KENTFIELD, Calif.—May 5, 2009—Just as the Mariners headed off to the season play-offs, Bay Valley Conference baseball coaches voted Sunday to name College of Marin head coach Steve Berringer Coach of the Year.
 
"We are all very proud of Coach Berringer for his superb work both on and off the field in leading and inspiring his students," said COM Superintendent/President Frances L. White.
 
Berringer, 34, who graduated from San Rafael High School, played short stop for the COM Mariners in a championship year (1994), and attended University of San Francisco, has coached the team for 12 years, 10 years as head coach.
 
"Obviously everybody felt he did a great job," said Rod Beilby, Yuba College dean of Physical Education/Athletics and administrative representative for baseball for both the California Community College Athletic Association and the Bay Valley Conference. Beilby is not a voting member for the annual award.
 
"As an outsider watching him, he has a really good demeanor in the way he handles his players during the game," Beilby said. "He seems to be not only knowledgeable in the sport but he's got a very even temperament in that he doesn't ever seem to be too high or too low."
 
The team had a slow start in preseason games, managing to win 23 of 41 games overall. Once the conference games started, however, the team gelled and the final card was 20/7. The Mariners tied with the Solano Community College Falcons for the championship.
 
"We definitely started off slow in preseason but the guys stuck with the game plan and really worked hard," Berringer said. "This group has bought into what we as coaches have talked about all year. They were always prepared for what's coming down the road."
 
"He has built a fantastic program," said Matt Markovich, director of Physical Education and Athletics at College of Marin. "Out of all the things Steve does, he really brings his players into the baseball family and takes care of them. He makes sure they're learning the lessons about playing college-level athletics such as responsibility, time management and integrity. He really shows them they can be of high character and can compete in college athletics."
 
The College of Marin baseball program is considered one of the premier community college programs in Northern California. The past four seasons, the baseball team has competed in the California Community College State Playoffs. In 2006, the College of Marin baseball team won the Bay Valley Conference and was ranked 6th out of the 44 Northern California Community College baseball programs. Over the past eight years, our baseball program has produced 3 All-Americans, 6 All-Northern California, and 27 first team Bay Valley Conference players. During this time 29 student-athletes have received baseball or academic scholarships.
 
Currently, 2005 College of Marin graduate John Quine is playing professional baseball for the Oakland A's. Last summer, current College of Marin baseball player Fred Atkins was selected in the 2008 Major League Amateur Draft. Fred declined a professional contract and is transferring to Jackson State University.
 
The intercollegiate baseball team at College of Marin competes year round with 44 games in the spring and 12 games in the fall. Part of the baseball program includes a study hall which provides each player the individual academic development they will need to graduate and transfer to a four year university or college. Due to its focus on both academics and athletics, the College of Marin baseball program has the highest retention and graduation rate of any athletic program offered at College of Marin.

FRED ATKINS
Drafted Florida Marlins 45th round
Scholarship to Jackson State University (Division I)
All-Northern California Outfielder 1st Team Bay Valley Conference
Fall All-Star Classic Outfielder

ERIC LEBARON
Scholarship to San Jose State University (Division I)
Fall All-Star Classic Pitcher
2007 Bay Valley Conference Player of the Year
1 Win shy of College of Marin career record for wins

• CHRIS DITTMANN
  Scholarship to University of San Francisco (Division I)
  1st Team Bay Valley Conference Player of the Year
  Fall All-Star Classic Outfielder
• SEAN PRONI
  Scholarship to San Francisco State (Division II)
  2nd Team Designated Hitter 2008
  1st Team Outfielder 2007
  2007 All-American Outfielder
  Fall All-Star Classic Outfielder/Second Base
• NIC BANAUGH
  Scholarship offers from Northern Colorado University (DI)
• TIM CHADD
  Recruited walk-on for Sonoma State University (DII)
• ZANE BOEHLKE
  Recruited walk-on for San Francisco State (Division II)
• WILL HUNT
  Recruited walk-on for Cal Poly Pomona University (DII)
• BRANDON BEAL
  Deciding on CSU Los Angles or Dominguez Hills (D II)
  2nd Team Bay Valley Infielder