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After a dreadful start that included a .197 batting average through the first month of his first minor-league baseball season, bonus baby Michael Moustakas has caught fire in a big way.

The 19-year-old third baseman from Chatsworth High leads the Single-A Midwest League with 20 home runs -- including five over a three-game span this past week -- and his raised his average to .260 with 60 RBIs in 109 games for Burlington, Iowa.

Moustakas is thrilled.

"I'm having a great time just doing what I love to do every day. You can't beat it," said Moustakas, who signed for $4.1 million. "Yes, I miss home a lot, but I'm happy to be out here pursuing my dream."

Moustakas, who finished his prep career as California's all-time career home run leader, was humbled by his slow but never lost confidence.

"I was just trying to get used to everything, and playing in cold weather every day in April didn't help," Moustakas said. "It rained all the time, and it was cold."

Moustakas was grateful that it never got to the point where fans were booing him.

"These Burlington fans are good fans. They weren't booing but you could tell they're were getting a little anxious," Moustakas said.

Minor-league baseball is a grind with 16-hours days, sometimes seven days a week. Yet Moustakas said he somehow found time to follow Chatsworth's successful drive to a second consecutive City Section championship this past spring.

"Coach (Tom) Meusborn never rebuilds, just reloads," Moustakas said. "From the very beginning, I had no doubt Chatsworth would win another championship. Meusborn could take pretty much any group of players and make them a winning team."

As for the other half of Chatsworth's former M & M boys, Matt Dominguez -- drafted later in the first round by the Florida Marlins -- Moustakas has remained close friends.

"I speak to Matt all the time -- at least once a week," Moustakas said. "I might have more home runs, but Matty has a higher average (.292, nine home runs for Single-A Greenboro, N.C.). He could always hit. I'm proud of him."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

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

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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

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

While former Chatsworth standout Mike Moustakas countinues to struggle in his first full minor league season in the Royals organization -- the shortstop's average has plummeted to .225 after going 1 for his last 20 at Burlington, Iowa -- the other half of Chatsworth's M & M boys, Matt Dominguez, is kicking some serious butt.

Dominguez, a third baseman in the Marlins organization, hit a home run Tuesday while going 3 for 5, raising his average to .354 with two home runs in 54 at-bats for Greensboro, N.C. -- including going 9 for 21 (.429) over the past four games.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

PHOTO OF MATT DOMINGUEZ

Mike Moustakas, who set California's all-time career home run record at Chatsworth before joining the Royals organization last year as the No. 2 pick overall, is on a hot streak after a slow start.

The bonus baby has two home runs over his past three games at single-A Burlington (Iowa) and has raised his average to .210 with three home runs and seven RBIs (five over past six games) in 100 at-bats.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

It has taken a while, but Mike Moustakas, California's all-time HR leader while in high school at Chatsworth, hit his first professional home run Monday for single-A Burlington (Iowa), The No. 2 overall pick in the draft by the Royals, Moustakas is batting .214 with three RBIs (two Monday) in 42 at-bats.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Former Chatsworth star Mike Moustakas, California's all-time home run hitter who was drafted No. 2 overall by the Royals, continues to struggle at single-A Burlington, Iowa. In 50 at-bats, the shortstop is batting .220 with no extra-base hits and one RBI. Moustakas, who signed for a reported $4 million bonus, has struck nine times and committed five errors.