Coach looks to broaden team’s horizons

Tuesday, March 14, 2006 | 7:14 a.m.

Keio University of Japan visits Henderson at 6 p.m. today for a game that will give the Community College of Southern Nevada some international experience at Morse Stadium.

After a suggestion from former UCLA coach Gary Adams, Coyotes coach Tim Chambers invited a touring team from Taiwan to campus at the start of his CCSN career.

That squad from the Far East played UCLA, Southern California and Cal State Fullerton, then extended the trip to play the Coyotes. CCSN played a Chinese national team last season.

Chambers, in his seventh season at CCSN, said being exposed to a more exotic playing style is invaluable to his players.

"They play so different," Chambers said. "Their whole game is different. To see the way their pitchers throw and their crazy mechanics, it's fun. And they play real hard. Real hard."

Chambers said the Japan coaches will not tolerate even the slightest error.

"They don't stand for mistakes," he said. "If someone makes a mental mistake, kicks a ground ball or makes a bad throw, they'll pull him right out of the game. It's crazy. They get so mad. Our kids will see that they play with great passion."

Milestone victory

Chambers savored a landmark victory Saturday at Morse, when the Coyotes (19-9, 11-5 in the Scenic West Athletic Conference) beat Eastern Utah for his 300th win at the school.

He's 300-89-1, averaging more than 40 wins a season. He guided the Coyotes to the NJCAA national championship in 2003.

Former Seminole State College coach Lloyd "Zero" Simmons, at 1,599-294, leads a group of six inactive and seven active NJCAA Division-I baseball coaches who have won at least 1,000 games.

At his current pace, Chambers will join that group sometime during the 2020 season.

Turnaround campaign

Sophomore shortstop Casey Coon (Silverado High) has answered a forgettable year with a fantastic start to 2006.

He leads the team in batting average (.333), hits (29), total bases (35) and RBIs (16), and he's second in slugging percentage (.414) and stolen bases (14).

Last season, Coon injured his shoulder. When he returned, he missed a month after taking a ground ball to the nose. Then appendicitis sidelined him for the rest of the season. Worse, he played one game too many to be eligible for a redshirt.

Chambers said Oregon State, Nebraska, Pepperdine, Louisiana-Lafayette and BYU have inquired about signing Coon.

"He'll be able to go wherever he wants to go, if he keeps those hits up," Chambers said.

Infield flies

The number of bases the Coyotes have stolen this season, nearly triple every other SWAC squad.

.494

Jorse Esquivel's team-leading on-base percentage, helped by a .295 batting average and a keen eye (league-leading 22 walks against five strikeouts) at the plate.