Baseball: Sierra Vista and Bishop Amat take care of business, closing in on league titles

Thursday 05/07/09

LP----10

SV-----2

The name Shane Bowers sounds familiar. Did he play at Charter Oak in the late '80s?

Glad to hear that DHS. How have the "other" pitchers done this year under the new staff? I really like Mark Garcia. He's a Damien stud, doesn't brag, does what coaches ask of him and my son tells me he's one of the nicest kids on campus. I see he's mashing from the Maxpreps stats so that's cool.

With players sometimes they only needs a coach to open up the "mental" part of any game and then God's gift really start to shine.

Tomorrow is my first Damien Baseball Varsity game of the year and hopefully the Spartans come away with a victory and make some playoff noise...either way I see Damien kids pretty excited about the program.

Who's pitching tomorrow?

Northview beat Covina 24-0 Tues and Pomona 10-0 today.

Frank

I would have to say Whitehouse development came before Gross.. Damien had a very talented pitching coached name Shane Bowers who moved on to scouting. We knew it was a matter of time before it all came together.

Yes Paez does throw some high heat and his ball does naturally move. But pitching Coach Beck calls a good game too. Once they get swinging he keeps going up the ladder. I hope we keep him happy if Nieto ever chooses to move on we're in pretty good shape. Yes, Coaching matters. I'd tend to attribute some of the Whitehouse development to that too. Kids deserve the best so they can develop to whatever potential they have. It's up to administrators to ensure that continues to happen. We're OK in most sports (still not sure what blackmail info our boys basketball coach has on MSGr though!) You guys will be fine too... as it should be.

Joey, took in the SP/BA game yesterday and that kid pitching was wicked! He throws hard and had some change of speed stuff that fooled many a Swordsmen. Funny but he threw "high heat" and everyone kept chasing..was that because the ball had allot of movement?

Spartan Fan...how much is Whitehouse's development due to Leyva and Gross? Some coaches make you "smarter" and then the casual observer thinks you're "better". Was Whitehouse this "dominating" prior Leyva/Gross" hire?

Maybe people have a hard time believing Damien has turned the corner. The playoffs should really show two things: How far Damien has come..or...How far they "yet" have to go!

Either way coaching matters and next year DHS has an opportunity to really show what they are made of by their "off season" conditioning...it's not always about just playing the game but about "PREPARING YOUR BADY TO PLAY THE GAME"...that separates the 2/3 place teams from teh eventual CHAMPIONSHIP SQUADS...

in my humble opinion when DHS starts to "hit the weights with conviction...then we'll see real change.

At least this new crop of DHS bloggers can discuss things without getting testy...and that's the best recent development.

Agreed on that group A. Put 'em all in a hat and I'd be happy with whoever you picked to throw in most games.

But ... big game... league title... CIF Championship on the line...

Who do you want? Really? And why?

Joe Amat,

I was not referring to any of the pitchers you identified, they have all lived up to their billing. I was referring to kids like our own Amrhein. He has not performed as expected, but could come back strong next year and be the man. The pitchers you identify are great. I would never take anything away from them. Frank C, group A in earlier blog could be cream of the crop. With Whitehouse at the top.

GO Damien!!

Spartan Fan Good to hear your support for Whitehouse. Which pitchers that you've seen in the Valley would you compare him closest to?

Maybe that way people can understand how dominating Whitehouse truely is.

Spartan fan...rank your Top Five..with Whitehouse clearly #1...just to get perspective.

See you tomorrow in Sparta!!!

Whitehouse is having a nice year at 6-1 with 60 Ks and 18 BB and a 2.78 ERA in 50 innings. Congrats on making the big step and being that man on the Spartans

But to come on here and say he's the best because "... The pitchers on the pre-season list ... did not live up to their billing..." does a disservice to the several guys on that list like-

Paez 7-3 , 80Ks 18 BBs in 49 innings 2.11 ERA
Zuniga 8-1 , 57Ks 17 BB in 58 innings 1.57 ERA
Calderero 6-2 , 64Ks 18 BB in 57 innings 1.72 ERA
...and more

I hardly think they are "not living up to their billing..." or have drastically inferior stats than Whitehouse

SL Chum,

What does last year have to do with anything. Read my post. Yeah he could be a one year wonder, but that will be UCI's issue not the SGV's issue. This year, I believe he is the best. I agree and clearly stated that he has not been consistent over years, but this year, in my opinion, he has done what it takes to be called the best pitcher in the valley. If you can think of someone else then name the kid, don't post "let's wait and see". I also agree, there are some real special pitchers in the valley, ie.. Paez and others, but I believe Whitehouse is the best of the best.

