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Mustangs turn reins over to ex-player By GREG STILES Former Medford Mustangs standout Brent Watts has been named the American Legion baseball team's manager for the 2000 season. Watts, who played four seasons of minor league baseball, joined the club as a coach in 1998. He succeeds Sandee Kensinger, who stepped down after leading the club for 10 successful seasons. "This is one of the best programs in the state," says Watts, a 27-year-old teach at Washington Elementary School in Medford. "I don't think summer can come fast enough. This is a great opportunity. I couldn't imagine a better job; it's a great way to spend summers." Watts was an all-state shortstop at Phoenix High and played for the Mustangs in 1990 and 1991, compiling a .352 career average. He played at Chemeketa Community College in Salem before finishing up his collegiate career at Oregon State. After that, he played for the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League and in the Cincinnati Reds' organization. "Ten or 15 years from now, I'd like to be back at Oregon State," Watts says. "Or if Oregon ever decided to bring back its program, that would interest me. But I know I have a lot more to learn about coaching." In his minor league days, he played every infield and outfield position. He hit .298 in 1995 for Winnipeg. His best all-around season was in 1996, when he hit .287, hit 16 home runs and drove in 42 runs. Watts culled a great deal of knowledge from Goldeyes manager Hal Lanier, a former San Francisco Giants infielder, and ex-Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bob Kipper. "I wanted to learn all aspects of the game for later on," Watts says. "Later on" arrived quickly as Watts signed on as an assistant coach, first at Phoenix High during the spring season, and with the Mustangs in the summer. "I like the way he relates to kids and his enthusiasm," says Mustangs general manager Don Schneider. "He loves the game and played as long as he could. We've had our eye on him for a long time and we were fortunate that he joined our staff two years ago." South Medford coach Pete Whisler will continue as an assistant, handling hitting and middle infield duties. Watts will coach the pitchers and outfielders. Watts became an assistant to Phoenix coach Joe Hagler in 1997 and was a guiding light in the Pirates' 1998 Class 3A state championship run. "I tried to bring experience from OSU to help them understand the game at a higher level," Watts says. "And not be to content to just play at a 3A or 4A level. If they can play past their ability, they'll be ready for other teams later in the year." Watts hopes to continue the offensive prowess that marked Kensinger's Mustangs while improving the defense. "Once we get on base we're going to be challenging the battery for the other team for the whole game," Watts said. "It doesn't stop with hitting, we've got to take care of the little things and improve on our defense over the past couple of years." Schneider says Kensinger had other responsibilities that would keep him away from the ballpark next season. "He needed to have his summer free," Schneider says. Kensinger compiled a 425-135 record in 10 summers. His .759 winning percentage was the best in club history. The Mustangs advanced to the playoffs in each year of Kensinger's tenure, winning five state and two regional championships. The Mustangs finished second in the 1997 American Legion World Series. "I thought the decision over for a while, thinking Sandee might change his mind," Schneider says. "The door's open any time he wants to return to our staff." Although he enjoyed his time with the Mustangs, Kensinger isn't planning a return. "I'm retired from the Mustangs," he says. "It's a done deal. Right now I just have some things I need to take care of. I need to give some time back to my family." Schneider says growing enrollment at Crater High has pushed the Mustangs over the Legion's attendance limit. As a result, no new players will be taken from Crater in 2000, although players already on the Mustangs' roster may remain with the team. Medford will draw from North, South, Cascade Christian, Phoenix and St. Mary's high schools. Central Point will field two teams, including an Area 4 AAA team that will join the Bay Area Rams, Eugene Challengers, Grants Pass Nuggets, Klamath Falls Falcons, Medford and Roseburg Dr. Stewart's. Schneider says players from Cascade and St. Mary's not making the Mustangs' roster will be released to Central Point. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA