High Schools: September 2008 Archives

Valencia sophomore Christian Lopes represented himself well for Team USA in the Pan Am Games in Veracruz, Mexico, batting .367 (11 for 30) with one home run, 10 runs and nine RBIs as the Americans finished 8-0, including a 7-3 victory Sunday over host Mexico before a crowd of 3,200 in the championship game.

Lopes played every inning of every game, starting in left field and batting sixth.

At Valencia, Lopes hit 10 home runs and started at shortstop as a freshman.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Valencia sophomore Christian Lopes, participating for the USA Baseball National Team (16-under) in the Pan Am Games in Mexico, is killing the ball. In four victories over five days, he's batting .462 (6 for 13) with five runs and two RBIs.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Dylan Jones, a top baseball player at Valencia, has committed to Oregon, according to The Signal.

As a junior, Jones batted .466 with three home runs and 22 RBIs.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Christian Lopes, who hit 10 home runs as a Valencia freshman this past spring, has been named to the USA National Team (16-under).

The team is scheduled to participate in a 10-day international tournament in Mexico beginning Friday.

I've been following Lopes since he was 10 years old when he led the William S. Hart PONY team to the Mustang World Series in Texas. Back then, he could hit a baseball 250 feet -- WAY over the fence. These days, Lopes can hit 400-foot home runs and throws a 90 mph fastball.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com