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General Manager
Jim Martin
  
One of the most respected veteran community college coaches in the nation, Scott Pickler had another successful year in 2012 heading to the Super Regionals. Pickler, in his 28th year directing the Chargers, has led Cypress to four state championships (1991, 1994, 1997, 2003) and four runner-up finishes (1996, 1999, 2004, 2007). In 2012, his 28th season with the chargers, he once again lead the team to the playoffs. Pickler who served as a coach for the 1995 USA Baseball National Trials, has a career winning percentage of .671 (825-404-4). He also has coached for fifteen years in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League. In 2004, 2006, and 2007 he led the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox to the Cape Cod League Title. Pickler took over a struggling Cypress program in 1985 and quickly turned the Chargers into a respected California powerhouse. He has been chosen as the National Coach of the Year for California junior Colleges four times. With all of his professional accomplishments, Pickler's biggest victories and proudest moments come when he sees his athletes move to four-year colleges and universities or the professional ranks. Over 200 student-athletes have received scholarships, and 120 plus players have been selected in the Major League Draft. There have been 15 former Chargers who have been brought up to the Majors in Pickler's tenure including eight who are currently active. Before coming to Cypress, Pickler had an outstanding high school coaching career. In six seasons at Savanna and Loara high schools, he posted a combined record of 123-36 and won the CIF championship with his 1983 Loara squad. Pickler is a 1968 graduate of Savanna High winning Athlete of the Year recognition. He attended Cypress College and earned all-conference recognition under Coach Larry Mercadante. He earned a degree in physical education from San Diego State University and played second base for the Aztecs. Scott and his wife Sharon have two children; Jeff (36) and Kari (32). Jeff was an all-conference choice for his dad at Cypress in 1995 and then went on to be an All-American and All Academic American at the University of Tennessee. Kari is a graduate of UCLA and was a Bruins Song Leader. She has performed on Broadway in the musical "Big'', is the owner of The E-Factor, and is the mother of Scott's first grandchild. Pickler's younger brother Brad is the head coach of the softball team at Cypress and has led the Chargers to five state championships.  
Chris Podeszwa enters his eighth season as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut. Podeszwa's focus is primarily on the instruction of infielders and hitters. In 2010, Podeszwa helped the Huskies set new single-season records in hits, runs scored, and RBI, besting the records the club set in 2009. UConn recorded 750 hits, 542 runs scored, and 492 RBI in 2010. In between summer evaluation and recruiting assignments for the Huskies, Podeszwa continues to serve as an assistant baseball coach for Yarmouth-Dennis of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He enters his 15th season with the Red Sox, who won the league championship in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Podeszwa played at UConn from 1990 to 1993. He was part of the 1990 BIG EAST Championship club and played every position for the Huskies except center field. Podeszwa, who earrned a Master's Degree in 2003 at Southern Connecticut, is married to UConn alum Isabella Basile. The couple has three children, Sophia, born May 17, 2000, Connor, born April 1, 2003 and Emilia, born January 5, 2006. They reside in Waterford, Connecticut. |
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