HS BASE: Get ready for City vs. Southern Section on Saturday

It's been well-proven the Southern Section always beats up on the City Section in all-star games, right?

Not in baseball.

The City has won 2 of 3 heading into the fourth annual City vs. Southern Section All-Star Baseball Game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa, and though the Southern Section team is stacked this year, City co-coach John Gonzalez of Banning is not willing to give an inch.

"Not at all. We have some good baseball teams in the City Section," Gonzalez said. "The top tier can compete very well."

The Southern Section features some of the Valley area's biggest names such as Austin Wilson of Harvard-Westlake of Studio City, Brando Tessar of Chaminade of West Hills and Lonnie Kauppila of Burbank - all drafted by major league teams this past week - while the City Section has the top locals from schools like El Camino Real of Woodland Hills and Birmingham of Lake Balboa, plus outside participants from Banning, San Pedro, Westchester and Crenshaw of L.A.

Both are stacked with quality pitchers, as Tyler Abbott of Royal of Simi Valley is scheduled to start for the Southern Section against John Mata of San Pedro.

Don't expect many bunts or take signs. These graduating seniors from both teams are going to swing away.

"I think we're pretty good. We're pretty physical, and I think we can hit the ball," Southern Section co-coach Jared Snyder of Valencia said. "Any all-star game comes down to pitching, and we've got some guys that can throw a little bit, so that helps, too."

The teams have practiced together, and for Gonzalez the best part is seeing rival players form new bonds once they're united for the first time.

"It's fun to watch the young guys who have played against each other for years get on the same team together," Gonzalez said. "The kids always have a good time, and they understand what it's like to play with someone who loves the game just as much as they do. They appreciate it."

The Southern Section, co-coached by Dennis Reitz (Agoura), is thick with power hitters like Wilson, Tessar and Kauppila, along with Ryon Healy (Crespi), David Armendariz (Notre Dame), Kyle Eaton (Valencia) and Jimmy Sherfy (Newbury Park).

The City Section, co-coached by Edgar Maldonado (Arleta), counters with Mitch Bluman and Kyle Keppel of El Camino Real of Woodland Hills and Jakob Johnson and Ronnie Galosic of San Pedro, along with Cody deSpain (Taft), Dominique Starks (Westchester) and Leijon Baker (Crenshaw).

With 46 of the Southland's top players on display, plus a pregame home run contest -- all for only $3 -- it should be a great night of baseball and a rewarding opportunity to bid farewell to the area's best who are representing their schools and communities one last time.

SHOULD BE A BIG HIT

For the pregame home run derby, sponsored by Louisville Slugger, the City Section participants are Bluman, deSpain, Starks and Baker.

Snyder said Wilson, Eaton and Healy would participate for the Southern Section, but the coach was not sure whom would fill the fourth spot.

"I think the sleeper is Starks, the Westchester kid," event organizer Matt Mowry said. "He has some pop in his bat."

SERIES HISTORY

2009 - City Section 10, Southern Section 1 - Chatsworth's Andy Weissberg (2 for 2, one RBI) earned MVP honors, as nine pitchers held the Southern Section to five hits.

2008 - Southern Section 5, City Section 0 -Jenzen Torres of Hart drove in three runs, as the City managed two hits and struck out 14 times.

2007 - City Section 5, Southern Section 1 - El Camino Real's Tyler Kolodny, Todd Eskelin and Dominic Danna each drove in a run for the City Section.

FOURTH ANNUAL CITY VS. SOUTHERN SECTION ALL-STAR BASEBALL GAME
When: 6 p.m. Saturday (home run derby 4 p.m.)
Where: Birmingham High, Lake Balboa (corner of Balboa & Victory)
Coaches: Jared Snyder and Dennis Reitz, Southern Section; John Gonzalez and Edgar Maldonado, City Section
Tickets: $3