Bonita's and now UCLA's Jeff Gelalich
On June 21 at Rosenblatt Stadium, Jeff Gelalich (Bonita 2009) homered to help UCLA defeat TCU, 6-3, keeping the Bruins undefeated in the College World Series. His teammate Cody Regis (Glendora High 2009) also hit a two-run shot to pace the Bruins. UCLA squares off again against the Horned Frogs tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. ESPN2HD will broadcast the game.
It was only last season that Gelalich played for Bonita Coach John Knott, who was named Coach of the Year by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on June 24. This year Knott led Bonita to the school’s first CIF final in 36 years. Named to the Bulletin’s All-Valley 2010 team from Bonita was junior second baseman Robert Mier, who hit .435 to go along with seven home runs, 31 RBIs and 37 runs scored from his lead-off spot
Meanwhile, Bonita placed both pitcher Brian Tuttle and centerfielder Matt Gelalich, Jeff’s brother on the Second Team. Gelalich flirted with hitting .500 all season before finishing up at .494 with 43 runs scored and 20 RBIs, three homers, seven doubles and five triples. Bonita first baseman Evan Highley and Bonita pitcher Josh Yepez, both seniors, were named to the Third All-Valley Team.
A day earlier, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune named its 2010 All-Area Team, with both Mier and Gelalich making the First Team. The slick-fielding first baseman Highley was named to the second team. The Tribune’s selection for Coach of the Year was Glendora High School’s Dan Henley, who makes his home in La Verne.
On June 23, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin named its 2010 All-Valley Softball Team, which included Bonita’s Chloe Wurst, the Miramonte League MVP who struck out 277 batters in 154 innings to help lead the Bearcats to a Miramonte League championship. Besides posting a 19-4 record, she hit .357.
More Bonita talent was named to the Second Team, with both second baseman Jacki Campa and first baseman Karisa Crawford nailing downs spots.
Reed started his MLB career with the Mariners.
In the professional ranks, Jeremy Reed (Bonita 1999) is an outfielder with the Toronto Blue Jays, batting .143 in limited duty. Reed, who has played for the Mariners, Mets and Blue Jays, has a lifetime .253 batting average. This season, Jeremy’s brother Mark (Bonita 2004) has split time with Double A Tennessee and Single A Daytona, batting .230 collectively.
Robert Mier’s cousin is Jio Mier (Bonita 2009), who was the No. 1 selection of the Major League Baseball Houston Astros last season. Over his last 10 games, Mier is batting .235 for the Lexington Legends, the Astros A team affiliate in the South Atlantic League.
Another Bonita product and former La Verne Little League All-Star, Scott Nestor, is pitching for San Jose Giants, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple A affiliate. A relief pitcher, Nestor is 2-1 this season with two saves, 33 strikeouts and a 3.82 ERA. Over his last 10 games, he has held batters to a .172 batting average while recording a sparkling 2.12 ERA.