Baseball: July 2008 Archives

The Cleveland of Reseda baseball team hasn't beaten West Valley League rival Chatsworth in the regular season since 2002.

So when the Cavaliers finally pulled off a victory against the Chancellors on June 28 in a Valley Invitational Baseball League game, they thought they had turned a corner.

Not so fast.

The Chancellors, behind a complete game effort from Michael Renner, not only avenged the defeat last month, but won the championship game of the 32 team league in a 4-1 victory at Birmingham of Lake Balboa.

Renner gave up one unearned run on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Renner had runners on base in the first five innings but got stronger as the game went on and retired the last seven batters to end the game.

"I just tried to stay focused and keep myself plugged in," Renner said. "It was all about my defense. I count on them for everything. The defense has been there all summer."

Chatsworth scored three runs off Cleveland starter John Wilson in the second inning on a double, walk, two singles and a sacrifice fly.

Kasey Toven singled and had two RBI for Chatsworth. Andy Weissberg singled, walked and scored two runs.

Cleveland scored its lone run in the fifth when leadoff hitter Juan Perez singled and came around on a Toven throwing error.

Wilson lasted only two innings yielding three runs on four hits with two walks and two wild pitches.

The performance was in stark contrast to his combined two hit effort with two other pitchers back on June 28 in a 6-0 victory.

Nik Turley, a top pitcher from Harvard Westlake, has signed with the New York Yankees as a 50th round draft choice, bypassing a BYU scholarship.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Ex-Saugus standout Tyler Brubaker hit a game-winning home run in the 10th inning Sunday in a Connie Mack League state-playoff final, propelling Playa Vista into the Western Regionals beginning Wednesday in Long Beach (also games in Huntington Beach)..

The tournament winner advances to the Connie Mack World Series in New Mexico.

Other top players for Playa Vista include Nik Turley (Harvard-Westlake), Jack Marder (Newbury Park), Bryan Berglund (Royal), Shon Roe (Quartz Hill) and Brandon Van Dam (Quartz Hill).

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Thousand Oaks' Tom Hocutt has committed to Biola after batting .363 with four home runs, 28 RBIs this past season.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

\

Drew Sandler, a top returning catcher/pitcher at Simi Valley, has committed to UC Irvine.

Sandler played a key role in Simi Valley's Div. I championship run this past season, finishing with a .343 batting average, four home runs and 25 RBs, plus a 6-3 record with a 2.76 ERA.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Jim Stueve, who went 8-23 at Oaks Christian this past season, is the new baseball coach at Thousand Oaks, replacing Frank Mutz, now at Chaminade.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Northridge Little League, consistently among Southern California's top programs through the years, went 5-0 to win the District 40 baseball championship - beating host Sherman Oaks 7-3 on Wednesday in the final to qualify for the Section 2 tournament in Quartz Hill beginning on Saturday.

Nick Ortega, Nick Milone and Renee Deleon have supplied pitching and lots of home run power - Ortega hit what league rep George Frangie swears was a 300-foot home run a few games back - but the competition figures to get a lot tougher in the coming weeks.

After sectionals, there is the 10-team Southern California Divisionals, the Western Regionals, then the World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Granada Hills remains the only San Fernando Valley-area program to win a Little League World Series, and that was back in 1963. David Sehnam, now a Crespi assistant, was the winning pitcher in the championship game, the first televised nationally by ABC.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Third baseman Trevor Nathanson, a graduating senior from Calabasas, has committed to Div. III Cal State East Bay in Hayward, according to the Ventura County Star.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Aaron Hicks, the former Long Beach Wilson who you'll remember as a playoff opponent against Hart and Simi Valley in the Southern Section Div. I playoffs this past season, is tearing it up in the Gulf Coast rookie league.

The Twins' first-round draft choice is 7 for 12 with a home run over the past two games, raising his average to .354 with 10 RBIs in 11 games. It looks like the plan is for Hicks to be a full-time outfielder even though he throws 95 mph.

Also, Calvin Culver, formerly of Quartz Hill and Pierce College, is performing well in the Gulf Coast League for the Braves' affiliate. Culver, who I've covered since his Little League days at Park View in Lancaster (oh what a player he was, even as a 12-year-old) is batting .288 with one home run in 15 games.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Jonathan Meyer, Simi Valley, INF, Jr. - Meyer was the star slugger and top relief pitcher in leading the Pioneers to the Div. I championship. He batted .386 with nine HRs and 43 RBIs, and also was 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA and five saves.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Meyer is an intimidating presence in the batter's box, and with the ability to hit a home run at any time, he strikes fear into opposing pitchers.

