In a move as shocking as it was inexplicable, Chino Hills High softball coach Mike Southworth has been terminated, as the Huskies are proceeding further into an undefeated season, are ranked number 4 in the nation by ExtraInningSoftball.com and Number 8 in the nation by MaxPreps.com, and have what many consider to be the best chance yet to recreate the success Southward had as coach of the Huskies in 2012, when they won the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 title.
Over the course of Southworth’s 11 seasons at Chino Hills High, the Huskies have won six league championships and compiled a 286-84-1 record, a .7729 winning percentage.
Southworth, 70, without explanation, was not present during his team’s Baseline League season-opening game Tuesday at St. Lucy’s High in Glendora, which the Huskies won handily, 21-1. He did not travel yesterday with the team to the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, which features numerous top ranked teams, including Chino Hills’ rival and defending champion Norco, currently the number 2 team in the county. It was clear that something was amiss when Southworth was not present as field general to oversee his MaxPreps.com eighth-ranked team as it took on MaxPreps.com seventh-ranked O’Connor High of Phoenix, a contest in which the Huskies eked out a nail-biting 4-3 win, a victory likely to boost them to the number 7 position nationally.
Initially, the report was that Southworth had tendered his resignation. This morning came word that if in fact he submitted a resignation, it was one that was both ceremonial and forced, as the Chino Valley Unified School District announced, tersely, that he had been dismissed.
The Sentinel’s effort to reach Chino Hills Principal Randal Buoncristiani for an explanation and statement by press time was unsuccessful.
-M.G.