Building a Baseball Dynasty: Coach Benji Medure’s Journey with Huntington Beach High School

Coach Benji Medure’s Journey from Riverside Poly to Leading Huntington Beach Baseball (2025)

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For Huntington Beach High School head baseball coach Benji Medure, the road to coaching success has been built on passion, hard work, and a commitment to excellence. From his beginnings at Riverside Poly to leading one of the strongest programs in high school baseball, Coach Medure shares his journey with Sunset Rewind host Theo Rokos, diving into the history, culture, and future of Huntington Beach baseball.

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From Riverside to Huntington Beach (1:05)

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Coach Medure’s path to coaching started at Riverside Poly, where he played under legendary coach Rich Graves. While he describes himself as a “mediocre player at best,” his love for the game led him to coaching. He learned from mentors like Dave Truelock and Jim McNamara, quickly advancing to a varsity assistant role by his fifth year. Seeking new opportunities, he moved to Newport Beach with Eric Lo, the former Huntington Beach High School football coach, and began searching for jobs. Within a week, he applied for a baseball assistant coach position at Huntington Beach High School, working under Aaron Moore, who was aiming for the head coach position. Soon, Coach Medure was offered the head coaching job at just 25 years old.

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Building an Elite Coaching Staff (5:40)

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To create a winning culture, Coach Medure surrounded himself with a talented and trusted coaching staff:

• James “Rusty” McNamara – longtime friend and assistant coach
• Jason Clark – key assistant coach
• Adam Springston – elite pitching coach (former coach of Jared Weaver at Simi Valley)
• Jeff Ruziecki – hitting coach and former Huntington Beach/Wake Forest player
• Joel Bernstein – former Huntington Beach player who pitched under Coach Medure and later returned as a coach

This tight-knit staff has remained together, emphasizing both academic and athletic discipline, ensuring players succeed on and off the field. Huntington Beach baseball started gaining credibility when former players Collin Balester (pitcher) and Hank Conger (catcher, later for the Angels) made it to the MLB. The program’s reputation skyrocketed when Hagen Danner and Nick Pratto, members of the 2011 Little League World Series championship team, chose to play for Huntington Beach. Hank Conger and Collin Balester frequently returned to mentor players, bringing along Mark Trumbo, Joe Kelly, Stephen Strasburg, and others, further raising expectations and fueling the team’s ambition.

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The Pitching Powerhouse (11:55)

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Huntington Beach enters the season with one of the deepest pitching rotations in high school baseball, featuring:

• Tyler Bellerose – most experienced, three-year starter, Oregon State commit
• Otto Espinoza – right-hander, potential MLB draft prospect, throws 95 MPH
• Jake Frohn – San Diego State commit, three-year starter
• Ashton Arroyo – Georgetown commit
• Freddie Angiuli – potential D1 player, considering Fresno State
• Jared Grindlinger – #1 sophomore pitcher in America, left-hander, 92-94 MPH
• Tanner Brown – TCU commit, left-handed sophomore
• Jared Marchbank – strong contributor
• Ryder Cielen – valuable addition to the rotation
• Steel Kurtz – dual-sport athlete (football), solid pitcher
• Duncan McLeod – left-hander, described as someone who will “kill you with kindness”

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Strength Up the Middle – Position Players (14:10)

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The team is also stacked with D1-bound position players:

• Trent Grindlinger – catcher, Mississippi State commit, four-year starter, cannon for an arm
• Cole Clark – second baseman, UCI commit
• CJ Weinstein – shortstop, LSU commit
• Trevor Goldenetz – center fielder, Long Beach State commit
• Sol Moriyama – infielder with starting potential on any other team
• Jason Dunham – another strong infielder with starting potential
• Jayton Greer – first baseman, USD commit
• Ethan Porter – Oregon State commit
• Dane Cunningham – Cal Poly SLO commit, versatile at multiple positions including the mound
• Tanner Brown – contributes in multiple areas
• Owen Bone – valuable asset
• John Petrie – Oregon State commit

Coach Medure continuously evaluates the lineup, ensuring the team remains dynamic and adaptable throughout the season.

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Fostering a “We vs. Me” Culture (18:20)

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Coach Medure instills a team-first mentality, emphasizing sacrifice, humility, and leadership. Players are expected to put others before themselves, even in simple ways like holding doors open at school. The program runs on strict discipline and structure, ensuring that players develop strong work ethics and accountability. Coach Medure believes that focusing on servant leadership builds not just great athletes, but well-rounded individuals.

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The Sunset League Breakdown (22:40)

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Coach Medure provides insight into the Sunset League’s top competitors:

• Fountain Valley – features Josh Grack, whose older brothers also played at UCI
• Los Alamitos – deep pitching staff, with D1 commits to UCI and GCU
• Corona del Mar (CdM) – strong rotation, including Stevie Jones (junior lefty) and Marcello Anelli
• Edison – led by standout pitcher Noah Hunter, known for shutting teams down
• Marina – boasts Nick Murrey and Tate Morris (Long Beach State commit)
• Newport Harbor – Coach Josh Lee has done a great job developing a competitive team

Coach Medure hopes every team in the Sunset League remains strong, fostering higher levels of competition.

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The Growing Impact of Junior College Baseball (26:45)

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Coach Medure predicts that junior college (JC) baseball will be a major pipeline for D1 programs in the coming years, especially in California. He sees JUCO as a great opportunity for players who need more time to develop before making the leap to four-year programs.

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Managing Social Media & Life Lessons (30:25)

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To ensure players stay focused and responsible, Coach Medure hosts “Real Life Wednesdays,” covering topics such as social media pitfalls, relationships, and life beyond baseball. Players also attend social media seminars to learn responsible posting habits, reinforcing the program’s core value of humility.

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Math & Analytics in Baseball (34:40)

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As a math teacher, Coach Medure naturally incorporates analytics into coaching. He frequently works with Jeff Ruziecki, another math teacher, to analyze stats and optimize strategy. He also gained newfound respect for Dave Roberts after hearing him break down analytics on Mookie Betts’ podcast, particularly how he managed pitchers in the World Series.

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Rapid-Fire Q&A with Coach Medure (38:20)

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Favorite baseball player? Raul Mondesi
Favorite football player? Walter Payton (his team trains with Walter Payton-inspired beach workouts)
Favorite MLB team? The Dodgers
Favorite restaurant? True Food & ‘Ai Pono Cafe
Favorite movies? Goodfellas, Good Will Hunting, Braveheart, About Time
Favorite vacation spot? Cabo
Superstition? Won’t wash his undershirt during a winning streak

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What’s Next? (42:20)

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Coach Medure nominates Matt Haidl, John Petrie, and Trent Grindlinger as future guests for the Sunset Rewind podcast. With an elite coaching staff, deep roster, and a culture of discipline and leadership, Huntington Beach baseball is poised for another dominant season.

Thank you, Coach Medure, for joining Sunset Rewind and sharing your story!