By Pete Borello

photos by R. Alan Hwang/special to the Town Crier Kevin Hashimoto “plays everywhere” for the Hawks, coach Dave Salter said.

With only three wins and enough losses that the coach has lost count of the exact number, the Los Altos American Legion Post 558 Hawks won’t be playing beyond the regular season.

But the under-19 team wasn’t expected to be a postseason contender - not yet. Head coach Dave Salter is simply looking for progress in the second year of the baseball program’s revival.

“It’s all about getting better throughout the year,” Salter said. “It doesn’t matter if we win or lose, just as long as they get better.”

This is the last week for the Hawks to do so; their summer season wraps up Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. game against Danville at San Ramon High Valley.

While Salter would like to see more improvement from his team - particularly when it comes to understanding the game and its myriad situations - there have been encouraging signs.

“I have seen progress,” said the former Mountain View High head coach. “That’s the nice part about coaching these kids - they listen and want to get better.”

When Salter says “kids,” he means it. Although the league is for players 19 and under, the Hawks primarily comprise 17-year-olds. They have only one college player.

“We’re playing against a lot of 19-year-olds,” Salter said. “The other teams have been established longer and it’s easier for them to recruit. We didn’t have tryouts.”

Before Mike Welsh started the Hawks last summer, it had been 20 years since American Legion Post 558 of Los Altos sponsored a baseball program. Post 558 member Welsh, who manages the two-team program (there’s also an under-17 squad) was inspired by his son Robby’s desire to play local summer league ball.

This year’s team has 22 players, though some of them also participate in other summer leagues and aren’t always available. The players come from Los Altos, Mountain View, St. Francis and Homestead highs, plus St. Lawrence Academy (Santa Clara).

Matt Cantele is the Hawks’ elder statesman at 19. The St. Francis graduate just completed his freshman season at UC San Diego, where he batted .289 and hit 15 home runs.

Cantele is putting up impressive numbers for the Hawks as well. The Los Altos Hills resident slugged three homers in a doubleheader sweep of Pacifica July 8.

“He’s our big hitter,” Salter said of Cantele, who bats third in the lineup.

The Hawks have also received steady production from St. Lawrence players Rob Engel and Kevin Hashimoto. Engel “has been solid on the mound and at the plate,” Salter said. Engel catches when he’s not on the mound and usually bats in the middle of the lineup.

Hashimoto “plays everywhere - he’s ambidextrous,” Salter said. Most often used at shortstop, Hashimoto “is a good gap hitter who makes good adjustments at the plate,” according to the coach.

Salter named Homestead’s Tony Del Vecchio as another bright spot for the Hawks. Although the second baseman doesn’t have a lot of power, Del Vecchio makes the most of his at-bats.

“He’s gotten some big hits for us lately,” Salter said. “He doesn’t strike out much - not more than twice this season - and puts the ball in play.”

The Hawks have had better luck hitting than pitching, an area the coach admitted needs work.

“No one throws well two games in a row,” Salter said. “We only work out once a week, and there’s not a lot of time (to work with the pitchers).”

The coach listed Steve Carroll (St. Lawrence), A.J. Rossi (Mountain View) and Engel as the best pitchers on a staff lacking depth.

The season may not be going as well as Salter would have liked (”It’s been a struggle”), but he can’t fault the players’ attitudes.

“They’re a really good group of kids,” he said. “They give it all they have and they love the game.”