Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Mike Voelkel Has Molded Pali High’s Baseball Program into a Perennial City Contender
The start of the 2024 season is six weeks away and for Palisades High baseball coach Mike Voelkel every practice presents another opportunity for his players to get better and to show they deserve a spot in the starting lineup. In his program the name of the game is competition. There are no guarantees and no free rides—everything must be earned. If it sounds old school that is just the way he likes it and honesty is a virtue he values above all others. He is forthright with players, coaches and parents about what he expects and since Voelkel arrived in 2008 the team has been a model of consistency. His record speaks for itself: 284 wins, 170 losses, three ties and 11 Western League championships. The Dolphins have made the City’s upper division playoffs every year but one in his tenure, including last spring when they finished 26-4 and made the Open Division semifinals. Entering his 17th season Voelkel has the third-longest active coaching tenure at the school. Only Bud Kling (tennis) and Maggie Nance (swimming) have coached their respective sports longer, although Dave Suarez has coached volleyball, soccer and golf at different times since 1994. One accomplishment missing from Voelkel’s resume is a section title and he would like nothing better than to get one before he retires—but never at the expense of integrity. Palisadian-Post Sports Editor Steve Galluzzo talked to Voelkel about his time at Palisades and how the game has changed in the last two decades:
PP: Which was your best team?
MV: There’s a difference between the team that had the most talent and the one that accomplished the most. If I have to pick one I’ll go with the 2019 team that got to the finals at Dodger Stadium. It had the skill, sure, but also the competitive drive and motivation needed to win games. We were solid at every position. The 2014 semifinal team and last year’s group are up there too.
PP: Could you name a few of the best players you’ve coached here?
MV: Of course Jon Moscot because he was an outstanding kid and went on to pitch in the majors. Also Lucas Braun, who just got drafted and threw back-to-back shutouts to put us in the finals in 2019. Also Julian Jacobson who was the catcher that season and got the most out of his ability and his teammates. Another would be Harrison Hart, who was a four-year starter at shortstop and hit over .400 as a junior and senior.
PP: Is the level of play better or worse than it was a decade ago?
MV: When I started the talent across the City was very, very good. Over time, as more campuses opened and more of the elite players switched to private schools the overall talent started decreasing and COVID drained it even more. My first two years were two of the most talented teams I’ve had but we went out early in the playoffs those years because there were more strong teams then.
I like to use the knowledge versus wisdom analogy. It’s one thing to know what to do but it’s another to know when to do it, whether that be stealing a base, pitching out, etc.
PP: How have you managed to be an Open team year after year?
MV: It’s our structure, the way we do things. We don’t recruit, we build from within and develop our players so by the time they’re ready for varsity they know what’s expected of them and are fundamentally sound. We have a discipline and consistency that has created sustained success as a strong program on the Westside.
PP: What are you most proud of?
MV: In terms of what we’ve done on the field it would be our record in league. We’ve only lost 16 league games since I’ve been here—and five of those were in 2013 when we missed the playoffs. So we have been able to dominate our league, which is hard to do because teams are more familiar with you, they’ve got better data and there’s more in-game strategy since opponents pick up on your tendencies. We’ve won what, 70 in a row now? We haven’t lost one since Venice swept us in 2017, so let’s hope we can keep that streak going. What I’m more proud of though is our academic prowess. We always have one of the highest team GPAs at Pali and in the City.
11 Western League crowns.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
PP: How is coaching different in Washington, where you coached for 20+years, than in California?
MV: The biggest factor is weather. Up there you only played for two or three months and every kid was in multiple sports. Down here teams can play year-round so being able to practice over a longer period of time makes a difference. Also, there are more schools in LA than in the Pacific Northwest so there’s more talent since more kids are playing.
PP: What is the biggest change you have seen in the last 10 years?
MV: Before, the game was played with the intent to win. Now, that’s way down on the list. Over the last decade it’s become more about how hard I throw and what I need to do to improve my stats, not what we as a team need to do to win.
PP: Why have your teams struggled to win in the postseason?
MV: In the playoffs it’s win or go home. There’s a different vibe since you know every game could be your last. Especially in the Open Division when you get down to the final four it’s little things that decide a game. A base running mistake or the inability to get a hit at a key time have cost us. We’ve simply not always executed in the crucial moments.
PP: What is most rewarding about coaching high school baseball?
MV: The biggest enjoyment is just being around the game and having the opportunity to influence the lives of so many kids. When my former players text or email me pictures of them holding their babies or telling me they got a job or a promotion as a result of something they learned through our program… that’s really what makes coaching at this level worth it. I want to win more than anybody and that’s important, but in the bigger picture those other things have more value.
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