Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Chambers sees CCSN as a future ‘powerhouse’

Not even Thursday's stunning downpour of rain that flooded much of Las Vegas could dampen the enthusiasm of new Community College of Southern Nevada head baseball coach Tim Chambers.

"I'm looking to win next year," the 34-year-old former Bishop Gorman High School coach said. "Some people may think that is not feasible. But I look at the roster that we have (and) ... within three years I think we can be a powerhouse. I hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew. But I'm certainly not looking to lose."

Chambers, the Nevada amateur coach of the year in 1994, replaces former Green Valley High coach Rodger Fairless, who was to have molded CCSN's first baseball team but instead resigned for health reasons in March.

Enter Chambers, who coached three state champion American Legion teams as well as directing Bishop Gorman to six consecutive Sunset Division titles from 1992-97.

Chambers will make his junior college managing debut on Feb. 1, 2000, against Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College on CCSN's new Henderson campus, which is currently constructing a new state-of-the-art facility for the Coyotes.

Joining Chambers on his staff will be former UNLV coach M.J. Marinai, Chaparral head coach Richard Ebarb and Bishop Gorman pitching coach Glen Evans.

"Tim's a person I think will be a true leader for us," CCSN athletic director Mike Meyer said. "We feel we have very, very good (high school) players in Nevada. We would like to build a program from within. But I am allowing five out-of-state players to come in the first year to help out."

Chambers already has letters of intent from 21 players with local prep ties. Three of them --- Bishop Gorman outfielder Nick Didier, Green Valley outfielder/pitcher Jonathan Slack and second baseman John DiBetta of state champ Durango --- were also on hand for the press conference.

"These are three kids I choose to represent this program," Chambers said. "Not only are they all good players but they're also good students, too."

"I'm excited," Slack said. "Getting drafted (by the Blue Jays) was great, but right now I'd rather go to college and play baseball close to home."

"In my opinion, we're signing 16 of the top 21 players in the city," Chambers said. "I think there is a good base of talent here that we need to convince should stay home."

Here's a list of the local players who have signed letters of intent or have verbally committed to CCSN:

Christopher Bannister, P, Durango; Wayne Bradley, P, Moapa; Ron Burkey, 1B, Chaparral; Jason Chattam, OF, Las Vegas; Shane Clatterbuck, P, Chaparral; John DiBetta, 2B, Durango; Nicholas Didier, OF, Bishop Gorman; Aaron Eggleston, OF, Valley; Sean Havens, OF, Durango; Richard Kilby, P, Durango; Daniel Krynzel, C, Green Valley (transfer from Taft JC); Ryan Lee, 1B/P, Bishop Gorman (Dixie JC); Michael Luczynski, OF/P, Cimarron; Matt McCurdy, C/3B, Durango; Ruben Moreno, 3B/2B, Bishop Gorman; Ryan Myers, P, Green Valley; Ben Quinto, SS, Bishop Gorman; Kyle Reed, SS, Green Valley; Jonathan Slack, OF/P, Green Valley; Dwayne Sparks, C/3B, Cimarron; Matthew Stratton, OF, Green Valley; Jason Vita, P, Silverado; Sean West, C, Green Valley (Cerra Cuesto JC).

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