The Merced Sun-Star reports longtime Merced College baseball coach Chris Pedretti "has opted to take a sabbatical for the upcoming school year."
Pedretti, the 2009 Northern California Coach of the Year, has been the Blue Devils' head coach for 30 years. His teams have made nine straight playoff appearances and three straight Super Regionals.
Pedretti is reportedly leaving to "travel to other schools and learn what they're doing successfully with the academics of student athletes." In his absence, assistant coach Nate Devine will take over the team.
