Photo by Stephen Dachman
Prep baseball fans can get one last glimpse of the top graduating seniors when the Moore League All-Stars take on their counterparts from the San Gabriel Valley League on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. at Paramount High School.
The annual event pits the best seniors from both leagues and this year’s game is loaded with talent.
Scott Glasser (Millikan) and Jess Gonzalez (Downey) will manage this year’s game after both won their respective league titles.
The Moore League is led by pitchers Marcos Lara (Jordan), Jonathan Worrell (Lakewod), Andrew Culver (Millikan), J.T. Mazalewski (Wilson) and Poly’s Mario Gordon.
The big bats for Glasser include Matt Duffy (Lakewood), Jonathan Singleton (Millikan), David Peters (Lakewood), Kevin Nanbara (Poly) and Wilson’s Bryan Haver.
The rest of the Moore League roster is represented by Millikan’s Emmy Antonaras, Brandon Sadler, Cody Hazel and Ralph Davis.
Jalontae Johnson and Israel Rodriguez of Cabrillo will join Jovan Bronson and Ernesto Tellez of Compton.
Jordan’s Steven Reeves and Pedro Torres will team with Wilson’s Tanner Perkins and Poly’s Noah Barrick to round out the Moore League roster.
The San Gabriel Valley League pitching staff is anchored by Downey’s Chris Munoz and Jesse Silva and Paramount’s Eddie Magallon.
Downey’s Michael Mazzara, Bryan De La Campa, Ivory Thomas, Mark Palacios and Cesar Valtierra will join Paramount’s Gabriel Lopez and Ramon Becerra and Gahr’s Broderick Van Wijngaerde and Brandon Krause offensively for the SGVL.
Warren is represented by Christian Cota, Mason Shelton and Oscar Wood.
Lynwood’s Pascual Garcia will also join the SGVL squad.
Analysis:
The Moore League has a definite advantage on the mound with hard-throwing Worrell, Lara and Gordon, but the SGVL is a deeper hitting team.
Players to watch:
(SGVL) **Downey’s Chris Munoz had the most complete year of anyone in Long Beach-area prep baseball. He hit .451 with 32 hits and drove in 33 runs, with six doubles, five triples and an area-best nine home runs. Munoz was also 8-2 on the mound with a 0.87 ERA. He threw five complete games and struck out 72 batters in 61 innings and had a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
** Paramount’s Eddie Magallon will play one last game on a field that the right-hander has helped win at least a share of three SGVL titles and went 25-5 with a less than 2.00 ERA over his varsity career. He struck out an area-high 90 batter this season for the Pirates.
**Ivory Thomas (Downey) will play next season for Cal State Fullerton and despite not seeing a lot of pitches this season, the senior hit .360, stole 24 bases and played an impeccable center field.
**Michael Mazzara (Downey) had an outstanding year with a .417 average and had 37 Rbi’s.
(Moore League)
**Lakewood’s Jonathan Worrell (6-2, 1.52 ERA) is one of the area’s premier pitchers and battled back strongly after being sidelined by kidney stones.
**Marcos Lara (Jordan) (6-5, 1.18 ERA) was the most unlucky pitcher because of the ‘Bad News Bears-like’ defense behind him, but still managed to strike out a league-best 65 batters. Lara has top-flight stuff and will succeed when he plays for a team that can make plays behind him.
**Jonathan Singleton (Millikan) was drafted 257th overall by the Phillies, which is based more on his potential than his .330 average as a senior for the Moore League champions. Singleton has the body and potential to be a star if all the pieces fall into place.
**David Peters (Lakewood) The Lancers catcher was drafted in the 16th round by Florida after hitting .389 and led the Moore League with 39 RBI’s.
The game should be a must-see for baseball purists and a last chance for the best senior’s to play with and against their peers.