GO Damien!!

Nobody is knocking him it's that given this has been his best year and he was only average last year to say he is the best is short changing the ones who have been at the top consistantly. How many times have you seen one year wonders. Maybe due to the parity of the SL he looks great but let's wait for the playoffs to give him the rank of best in the valley. Not knocking him him at all just the posters who give him that rank. Be a little more open to the rest of the talent in the valley.

GREEN GLASSES,

I clearly stated that I believe Whitehouse is the best pitcher in the valley this year. I did not say he had the best HS pitching career in the valley, nor did I say he was the best HS pitcher ever to come out of the valley. What I said is that I beleive he is the best pitcher this year! If I were to select the best pitcher based on a HS career Whitehouse would not be my pick. I am looking at his performance this year and acknowledging that he wouldn't have had the year he is having had he not worked his ass off. I have seen most of the top pitchers at some point this year and I believe Whitehouse is the best of the best this year. Whitehouse has performed at a high level all year. His season has not had the peaks and valleys like all of the other pitchers, he started strong and looks like he will finish strong. Thats what the good ones do. Whitehouse has one loss all season, a 3-2 loss to the #2 ranked team in Div 2 Yucaipa.

GO Damien!!

Whitehouse is the real deal. I've seen everybody in the valley and he is right up there with the best of the best. Anybody that knocks him hasn't seen him this year.

Spartan fan,
Yes Whitehouse is having a great year but to say he is the best in the valley. You really need to take an unbiased look at the pitchers in the valley. Especially the ones who have performed at the top level for more than one year before making a statement like that. Great that he worked hard to improve but give the credit to the ones who have improved every year of their high school career.

Let's Blog,

Looks like a comprehensive list. I want to comment on M. Whitehouse. Here is a kid that had an average junior year, but worked his butt off, kept a positive attitude and focused on doing his best. In my opinion, he is the best in the valley. The pitchers on the pre-season list that did not live up to their billing can learn something from this and should not fret, just keep working hard and practice good things.

GO Damien!!

Top pre-season pitchers, now how about top pitchers now,,
Pre season
1. Eddie Pedroza, Northview, Junior
2. Paul Paez, Bishop Amat, Junior

3. Brady Zuniga, Bishop Amat, Senior
4. Nico Calderaro, Bonita, Senor
5. Kevin Ponzo, San Dimas, Senior

7. Derek Klena, South Hills, Senior
8. Adam Plutko, Glendora, Junior
9. Nick Amrhein, Damien, Junior
10. Jimmy Saucedo, South El Monte, Senior

NOW (add more if missing a few, sorry if do not know first names)

Group A Paul Paez, Matt Whitehouse (sorry we missed you congrats on uci), Brady Zuniga, Christian Huerta, Nico Calderaro, Eddie Pedroza, Andrew Melchor

Group B Kevin Ponzo, Reynoso, M. Gonzales, Adam Plutko, Derek Klena, Ken Mathews, Ruvalkaba, Ronnie Blagg, Jason Plowman, Jake Urban

Coming on, Kevin Niebla, Steven Baltierra, (Wilson sophs)

Damien Took Care of Business Also

Damien 4 - Diamond Bar 1

Another great game for Matt Whithouse. This kid is the real deal. Great job boys and coaching staff. Thank you Glendora! The next three games will be the toughest part of the season, but thats what it's gonna take to capture the Siera League championship. We are at home on Thursday so come on out and cheer on the Spartans. Stay healthy and God Bless.

GO Damien!!

Att a boy animal. They let you out of your cage and you ate St. Paul alive. Way to show your stuff. Animal is out and hungry.

Glendora 3
Chino 1
Plutko goes all 7 for the win

Amat 7 St. Paul 1 top 5

any update on the amat st. paul game?