High school baseball: T-Ville program plays on minus coach

They're a program without someone currently calling the shots, but the show must go on for Taylorsville baseball.

Summer ball has begun for the Warriors, who have two teams in the American Legion Salt Lake Valley League, as well as clubs in Varsity Prep. It's rare for a program to not have a head coach running the show during the summer — especially one of Taylorsville's caliber — but that's the case for the Warriors after Guy Mackay was fired at the end of the high school season.

"It's a little weird," said Jake Waldram, who's coaching Taylorsville's team of graduated seniors and returning college players in the Valley League. "It's a different feel. It's a confusing time for us, but we're just trying to focus on the summer and working through it."

The Warriors will soon name a new head varsity coach, as the application process was closed last Friday.

Taylorsville's summer teams are in good hands with Waldram and Jackson Ewing, who's coaching the Warriors' 17-under team in the Valley League. The two teams are also in good hands with several talented players.

Taylorsville's older team will be led by senior standouts Cody Mullenax, Tim Lesuma, Brandon Anderson, Ashton Juarez and Hunter Todd. They will also be boosted by college players Austin Maddy (Dixie) and Preston Olsen (Southern Idaho). Jordan Holdaway, who graduated in 2008, is also back to help lead the Warriors.

Taylorsville's U-17 team features players who will lead the Warriors' high school team next year such as Marc Reynolds and Austin Guevara.

There will be plenty of competition for both Taylorsville teams in the Valley League with Murray, Cyprus, Granger and Kearns being among the contenders. Taylorsville won the state title last year, and it is probably the odds-on favorite to repeat as champion.

"Our first 3 to 4 pitchers are really good," Waldram said. "When Preston (who has a sore arm) comes back, it makes us really frightful. I would think we're the team to beat."

WEATHER WREAKING HAVOC: The state's June showers are probably keeping people from mowing their lawns and washing their cars. The rain is having a much bigger impact on summer baseball schedules, which have had to be rearranged in both Legion and the Utah Baseball Academy's league.

The Academy was supposed to have its preseason tournament, which typically determines what division teams play in, as well as who will qualify for the Triple Crown World Series next month, last week. But rain has caused delays in pool play and the eventual tournament, and games will gradually be made up.