neckar went 1 for 3, driving in two runs early in the game.
This past week, Vista Murrieta was supposed to take on Rancho Cucamonga, but the wet weather got in the way for not just the Broncos, but numerous teams around the valley. They did however welcome the Rams to start Southwestern League play Friday, March 3, and squeaked out a 2-0 win.
Currently, in the Southwestern League, Chaparral is 4-0, and 1-0 in league after an 11-0 victory over Murrieta Valley (3-3, 0-1); Great Oak is 3-0 overall and 1-0 league after coming back in late innings to beat Temecula Valley (3-1-1, 0-1) in their opener, 11-4; and Murrieta Mesa is 1-2 and 0-1 after falling to Vista Murrieta.
Looks like it could be a very competitive year in what once was one of the nation’s toughest leagues (circa 2014–2017).
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
