Del Fava replaces legend at Lake Forest

Updated: March 23, 2011 3:48PM

Yes, it will be strange looking out at the third-base coaching box during Lake Forest High baseball games this spring and not seeing Scouts coaching legend Tommy Myers giving the hit-and-run sign.

But that said, the man who WILL be giving the signs this fall is no stranger to the young men who will be wearing Lake Forest uniforms this spring.

When Myers opted to call it a career after 32 seasons at the wheel, the school turned to sophomore coach Ray Del Fava and gave him the keys to the varsity equipment shed.

And there's a reason the school did so.

Del Fava knows his baseball.

From 1993-2006, he was varsity baseball coach at nearby Loyola Academy, compiling a .622 winning percentage.

He was working on a streak of six straight 22-plus win seasons and three consecutive regional titles when Loyola sent him packing while the Ramblers were involved in the summer-high school program.

Del Fava, who graduated from Loyola, was also the golf coach at Loyola, and won three state titles (1996, 2000-2001).

But at Lake Forest, where's he's an English teacher an assistant golf coach, it's all about baseball right now.

He coached Lake Forest freshmen in 2008 and 2009, and the sophomores in 2010.

"This current junior class, by the time they graduate, I will have been their only head coach," he said. "At the high-school level, that's a rarity. It's a good group of kids. I love being around them. Their work ethic, their attitude, it's just outstanding."

When asked what his biggest challenge will be this year, he responded with a big grin, "Beating Stevenson," referring to the state-power Patriots who are in the Scouts' league.

"Really, it's just making the jump to the varsity level again," he said. "I know what to expect, but I have to bring along my group of sophomores from last year, and really if you look at our current group of seniors, only two of them had a great deal of playing time - Charlie (Gould) and Chris (Godinez). So, we're going to be rather young, but I have a great deal of confidence in the players that we have."

Gould will be a catcher/first baseman, and he did note that this year will be different.

"Last year, there was a ceremony (for coach Myers) before like every game," he laughed. "That kinda gets into your head, messes with your focus a little bit.

"Tommy was really a baseball fan, very laid-back," he added. "Coach Del Fava is more assertive. He expects and demands a lot more from us. It's a lot more serious, and that's made for a more competitive atmosphere."

The first chance to show that will be Wednesday when the Scouts open their season, ironically, against Loyola.

If the Scouts ever want to win one for their new coach, this one might be it.

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