Luevano takes over for Stassi at Yuba City

Vicente Luevano remembers playing on the perfectly trimmed grass. He remembers the shimmering white bases, cleanly chalked lines and the light standards that illuminated it all, giving he and his Yuba City High teammates the chance to play once the sun set on Winship Field.

Luevano was a shortstop for the Honkers, class of 2002, one of the many students who called Jim Stassi coach over the last 19 years. He was a "good defensive" player "and worked hard," said Stassi, who stepped down after four section championships and 10 league titles.

Eight years later, Luevano is now the legend's replacement. At 26-years-old, the former Honker who returned to teach physical education at his alma mater, is the new coach of the school's varsity baseball team.

"It's hard to replace a coach like Stassi because of what he's done for the community," Luevano said. "But I'm confident in my coaching ability and my players.

"What Stassi's built — we'll continue that."

If Luevano has any nerves, he's not showing them. He realizes the scope of what he has to do and who he is replacing. If anything, playing for Stassi has given him a template.

"I remember the way he took care of his field and ran the program — everything was down to a 'T'," he said. "I want my field to be the best in the state, I want my program to be tops. I want everything to be excellent."

Luevano went onto play baseball at York College, an NAIA school in Nebraska. After he finished his playing career, he sampled his first taste of coaching by helping out his former team while working on his teaching credential. Then he moved back home to help out the school that represents the city where he was born and raised.

"He's a Yuba City guy," said athletic director John Ithurburn.

Luevano was an assistant with the JV team in 2009 and was the head coach of the team last season. Since Stassi's venerable group of assistants left with him, Luevano has brought up a pair of familiar faces to join his staff. Brett Barrie, a former JV head coach will assist the team and Dave Rodriguez, the head freshman coach, will be Luevano's head assistant.

Though many of their mannerisms will most likely mirror Stassi's, Luevano did say he "loves stolen bags," but not to the point of "havoc." As for the team itself, he will be coaching a group of players he has plenty of experience with.

"It's a perfect situation to move into the varsity job," he said.

And in the mind of his predecessor: The program has nothing to worry about.

"I think they'll do fine," Stassi said.