Defensively, he shows good range and improved as the year moved forward, often coming through with spectacular plays that no one but Meyer could have made.

It will be fun charting Meyer's success as his career continues. He already has committed to Cal State Fullerton, but many agree Meyer has the makings of a Major Leaguer.

FIRST TEAM

Jett Bandy, Thousand Oaks, C, Sr. - Mission League MVP batted .373 with nine HRs, 26 RBIs and .827 slugging percentage. Also walked 22 times and was hit by a pitch 18 times, and he was a top defensive player.

Trevor Bauer, Hart, P, Jr. - Among California's top underclassmen, Bauer's fastball has been clocked at 94 mph. Bauer (12-0, 0.79 ERA) set the school win record and struck out 106 in 70 innings.

Cutter Dykstra, Westlake, OF, Sr. - Dykstra, son of former Major Leaguer Lenny Dykstra, was one of the Marmonte League's most feared hitters, drawing 21 walks. Finished with a .473 average, five HRs and 18 RBIs.

Carlos Gonzalez, Kennedy, P/3B, Sr. - One of the City Section's top players, Gonzalez shined as a hitter and pitcher in carrying the Cougars to City semifinals. Batted .435 with eight HRs and 43 RBIs, and also won eight games on mound.

Tyler Johnson, Crespi, P, Sr. - Johnson was 10-0 with a 1.06 ERA to finish his three-year career 20-0, one of the few pitchers to Southern Section history never to lose a game. Johnson had a 1.06 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 66 innings.

Kris Kauppila, Crescenta Valley, INF, Sr. - Terrific with his bat and his glove, Kauppila was one of the area's most dazzling talents. Finished with .500 average, four home runs and 30 RBIs, and was a top shortstop.

Christian Lopes, Valencia, INF, Fr. - Lopes is a star on the rise, one of the few freshmen ever to earn first-team All-Daily News honors. He finished with a .408 average, 10 HRs (seven over final 10 games), 33 runs and 24 RBIs, hitting two HRs in final game vs. Simi Valley.

Jack Marder, Newbury Park, INF, Jr. - Few players could match Marder's numbers, as the junior led the Marmonte League with a .519 average. He also hit 14 doubles and scored 29 runs.

Michael Montgomery, Hart, P, Sr. - A dominant left-hander who throws 93 mph with pin-point control, Montgomery finished 8-2 with a 1.41 ERA and 99 strikeouts and just 25 walks in 69 innings.

Nik Rodarte, Notre Dame, UTIL, Sr. - Excelling as a pitcher, hitter and first baseman, the Mission League MVP was winning pitcher in Div. III championship, finishing11-1 with 2.06 ERA, along with .343 average, three HRs and 32 RBIs.

Nick Russo, Simi Valley, P/UTIL, Sr.- Russo (9-2, 1.74 ERA) was at his best in Div. I championship, earning the win and contributing key two-run double at Dodger Stadium. Batted .386 with three HRs and 19 RBIs in just 44 ABs.

Trevor Takeyama, Chatsworth, P, Sr. - Takeyama (14-1, 1.81 ERA), was at his best during the playoffs, earning the win in final three games, including 7-2 win in final. City Player of Year.

Brandon Van Dam, Quartz Hill, Util, Sr. -- A top threat as a hitter and a pitcher, the 6-foot-7 Van Dam helped carry Quartz Hill to the Div. III semifinals. Batted .390 with six HRs and 26 RBIs, and finished 10-2 with 2.21 ERA.

Zach Vincej, Saugus, INF, Jr. - A three-year standout, Vincej had another banner season, batting .447 with 30 runs and a .580 on-base percentage, while committing just three errors at shortstop.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH: Matthew Troupe, P, Granada Hills, Fr.. - Troupe was the star in a 1-0 victory over Bell in the City Invitational championship at Dodger Stadium, pitching a four-hit shutout and contributing two hits.

COACH OF YEAR: Tom Meusborn, Chatsworth - The Chancellors weren't supposed to as strong as usual because of the graduation of four-year standouts Mike Moustakas and Matt Dominguez, both first-round draft choices, but Meusborn's business-like approach and building focus worked wonders.

