There’s no shortage of stars

Batters in the Marmonte League might have a better chance of winning the lottery than hitting a ground ball to shortstop and reaching base.

That’s because there are six shortstops who have signed with or are committed to NCAA Division I schools.

There’s no league in the country that can match the Marmonte “Super Six” -- Cal State Fullerton-bound Jonathan Meyer of Simi Valley, Oregon State-bound Tyler Smith of Thousand Oaks, UCLA-bound Christian Yelich of Westlake, Oregon-bound Jack Marder of Newbury Park, USC-bound Adam Landecker of Calabasas and Pepperdine-bound Cody Buckel of Royal.

Imagine if the league’s eight coaches had to sit in a room and choose one player for all-league shortstop.

“We go by infielders, thank God,” Newbury Park Coach Chuck Berrington said.

Most of the players have known each other since they were in youth ball, and when they face each other, their adrenaline rises and their competitiveness kicks in.

“It attracts a lot of scouts, and it’s great competition,” Landecker said.

Added Marder: “We love competition with each other. It’s a lot of fun.”

These are the best of the best, and not all will play shortstop in college or beyond. Marder is going to be a second baseman or catcher. Yelich played first base last season as a sophomore. Meyer has been told by some professional scouts that catcher could be his best position. Buckel has a 90-mph fastball, with pitching in his future.

Meyer started the season as No. 1 at his position based on a junior year in which he hit nine home runs and also served as the closer when the Pioneers won the Southern Section Division I championship. This season, he’s hitting .344 with five doubles, has committed one error, and is 2-1 on the mound with three saves.

“Jonathan Meyer is a tremendous talent,” Simi Valley Coach Matt La Belle said.

La Belle doesn’t want to hear how Meyer could be a catcher because he has confidence in his shortstop skills.

“He’s as good as I’ve seen in the infield in awhile,” La Belle said. “I’m kind of offended people don’t see that.”

Meyer started doing some catching last summer to make himself more versatile and valuable.

“Catching has taken a lot of effort,” he said. “It’s going to be hard, tough and I just want to get through it.”

The 6-foot-4 Yelich, a junior at Westlake, and Buckel, another junior, will be the ones left behind when the four senior shortstops graduate.

Yelich is letting everyone know about his ability, going 17 for 33 with two home runs and seven stolen bases in the first month of the season. Buckel is 3-0 as a pitcher and is batting .432.

Landecker entered this week having played in only three games because of an injury and suspension for his part in a group hazing incident, but he figures to make an impact before he heads off to USC.

Smith is known for his fielding skills and superior speed, though he’s off to a slow start hitting. Marder has been a four-year starter and continues to be one of the league’s most feared hitters, batting .481 with four home runs and 10 runs batted in.

“You really can’t go wrong with any of the six,” Westlake Coach Zach Miller said. “The best thing about them is they work hard.”

All the players recognize while they might triumph in high school, they have to keep the trash-talking to a minimum because in a matter of months they’ll be facing each other again in college. Marder and Smith will be Pac-10 rivals at Oregon and Oregon State, and that’s when bragging rights will be truly at stake.

Next up

Junior shortstop Lonnie Kauppila of Burbank is making sure college scouts recognize he’s one of the best for 2010. He’s hitting .500 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs through nine games this season.

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eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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Super six

Marmonte League shortstops headed to Division I schools:

Signed

*--* PLAYER HIGH SCHOOL YEAR COLLEGE Adam Landecker Calabasas Senior USC Jack Marder Newbury Park Senior Oregon Jonathan Meyer Simi Valley Senior Cal State Fullerton Tyler Smith Thousand Oaks Senior Oregon State *--*

Committed

*--* Cody Buckel Royal Junior Pepperdine Christian Yelich Westlake Junior UCLA *--*