"It was a hard decision (to retire)," said Gualco, a First-Team All-City pitcher at St. Ignatius in 1962 and 1963, and at USF ace from 1965-1966 when the Dons were independent. He won the Green and Gold Loyalty Award for Baseball in 1967. "I left coaching in 1994 to spend time with my two kids. Now that they're grown up, I started thinking I'd like to go here, go there, with my wife, and I can't while teaching (SFGate)."
Gualco, came to Washington High in 1981 as Coach and also taught for 34 years. Gualco leaves with four city baseball titles in 1982, 1991, 1993, and 1994. The 1991 and 1993 teams also won the San Francisco-Oakland crowns, and he guided the Eagles to a city Softball Championship in 1981.
Even though graduation and professional contracts stole several members of the team which almost received an independent bid to the NCAA Regionals, the USF varsity team drew praise from all who watched. With help from J.C. transfer Bill Barnes, and a group of outstanding men from last year's freshman team, the Don nine worked itself in to a well-knit group. The most outstanding players of these freshmen were Bob Pindroh, who played for Grand Junction, Colorado, last summer, power-hitting third baseman Nick Willard, and flashy second baseman Rich Kuhle.Â
Returning from last year's squad were such solid performers as Larry Marrietti, Jim Beasley, Skip Schafer, Dave Gonsalves, Gene Cervanta, and Joe Gill. Tops on the pitching staff were Frank Burch, Carl Boyer, Mike Green, and Joe Gualco. They were helped by Roger strack up from the Frosh. The loss of captains Larry Marrietti, and Jim Beasley, pitchers Frank Burch and Mike Green, and outfielder Ed Subica, will definitely be felt. But the men to watch next year are Joe Gualco, Carl Boyer, Bob Pindroh, Rick Kuhta, Nick Willard, and Gene Cervanta. Coach McGlynn has excellent material on his team (TheDon).
