La Verne Head Coach Scott Winterburn offers encouragement to pitcher Javi Iniguez, with infield players gathering around to assess the current game situation, during a meeting at the mound in the midst of a tense game against Claremont McKenna College. The coach frequents the mound during games to make sure his players are on track for a win. / photo by Mitchell Aleman

by Daniel Hargis
photography by Mitchell Aleman

He is a man who appreciates the little things–the core values that make up a champion, a successful person, a team. He loves what is closest to him in life: his family, his work. He gives credit to the mentors in his life for guiding him in the right direction. He expects the best out of the athletes he coaches, to turn them into “Leos.”

This man is Scott Winterburn, the head baseball coach at the University of La Verne. In his 12th season at the University, he has enjoyed success through collective values that shape the athletes he coaches and their willingness to win. Most importantly, he cares about those who surround him. In return, his players have brought him four Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. Other recognition includes multiple legacy La Verne baseball players receiving SCIAC Player of the Year, Golden Glove and All-American honors. For himself, he garnered the SCIAC Coach of the Year Award in 2005.

Scott claims that his philosophies are still evolving, but one thing has always been steadfast: He wants to create a Leo. To Scott, being a Leo means something. It is a process that gets each athlete to understand, commit and buy into what the program requires. “The thing that I value most is that I want our program to reflect life as closely as possible.” In order to do this, Scott believes that relationships have to be made with the athletes, not just any kind though, but close relationships, the kind that take time to create—caring relationships to the point where he knows which players have girlfriends, what they like to do in their spare time, and what they want to do after graduation. Once these relationships have been established, those involved must work hard on them, and “only then do lessons become valuable,” Scott says.

The little things make a huge difference to this fundamental man. Saying “please,” “thank you” and “excuse me” shows him class; it sets people apart in his eyes. He sets out to improve the men who come into his program. His is a very intimate relationship, yet there is distance at the same time. The same applies to Scott’s children. “I’m not their buddy, but I’m there in every way,” he says with a sense of ease in his voice. “I treat them like my son and daughter. They have plenty of buddies. I’m there to tell them the truth. I own the truth.”

Something well-known about Scott is that he values the process as much as the results. “He is probably one of the hardest working people I know,” says Paul Alvarez, professor of Movement and Sports Science, adding, “both what you see and what a lot of people don’t see.”

On this day, Scott sits in his office with assistant coach Daniel Soriano. Their computers burn bright in front of them as they search for potential student-athletes. They ponder over these baseball candidates. It is evident that each athlete is carefully evaluated before he even has a chance at becoming a Leo. “Burn,” as Scott is referred to by those who know him, wants to ensure that athletes will fit into his program, just another step that will perpetuate future program success. “The first thing I try to find out is, ‘Can they fit here?’ That’s the most important thing,” Scott says. “The backbone of this program is people who love being here.”

Experience is key

Scott wants everyone to learn appropriate lessons from key situations, to react appropriately to the event, then to move forward with new understanding. This is an important mindset for him. If a player struggles in practice, it excites him to see that player come to the game improved because he put in thought after practice. This technique comes from one of his mentors, Rex Huigens, former Movement and Sports Science Department chair. The idea is to allow players, having failed somehow, to go home with the thought of failure in the back of their mind. After analyzing the failure and finding the personal corrective solution, players will succeed the next time. “The athlete has to start to understand that the opportunity is right here, right now,” Scott says. “Every experience impacts us. We’re not sure how it will impact us until it’s over, but over time we can look back and see how that impact was.” Experiences shape the paths of people’s lives, and this is a core baseball belief for dedicated Coach Winterburn.

