RIP Ken Houle Serra Baseball

[Where Are They Now]

Serra HS Iconic baseball coach Ken Houle, who led Serra of San Mateo from 1956 to 1975, has passed away. He coached major leaguers Jim Fregosi, Norm Angelini, Danny Frisella, Tim Cullen, Randy Gomez and Premier Baseball scout Gary Hughes. He also served as AD.

Mr. Houle is the grandfather of current first-year Padre Head baseball coach Chris Houle.

 

[colhenrylives]

Ken, along with the late Ed Fennelly of Riordan, was a key component in the creation of the WCAL out of the old CAL, in 1967-68 as well. Convincing St. Ignatius officials that a new West Bay-only Catholic league would suit their needs, due to serious issues with the San Francisco AAA at the time, was critical. Once that was accomplished, Sacred Heart (Cathedral) was pretty much forced to come on board the new league after a short period of hesitation. The result of Ken's (and Ed's) work a half-century ago can be seen today as the WCAL has evolved into one of California's best and most competitive prep sporting circuits. So the legacy of men like Ken and Ed lives on.

 

[colhenrylives]

Unfortunately, the decision to split the old CAL into separate East and West circuits eventually doomed what remained in the East Bay. It took 20 years after the founding of the WCAL but, finally, the East Bay-only CAL was disbanded on orders of the North Coast Section. Schools like O'Dowd, St. Elizabeth's, St. Joseph's, St. Marys (B), etc., were forced to dismantle their arrangement and join public school leagues in their area. They fought the mandate but lost.

 

[colhenrylives]

Another Ken Houle recollection: In an interview decades ago, he said his best Serra baseball players were Jim Fregosi, Tim Cullen, Jim McGinnis, Danny Frisella and Mike Noonan. He noted that Norm Angelini did not flourish at Serra; he did so, however, at nearby College of San Mateo under the guidance of legendary baseball coach John Noce. Angelini, Frisella, Fregosi and Cullen were all major league players.