FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT INFORMATION:

August 30, 2015 Alison Dirstine, Director of Outreach & PR

Bellarmine-Jefferson High School

465 E. Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA 91501

(818) 972-1408 ● www.bell-jeff.net

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL APPOINTS NEW BASEBALL COACH

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, AUGUST 30, 2015—Bellarmine-Jefferson High School is pleased to welcome new Boys Varsity Baseball Coach Jim Dantona.
Coach Dantona believes that the fundamental elements of successfully coaching—in baseball or any career—are focusing equally on developing talent and character.

“I am honored to be a part of building a new future of baseball ay Bellarmine-Jefferson High School,” Dantona said. “And I look forward to building not only fundamentally good players but helping them grow into young people of strong character as well.”

Dantona has a history of playing and coaching baseball. He played Little League, Pony and Babe Ruth leagues, and lettered in varsity baseball all four years at Bishop Alemany High School. He was the school’s first inductee into its Athletic Hall of Fame. After high school, he played both in American Legion Baseball as well as two years at Pierce Community College.

In 1969, Dantona was invited to the major league Spring facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, to tryout for the team as a free agent. Although he was cut before the season started, the opportunity provided him with tutoring by and friendships with some of baseball’s greatest. He took the knowledge and experience he gained there and utilized it coaching young players from five to 25.

He quickly began coaching in a number of different leagues while enrolled at Cal State University, Northridge, where he earned a BA in Political Science in 1974. He became a teacher and coach in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for three years and another year at a local private school. Later he embarked on career of nearly 40 years in government service.

During those years, Jim never stopped coaching baseball and continues to do so to this day. He has worked with players from tee-ball and right thru high school and college and has coached a number of minor and major league players.

Coach Dantona is currently setting up a "Fall Ball" program to begin at the end of September and will begin spring training by February 1. Home games will be played at Brace Park in Burbank.

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Bellarmine-Jefferson High School is a Catholic, archdiocesan, co-educational, four-year, secondary school providing a balanced college preparatory program and serving a diverse student population from the San Fernando Valley and surrounding area. Through the integration of Gospel values and emphasis on each person, the faculty, staff, and students work to create a just and caring community that enriches the learning process for all. Bellarmine-Jefferson High School is accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and is co-accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

For more information, please contact Alison Dirstine, Director of Outreach & Public Relations, at Bellarmine-Jefferson High School, at (818) 972-1408 or .

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