Even without its usual star power, Chatsworth dominated in the City playoffs, culiminating in a 7-2 victory over Narbonne in the City Championship at Dodger Stadium, Chatsworth's second consecutive title and eighth overall (seven under Meusborn).

SECOND TEAM
Malcom Culver, Palmdale, INF
Kelly Dugan, Notre Dame, INF
Trevor Gee, Notre Dame, INF
Sean Gilmartin, Crespi, UTIL
Shane Kroker, Westlake, INF
Jacob Mahan, Camarillo, INF
Alex Mejia, ECR, INF
Edgar Olmos, Birmingham, P
Jeremy Rodriguez, Crespi, C
Shon Roe, Quartz Hill, INF
Greg Selarz Calabasas, P
Steve Selsky, Loyola, UTIL
Chad Smith, Thousand Oaks, P
Eric Smith, La Canada, INF
Richard Stock, Agoura, OF
Michael Tonkin, Palmdale, P
Jenzen Torres, Hart, INF
Mike Vinyard, Royal, C
Christian Yelich, Westlake, 1B
James Wharton, Chatsworth, IB


HONORABLE MENTION:
Ricky Alvarez, San Fernando, INF; Greg Armendarez, Cleveland, UTIL; Alex Birgel, Thousand Oaks, OF; Michael Booth ECR, UTIL; Tyler Brubaker, Saugus, OF;
Chance Cross, Simi Valley, OF; Dewey Gratton, Moorpark, IB; Ryan Hawthorne, Crespi, UTIL; Tom Hocutt, Thousand Oaks, IB; Matt Hartunian, Montclair Prep, UTIL; Dylan Jones, Valencia, OF; Carlos Lopez, Crespi, INF; Travis McBride, Quartz Hill, C; Robbie Mousselli, Valencia, UTIL; Drew Sandler, Simi Valley, UTIL; JoJo Sharar, Newbury Park, C; Danny Susdorf, Hart, OF; Karl Turner, Alemany, IB; Nik Turley, Harvard-Westlake, P; Greg Zebrack, Campbell Hall, OF.



League champions

Alpha: Whitter Christian
Foothill: Hart
Frontier: Bishop Diego & Carpinteria
Golden: Quartz Hill
Heritage: Santa Clarita Christian
Liberty: Viewpoint
Marmonte: Simi Valley & Thousand Oaks
Mission: Crespi
Northern: Marshall
Olympic: Campbell Hall
Pacific: Crescenta Valley
Pacific View: Oxnard
Prep: Pasadena Poly
Rio Hondo: Monrovia
Santa Fe: St. Anthony
Sunset Six: Verdugo Hills
Tri-Valley: St. Bonaventure
Valley: Arleta
Valley Mission: Kennedy
West Valley: Chatsworth

SECTION CHAMPIONS
Div. I: Simi Valley
Div. III: Notre Dame
Div. VII: Viewpoint
City Championship: Chatsworth
City Invitational: Granada Hills

DAILY NEWS FINAL TOP 10

1. Notre Dame (27-4) - Won Div. III championshiop at Dodger Stadium
2. Simi Valley (25-8) - Dethroned defending Div. I champ Long Beach Wilson in final
3. Chatsworth (29-5) - Won second City title in row, eighth overall
4. Hart (23-7) - Led by star pitchers Michael Montgomery and Trevor Bauer
5. Quartz Hill (25-6-2) - Team loved to hit home runs in windy Antelope Valley
6. Valencia (22-8) - Another strong season for talented Foothill League program
7. Crespi (23-6) - A great season until surprise second-round Div. III playoff loss
8. Thousand Oaks (20-10) - Led by slugger Jett Bandy, Lancers could swing with best of 'em.
9. Kennedy (22-11-1) - Caught fire at end of season until loss in semi's to eventual City champ Chatsworth
10. Cleveland (25-8-1) - Rode its deep pitching staff to City semifinals
OTHERS: Crescenta Valley (19-6); Saugus (17-10); Camarillo (19-8); Royal (19-9); Loyola (18-13).

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Michael Montgomery signed for close to $1 million and he's pitching like it.

The No. 36 pick overall in the first round supplemental by the Royals, the recent Hart grad, a 6-foot-5 left-hander, has yet to allow a run in three pitching performances in Rooke League in Arizona. In 5 1/3 innings, Montomery has a 0,00 ERA and six strikeouts with two hits allowed and one walk..

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com