They’ll always be champs

By Rob Miech

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Every day, College of Southern Nevada baseball coach Tim Chambers thinks of his 2003 NJCAA World Series championship club.

He said his program would win it all within its first five years; it took only four.

“They were just so special,” Chambers says. “What a great bunch of guys. You dream every day you could have a team with that type of chemistry.”

Only three are still in the game, but Chambers points out that eight played professionally. It’s difficult to stay in pro ball, he says.

Sean Kazmar stands out. Mike Littlewood, the veteran coach of former CSN conference rival Dixie State, once said Kazmar was the best player he’d ever seen in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.

“I think of him every day, too,” Chambers says. “He played the same every day. He never got down, was never too high. He had the same high energy in games as he had in practice.”

Where are those Coyotes now?

Calvin Beamon, OF — Hit .247 with three home runs for Seattle’s Single-A club in Wisconsin last season after graduating from UNLV. Leads the Timber Rattlers with 12 RBIs.

Jabe Beard, P — The Foothill High grad went 13-1 in 2003, giving up no homers in 84 innings. Returned home to attend UNLV after a stint at the University of Tennessee.

Josh Bolingbroke, C — Hit .266 with seven homers at Southern Utah in 2004. Decided baseball couldn’t get any better than 2003 and hung up his cleats. Works in finance in Salt Lake City.

Josh Brady, OF — Hit .362 with 20 homers and 34 stolen bases at Texas Tech in 2004. Quit after two minor league seasons. He and his wife recently had their third daughter in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Rick Cerrone, 2B — Led the Coyotes’ reserves by hitting .364 and driving in 16 runs. Believed to be finishing requirements for his degree at UNLV.

Joel Clark, P — Foes hit a meek .188 against him in 2003. Played one year at Texas Tech and is currently finishing his education at Brigham Young.

Tyler Coon, P — Clinched the World Series for the Coyotes with a complete game. The Silverado High grad underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow, ending his career. Works in sales for Anderson Dairy in Las Vegas.

Mike Cruz, 3B — Turned into a shortstop at UNLV. Needs to complete two classes to earn his bachelor’s degree. Works as a valet at a Las Vegas hotel.

C.J. Ebarb, C — Went to UNLV, then transferred to Lamar. Hit .262 as a rookie in Toronto’s system last season and is hitting .333 with the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts.

Larry Ellenbrook, P — Went to Hawaii-Manoa, then to Southern Utah. Is believed to be working in Utah.

Jino Gonzalez, P — Yielded three earned runs in an inning of a big-league game for Tampa Bay in spring training. With the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, he has two saves and a 4.43 ERA in relief.

Dan Habel, OF — Attending law school at UNLV.

Sean Havens, OF — Hit .362 as a reserve for the Coyotes. Is in the mortgage business in Las Vegas.

Chris Huseman, P — Played at Kansas State and then UNLV, where he went 1-2 with a 6.21 ERA in 2005. Is coaching at Spring Valley High.

Jeff Jacobsen, P — Went 4-0 during the title season. Whereabouts unknown.

Dave Jense, P — Tore his rotator cuff as a sophomore. Chambers allowed him to end his career after throwing two innings before friends and family at Utah, where he manages a Home Depot.

Sean Kazmar, SS — Hit .359 for the Coyotes. With San Diego’s Double-A team in San Antonio, he’s played second base and has committed eight errors this season. He’s hitting .187.

Billy Leigh, P — Went to an NAIA school. Whereabouts unknown.

Matt Minor, P — Went 4-2 with UNLV in 2004. Spent two years in Single-A ball, going 3-3 with a 4.03 ERA after being drafted by the San Francisco Giants. Is finishing his education at South Florida.

Dennis Pawelek, P — Appeared only three times on the mound in 2005. Whereabouts unknown.

Ryan Prince, P — Injured most of 2003. Believed to have started a family and to be working in the Las Vegas area.

Robbie Richards, C — Played at Southern Utah, where he hit .250 with seven homers in two seasons. Believed to be finishing his education.

Jason Ruiz, 2B — Played two seasons at Southern Utah, where he became a coach. Is coaching at Cerro Coso Community College — team is nicknamed the Coyotes — in Ridgecrest, Calif.

J.C. Sibley, OF — Went to Kansas and finished his collegiate career at UNLV, where he was all-conference despite playing with a bad shoulder. Working in physical therapy and personal training.

Don Sutton, 1B — Durango High grad led the Coyotes with a .634 slugging percentage. He struggled in Oakland’s organization. Last played Single-A ball in 2006. Finishing school at CSN.

Matt Wilson, P — Walked six and struck out 43 in 2003, when he was 3-1 and sported a 1.91 ERA. Went to Southern Utah, where he is finishing his degree requirements.