The Monte Vista High School baseball team is gearing up for an exciting season with ambitious goals in mind. We had the opportunity to chat with Coach Mateo Miramontes about his team’s objectives, top returning players, motivation tactics, coaching style, and message for fans and supporters. From their goals to build a strong team culture to their focus on attention to detail, there is no doubt that the Monte Vista Mustangs are a force to be reckoned with this year.
When asked about the team’s overall goals for the season, Coach Mateo Miramontes emphasizes their desire to put Monte Vista back on the map. He mentions the school’s history of producing college-level talent and their past success in winning NCS when he was a sophomore. However, in recent years, the team has struggled due to a lack of a strong team culture.
To rectify this, they have brought in experienced assistant coaches and are determined to “be like a really gritty, nasty team that wants to fight”. Coach Mateo believes that their current group of players is the perfect fit for this type of approach. The team’s main goal for the season is to come out strong as a whole unit – executing plays, minimizing mistakes, and demonstrating fierce determination on the field.
When asked about some of the top returning players from last season, Coach Mateo mentions the excitement surrounding the team due to their key players’ return. He highlights two third-year starting varsity players, Brad Ballard and Dylan Hillman, who have had plenty of high school success. They will be playing at crucial positions, shortstop and catcher/outfielder, respectively and will bring their strong leadership skills to the team.
Additionally, catcher Brandon Clisby is described as a “stud”, and their pitching staff has all of their innings from last year coming back. The team also has new, strong additions, including two impressive sophomores and fast juniors, to fill in any gaps. In terms of motivating his players to reach their full potential, Coach Mateo believes in giving them ownership of the program.
He explains that the most successful teams are the ones where the players drive the team and its success. With strong senior leadership from players like Frisbees, Hillmans, Frenchs, and Campbells, Coach Mateo already sees a positive shift in his team’s culture.
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