Scott knew that he loved baseball. He claims it was the only reason he attended college, but he did not know that it would become his life’s passion until he was a junior at Texas A&M University. While majoring in agricultural economics, a flash of inspiration came to him while undertaking a pedestrian assignment. He remembers thinking, “Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?” His father encouraged him to do something he liked and to work hard at it, and that day Scott realized that thing was coaching baseball. “It was very clear to me, ‘Hey I want to coach,’” Scott says. “I felt like that’s what I was supposed to do.” The people who have influenced Scott have been involved in baseball. His first baseball memories are of him and his father playing catch in their front yard and then his playing games in the street with friends. Scott says that his father was a great mentor in life and sports. Aside from his father, Scott cites influential coaches: George Dusic, his little league coach; John Meiers, his coach at Arcadia High School; Skip Claprood, his coach at Citrus College; and Tony Barbon, the coach at Azusa Pacific University, with whom Scott worked at the beginning of his coaching career. “It’s the mentors I had in life,” he says. “I am the product of people who influenced me. I don’t claim to have invented anything.”

Between the lines

Scott takes an alternative look at everything in life. What one takes from a situation may be different from how he interprets it. He sits in his office with its walls adorned with photos of family and baseball players, certificates from past All-American or All-Region athletes, baseball books and personal themed baseball memorabilia. Scott says that it is the goal of an athlete to try his best to win. However, he does not condone winning at all costs. In the dugout during La Verne baseball games, he blends in like a chameleon with the rest of the team. In his No. 14 La Verne uniform, he cheers on the batters and commends the fielders for nice plays. One only realizes that he is the coach when he is unsatisfied, when he sternly gives corrective advice to the team between innings or expresses rule book-anchored discontent toward an umpire. When he gets fired up, it creates a serious atmosphere that makes everything seem more meaningful. When that happens, the players react constructively, another testament to his creation of a Leo.

“Read the defense. I could talk all day about it; it’s no secret,” Scott says to junior first baseman Michael Stewart during a crucial conference game against Cal Lutheran on April 7. At the same time, Scott knows what matters at the end of the day. Hitting coach Scott Marcus says at the start of his senior year, he was slapped with his parents’ divorce and the death of his older brother. “No matter how I performed on the field, it didn’t affect how he treated me off of it. He has a good ability to know what’s important,” the All-American player says. “I will always have a certain level of respect for him.”

Burn expects the best from his players and deservedly so, because he first puts forth his best. When his players leave his program, they are ready for what the world has to offer; they are Leos. His baseball philosophies reflect the way he looks at life. And his life is a treasure chest of the things he values most.

It is Friday, April 27. A dog pile is taking place on the mound immediately following the Whittier strikeout that brought the 2012 SCIAC title to Scott Winterburn. He pauses for a quick moment to soak in the secret pride that wells within. Then, clapping in appreciation, he quickly jogs out to join his new champions.

His lesson delivered, Coach Scott Winterburn, returns to the Leopard dugout after coaching third base. Not content to quietly sit in the dugout, the coach is intensely involved in the game, teaching in the dugout, giving hand signals for runners on base or at bat, and calling timeouts to directly talk to his players. / photo by Mitchell Aleman

No home, no matter

Ben Hines Field no longer exists, leaving the Leopard baseball team players homeless. But their hard work and determination came to fruition on April 27 when they captured their 20th Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. Practicing at nearby Damien High School and at the Southern California Baseball-Softball Academy was no hindrance. In the fall, the team met about the upcoming season and their lack of a home, but never again spoke about it. Not having a field would never be an excuse. Hitting Coach Scott Marcus said that graduate assistant Jon-Michael Hattabaugh held batting practice sessions, some as late as 10 p.m. Practices ran until 4:30 or 5 p.m., but players regularly stayed after.

Usually only five or six pitchers are used during the season, but this season the Leos used 10 or 11. Pitching Coach Gabe Miranda worked with what Head Coach Scott Winterburn calls a “specialty staff.” “That’s the job Gabe Miranda has done; he’s done a stellar pitching coach job this season,” Winterburn says. Miranda and the staff held meetings to raise issues and address them up front. “They were struggling with all of the nuances of the game,” Miranda says. Some pitchers would pitch a majority of the game, some a few innings, and some only one out. But that was what the staff knew it needed to do to succeed. “No one whined or cried about it; it’s just the way the pitching staff was this year,” Miranda says.

