Ron Dargo, 69, who pitched Crawford High to the 1962 San Diego Section baseball championship, passed away recently at his home in Spring Valley.
Dargo, a lefthander, and  John Allison, who pitched from the right side, led a late-season Colts playoff push after they finished second to San Diego in the Eastern League race.
The Colts, who finished with a 19-6 record, defeated lefty Dave Varvel and El Capitan, 9-0, as Dargo completed a seven-inning shutout in the championship game at Westgate Park, home of the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres.
Dargo hurled one of Crawford’s two other postseason victories.  He  surrendered three runs in the first inning in the first playoff against Helix but pitched shutout, two-hit ball the rest of the way and beat the Highlanders and their ace, George Sherrod, 4-3.
Dargo went on to pitch for coach Ed Sanclemente at San Diego City College and Mesa College and for Lyle Olsen at San Diego State. He led the Aztecs with 95 innings pitched, 12 starts, and 8 victories in 1967.
“Ron had a good fastball and curve, was a very good hitter, and  a great teammate, remembered Tom Whelan, who was Dargo’s  catcher at Crawford and at San Diego State.
Following college, Dargo embarked on a long military career.  He retired as a U.S. Navy Commander and became active in the local sports fishing industry.
Hi Rick:
After editor stints at San Diego Magazine and San Diego Home/Garden, I’m now semi-retired, but I keep busy by working with Saints Principal James Horne to publish the school’s monthly newsletter to parents and the Saints Community.
We’re always looking for good copy, and we noticed your post on Saints early entry into City Prep League back in the 1950s. We would like to reprint your blog post in an upcoming issue.
Also, thanks for posting the Ron Dargo obit. I went to Crawford (’63) and never made the baseball team. I tried out all three years I was there and with the likes of Dargo, Bob Boone, Eddie Herrman, Tom Whelan, Tom Cassie and Dave Duncan not many of us had that level of talent. But thanks to the City’s great parks and Rec baseball league during the 60s with coaches like Colina del Sol’s Hal Mitrovich, Bob Warner and the ancient one Bill Whitakker many of the Crawford cast offs played summer baseball and loved every minute of it. To me Hal Mitrovich was one of the finest human beings I ever met. He even came to my wedding years later.
But, thanks to the North County Mens Senior Baseball League I now play 3rd base for the North County Giants. It’s hardball not softball and it is pure joy to still be able to play decently at our age.
All the best to you
Tom Shess
Saints Scene Coordinator
North Park
I hope you don’t mind us reprinting your note. Use whatever you need. And I agree wholeheartedly with what you say about Hal Mitrovich, a classy guy.