By Steve Ramirez, SGVN
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La Habra High School’s Aaron Porter and Maleena Esparza lead the selections for the 16th Whittier Rotary All-Star Classic, the rotary club announced this week.
The 16th annual baseball game, which features the top seniors in the area, is scheduled for York Field on June 6 at 6 p.m. The 10th annual softball game will be at 3 p.m., also on June 6.
Porter, the reigning Daily News Football Player of the Year and who could be picked in the early rounds of the upcoming Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, led the area in home runs with eight, and RBIs with 34. He finished the season with a .489 batting average to help La Habra win it’s first Freeway League title since 2004. The Highlanders finished 17-11 and advanced to the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Divsion 4 playoffs, losing to Jurupa Valley, 6-3.
Esparza, is the reigning Daily News Softball Player of the Year. She has an area-best 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. The senior is also hitting .562 for La Habra, which is 23-8 and has advanced to next week’s CIF-Southern Section Division 4 semifinals. The Highlanders beat Dos Pueblos, 2-1, on Thursday.
Porter is one of four players from La Habra to be selected to the Blue Team, joined by Chad Ferreira, Spencer Long and Josh Staumont. Also selected to the Blue Team are El Rancho’s Juan Aguilar, Victor Garcia, Marcos Martinez and Kevin Rodriguez; La Serna’s Daniel Balzano, Alex Garcia, Taylor Lowinger and Jared Wight; Pioneer’s Patrick Jimenez; Schurr’s Oscar Sarabia; Sonora’s Mitchell Downing, Brandon Munoz, Nick Piraino and Brandon Quintero and Whittier Christian’s Billy Grant and Mark Sandison.
The Blue Team is coached by El Rancho’s Frank Llanes.
California’s Nathan Blount and La Mirada’s Ali Anthony, two of the better pitchers in the area this spring, led the Red Team selections. Also on the squad are California’s Michael Davis, Keith Gallardo and Luis Gallegos; La Mirada’s Michael Hemenway and Austin Rojo; Montebello’s Tony Monroy, Raymond Orozco and Sivestre Sanchez; Santa Fe’s Bryce Brooks, Ramon Lizarraga, Gilbert Medina and Romeo Prado; St. Paul’s Jonah Jimenez, Kevin Romo and Jorge Zepeda and Whittier’s Brandon Fortenberry, Jose Romero and Damain Salcedo.
The Red Team is coached by Santa Fe’s Pierre Romo.
Esparza is one of three players from La Habra named to the Red Team. She is joined by teammates Shanin Thomas and Cami Jacob. Also selected to the Red Team are California’s Meah Lopez, Christina Pantages and Karly Perez; El Rancho’s Samantha Alvarez, Alejandra Barcenas, Katherine Flores and Jamie Ramirez; Pioneer’s Cynthia Quintana; Santa Fe’s Reina Bernal, Jazzmin Espinoza, Elena Gallego, Arianna Hernandez and Jazzmin Hernandez and Whittier Christian’s Mandi Perez.
Santa Fe’s Randi Berg will coach the Red Team.
Selected to the Blue Team are Anisa Carrasco, Danielle Elizrraraz, Alendrina Pichardo and Jackie Valdez; Montebello’s Valerie Aguilar, April Marquez and Celeste Rodriguez; Schurr’s Alexandra Campo, Jamee Rivera, Jessica Rivera, Aishia Ruiz and Monique Troncoza; St. Paul’s Justine Almanza, Jackie Mendoza and Breana West and Whittier’s Larissa Andrade, Alexandra Romero and Ilene Ruiz.
Schurr’s Jackie Montanez-Ramirez is the Blue Team coach.
The event, which helps support the Whittier Rotary Club’s charitable organizations, will also feature a luncheon at the Radisson Hotel on June 5 at 11:45 a.m., and a home run derby before between the baseball and softball games.
The luncheon will feature former MLB player Al Martin as guest speaker. Tickets for the luncheon are $15, which also includes admission to the game-day events. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or by calling R.D. McDonnell at 562-907-4426.