Each season, the senior class takes on a big role. There was no captain, but the seniors led the team. “This senior class did a great job,” Winterburn says. “They had a lot of responsibility, and they got it all done.” They organized and ran offseason practices. Miranda, a school teacher, relied on the senior pitchers to run their practices until he arrived.

The team had something that cannot be practiced or implemented by coaches: camaraderie. Marcus recalls days when players discussed where they would eat after practice. “They hang out all the time,” he says. “They’re brothers, and there’s something to be said about that.”

Head Coach Scott Winterburn takes to the front of the dugout to instruct his Leopard baseball players on how to turn the game’s momentum in their favor. / photo by Mitchell Aleman

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Golf pro Kenny Murray helps 8-year-old Matthew Ibarra with his backswing at the Marshall Canyon Golf Course range. Kenny has coached both Matthew and his older brother Julio Ibarra for about a year. / photo by Cassandra Egan

by Erica Lynn Lares
photography by Cassandra Egan

Kenny Murray steps on the greens of Marshall Canyon and takes a swing at the ball. The sharp contact “clink” when club meets ball momentarily silences the chirping of the birds. Kenny swings a perfect shot and yells “fore,” but his yelled warning does not clear the course. His ball is headed not toward other golfers but toward a family of deer.

Where the foothills meet the San Gabriel Mountains above La Verne resides the 18-hole Marshall Canyon Golf Course. This Los Angeles County owned course is unlike others; one of the great advantages is its remote location. Marshall Canyon is one of the few courses where there are few distractions. There are no busy streets, no heavy traffic flow. A huge sloped parking lot greets golfers. It is golf at its basic elements: just the course and the golfer. However, there are actually other guests on the course besides the golfer, but these guests are what make Marshall Canyon so unique. On any given day, a golfer may come across a family of deer, but these quiet creatures, which do not spook easily, are a great representation of the course’s peacefulness and beauty.

The beauty of the course is not the only thing offered. Marshall Canyon is managed by friendly and attentive people. Among them is Marshall Canyon’s golf professional Kenny Murray. A La Verne native, Kenny, since age 5, gained most of his golf skills and discipline at this course, learning the game from his father. He continued to play in many amateur events and won more than 130, with his best win coming in 2005 at the Inland Valley Amateur, where he fired a 66 (-8) at Los Serranos South. “I am still more of a hustler golfer than a tournament player, just like my dad. The strength of my game is by far putting; I just have a gift for putting.”

Kenny played golf at Citrus College; there, he decided to turn professional and played in many Golden State events. Nevertheless, he found that golf was a tough way to make a living. Kenny figuratively shelved his clubs professionally and became a personnel trainer, but he never stopped his love for golf. Always an athlete at heart, Kenny became a personnel trainer for Bally Total Fitness. After his gym training sessions, he would find himself at the course hitting balls on a weekly basis. In 2007, after seeing his passion, knowledge and talent for the game, the course manager told him of the just-opened professional position. Kenny interviewed and within 10 minutes was named the course’s golf pro. “I instruct all ages and levels of golf, but I would have to say that the majority of lessons I instruct are to golfers 18 years and under. But it is never too late to get started. The beauty of golf is that it is a sport that can be played at any age of a person’s life. The age of a golfer is not the challenging part to instruct; it’s the bad habits a golfer has and trying to break those habits,” he says.

Golf as a life lesson

For the beginner, the game can be challenging, with all its rules and terms. In fact, it can be overwhelming. The most important concept to grasp is the etiquette of the game. One must remember to have respect for the sport’s traditions. “There are so many rules; no one really knows every rule out of the rule book, but the etiquette is what I stress to young golfers during the lessons,” Kenny says. “Learning the etiquette is not only something a young golfer can use on the course but also in life. Golf and life can go hand-in-hand. It can teach discipline and respect. It is a very challenging sport, but it can be very rewarding, and it can be applied to everything in life.”

