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Former MLB veteran Royce Clayton teaching sons life lessons through baseball at Oaks Christian – Daily NewsSkip to content
Oaks Christian head coach Royce Clayton, center, slaps hands with his son Royce Clayton Jr. during their game against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
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CALABASAS — If you were a fly on the wall at Royce Clayton’s house, you might expect to hear a lot of baseball talk. He did play in the MLB for 17 years, and was even an All-Star in 1997.
But that’s not the case, according to Clayton, who is embarking on his sixth year as the head baseball coach at Oaks Christian, and coaching his two sons, senior Royce Jr. and sophomore Elijah.
“There’s not a whole lot of baseball at home,” Clayton said. “I’m dad at home. Whatever they want to do baseball-wise, they can go do it on their own.”
The father-son coaching dynamic can be tricky, and it can be even trickier after a loss, like the 7-0 defeat Oaks Christian suffered Thursday afternoon to Calabasas. It was the Lions’ first Marmonte League loss after starting 4-0, including a 2-0 win over Calabasas Tuesday.
Oaks Christian head coach Royce Clayton talks to his players during their game against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian’s Owen Tross pitches against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Calabasas’ Sam Grunberg knocks in two runs with a hit against Oaks Christian, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Calabasas Peter Lynch pitches against Oaks Christian, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian baserunner Elijah Clayton signals safe after stealing second base against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Calabasas Matthew Witkow runs into Oaks Christian catcher Leonardo Baez while scoring on a hit, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian’s Jaden Onaca gets hit by a pitch against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Calabasas teammates greet Sam Grunberg in the dugout after he knocked in two runs against Oaks Christian, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Calabasas Jordan Jaffe, left, and Matthew Witkow collide while fielding a pop fly against Oaks Christian, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Calabasas head coach Shaun Kort argues a call with an umpire during their game against Oaks Christian, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Calabasas’ Sam Grunberg reacts after hitting a two-run double against Oaks Christian, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian head coach Royce Clayton, center, slaps hands with his son Royce Clayton Jr. during their game against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian catcher Leonardo Baez tags out Calabasas’ Devin Gasway while trying to score on a hit, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian second baseman Elijah Clayton forces out Calabasas’ Phoenix Call on a double play, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian head coach Royce Clayton, center, watches as his sons Royce Clayton Jr., left, and Elijah Clayton prepare to bat during their game against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian’s Royce Clayton Jr. ducks away from a pitch during their game against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian head coach Royce Clayton talks to his players during their game against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Oaks Christian head coach Royce Clayton, right, talks with his son Royce Clayton Jr., left, during their game against Calabasas, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
Calabasas third baseman Matthew Witkow dives for a hit by Oaks Christian, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Calabasas High School. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker, contributing photographer)
“After the game’s over, it’s over,” Clayton said. “I encourage the parents to be the same way. The last thing these kids need is to hear at home what happened (at the game).”
“If they made an error, they know what they did,” Clayton added.
Royce Jr. has 11 hits this season with a team-leading three triples. Elijah leads the team in hits with 17 and steals with seven. He’s batting .362 as the team’s lead-off hitter. Their games are different, and so are their personalities.
“Elijah is a little more like I was,” Clayton said laughing. “He likes to spend his extra time grinding at baseball, hitting in the batting cage. Royce has a much healthier balance. He loves to surf, he played soccer. Honestly, I prefer Royce’s approach — go enjoy life.”
Oaks Christian is 11-4 overall this season, a huge uptick from last season’s six-win season. Juniors Finley Buckner and Jaden Onaca, along with senior pitcher Owen Tross make up a talented core.
The Marmonte League plays a three-game series each week. This week’s Calabasas-Oaks Christian rubber match will be played at Calabasas Friday at 3:30 p.m.
“That’s the beauty of baseball. There’s always another game to play,” Clayton said. “You have to have short-term memory. That’s a life lesson I teach my sons and players, and baseball is a tool that helps me do that.”
Peter Lynch led Calabasas (11-3) from the mound Thursday with seven strikeouts in five inning of work. Phoenix Call, Sam Grunberg and Nate Castellon each had two RBIs.
Agoura 3, Thousand Oaks 2: Myles Kallinger hit a walk-off single with the bases loaded to win the game. Ethan Kearney went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
Newbury Park 11, Westlake 5: Quinn Haggerty went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and scored two runs in the Panthers’ victory.