Indeed, Marshall Canyon has golfers of all ages with a variety of skill levels. Beginners abound, like John Carro, of La Verne, a first timer to golf who decided to take up the sport after seeing his friend play for 10 years. The great thing about Marshall Canyon is while it is kind to beginners, it is also known as a very challenging course, especially because of its 13th hole, also known as “lucky.” Golfers in the know say “lucky” is the most difficult in the region. It is a 420-yard par 4 that has a blind tee shot. If a golfer hits left, she is in the horse stables. There is a mound out on the fairway that blocks the view. The green is challenging if the ball lands on the right because it will roll all the way to the left of the green. Despite the challenge, the course culture puts no pressure on beginners. They can come and learn and not have to worry about being run off because most golfers are friendly and openly welcome newcomers.

Golfers like Patt Masson, of Claremont, and Erhard Fertala, of La Verne, are old golf hands, having golfed Marshall Canyon for decades. These individuals are a walking mirror image of the course, seasoned but full of life. Pat has been golfing since he was a 9-year-old caddie in Ireland, getting paid 18 cents for 18 holes. Now in his 80s, he chooses Marshall Canyon for its wildlife and friendly staff. Erhard, 87, also has been golfing on this course since it opened in 1966 and has not stopped since. Erhard and his golfing buddy Pat can be found at Marshall Canyon two times a week, a tradition that has brought their friendship closer. Proving age is not as serious a number as a golf score, these two are just as fun and free spirited as the young golfers. They joke about their skills and time spent on the course. Both started golfing before Marshall Canyon had a pro shop, coffee shop or banquet hall. Then, it truly was just the golfers and the wild course. Now, the coffee shop sells snacks. The banquet hall, used for tournaments and award ceremonies, is also available for rental.

Those who choose Marshall Canyon must love wildlife. Seasonally, birds, snakes, bears, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and deer—especially deer—mingle with golfers on the remote canyon greens. Being comfortable with wildlife is something to which golfers become accustomed. A golfer can walk right up to the deer and practically pet these beautiful creatures without them moving an inch. The deer, while wild, are calm here and cause no harm to golfers. Two years ago, a large brown bear walked across the No. 7 green and scarcely received a second glance from the foursome who did not break from their putting. Play at Marshall Canyon, and you will leave with more than a golf story.

Golf offers many life rewards. It can improve friendships and teach life lessons. Marshall Canyon is a great teacher for those who are open to the gifts and rewards that this unique course has to offer.

For Marshall Canyon tee times, call ahead 909-593-8211 or just show up and try your luck. The course is located at 6100 N. Stephens Ranch Road, La Verne. Green fees are $37 on weekdays and $46.50 on weekends, including the rental fee of a brand new golf cart. Golf pro Kenny Murray commands a $40 an hour fee, money well spent if you want golf to be a continuing passion.

Patt Masson of Claremont attempts to hit the ball from the bunker and onto the green. Masson, who learned to play golf in Ireland, has been playing Marshall Canyon’s course since it opened in 1966. / photo by Cassandra Egan

Another La Verne SCIAC championship

The University of La Verne’s golf team has done it again, winning with a flourish its sixth consecutive SCIAC championship, eighth overall. La Verne had the youngest team out of the seven contenders in the SCIAC conference; the team holds fourth place in Division III national ranking for freshman class impact.

Seven of the nine golfers on the roster were new to the team, one of them being junior Derek Zachman. Zachman, named SCIAC golf player of the year, led the team from the start of the season with the help of senior Nick Ericson, the only returning starter from last year’s championship lineup.

La Verne’s golf team did not stop at just winning the SCIAC championship. They went on to compete for an NCAA national title, finishing 14th out of the 40 teams invited to the NCAA Championship, held May 15-18 at the Mission Inn Resort & Club at Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. La Verne ended with a total 1212 for the tournament.

Zachman concluded the tournament by tying for seventh among individuals with a 294 total [76-69-71-78], while Leopard freshman Trent Twamley ended the tournament with a total of 299 [75-71-75-78] to finish in a tie for 22nd.

“Overall, it was a great season, capped off by an average final result at the Championship,” Eric Riehle, La Verne’s head golf coach, says. “This team is very young, and some of our inexperience showed at times during the tournament; however, the knowledge that we gained moving forward is invaluable. The team and I are very excited for the years to come.”

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