GAMES WITHIN THE GAME : Little League Undergoes Change as 13-Year-Olds Play in North Valley All-Star Tournament

The three parking attendants, none old enough to be playing in the 13-year-old all-star tournament going on in the distance, approach the car and make their demand.

“Five bucks,” the tallest one says.

“No way,” replies the driver, a middle-aged man whose smile indicates he knows the children.

With that, the parking fee is reduced to the regular rate ($1), plus a tip. “How about some of those chips?” the tallest attendant says.

A deal is struck. A half-empty bag of tortilla chips is handed out the window and the amused driver searches for a parking place.

Inside, there are other familiar signs. Alan Weiner meanders through the stands at the two-diamond complex with a roll of raffle tickets and an aggressive sales pitch.

“Suzy,” he calls out to a woman three rows away. “Steve says you have his wallet. Find me some money.”

Alan’s attention is momentarily distracted by a foul ball sprayed into the gallery from the adjacent field. Alan retrieves the ball, and two others that also come his way.

Next, he tries to collect on three soft drinks from the snack bar for the returned balls.

By any name, this is youth baseball.

In this case, it’s the North Valley Youth Baseball 13-year-old All-Star Tournament, a 15-team, double-elimination event running through this weekend at the Granada Hills complex.

But the tournament host, the North Valley Youth Baseball Assn., has changed both the name of the game, and to some extent, the manner in which it plays.

The brand of baseball here has changed from Little League to Pony. The change means that players 8 through 12, who used to play under Little League rules, play under the same rules as older Pony and Colt players.

How the change has affected the way the game is played is arguable, but North Valley Pony officials say they like the early results from the switch--and expect it to pay long-term dividends.

Larry Schneiderman, an assistant coach for the North Valley 13-year-old all-stars, once played in the league. He performed under Little League rules as a youngster, but prefers the Pony game.

“I think the program, in the long-run, is better off,” said Schneiderman, who lives in Granada Hills. “With Pony, the kids learn more baseball.

“I’ve noticed the difference already. For instance, this year I didn’t have to take nearly as much time with the kids on how to take a sign.”

There are a few significant differences between Little League and Pony rules. In Pony, players can lead off a base and pitch from the stretch. In addition, playing fields vary according to age.

“The kids aren’t really at the stage where they have great arms or great speed, so (the shorter basepaths) are good for them,” said Vonzie Paysinger, an assistant for the North Valley 13-year-olds and a former starting third baseman at Cal State Northridge.

“At this age, it allows them to play the game, learn the fundamentals and helps them for when they get to high school,” added Paysinger, baseball coach at Beverly Hills High.

Reasons for the changes, however, transcend the game itself. Pony, which is a national organization like Little League, allows North Valley to draw players from a larger geographic area, a key weapon in the league’s battle with demographics.

Just a few years ago, under the restricted Little League recruiting guidelines, North Valley had 450 players from ages 8 to 12.

This year, there are only 450 players in the entire program.

“The area is getting older and the kids are growing up,” said Mike Thompson, manager of the 13-year-old all-stars. “We’re fighting for players.”

Such matters prompted Thompson, the brother of Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Jason Thompson, to abandon the administrative end of youth baseball years ago.

Today, Thompson concerns himself with on-field matters, and enjoys it.

“Managing is much more rewarding,” he said. “There’s a lot of good baseball, and it’s competitive.”

That’s the way it was Monday night in North Valley’s 4-2 victory over Encino. The hosts scored three times in the fifth on a balk, a double and a passed ball, then stole their final run in the sixth.

With one out and Jimmy Bernas on third, Jason Rosen walked and deliberately got himself caught in a rundown between first and second. As soon as the Encino pitcher released the ball in an attempt to get Rosen, Bernas sped home with an insurance run.

It was the largest margin of victory in three tournament games for North Valley.

“We set this up to have something for 13-year-olds,” Thompson, a Van Nuys resident, said. “There are Pony all-star teams, but most of those players are 14.

“From a developmental standpoint, it will help these kids when they get into high school programs.”

And from a baseball standpoint, the tournament is a place for mischievous parking attendants, zealous raffle ticket salesmen and foul balls that are good for a soft drink.

All of which is what youth baseball is really all about.

Notes

West Hills (Woodland Hills) advanced to the championship game of 13-year-old all-star tournament with a 9-8 victory over North Valley on Tuesday night. . . . Both North Valley tournament losses were to West Hills by identical scores. Both North Valley tournament wins came against Encino. David Ophus threw a five-hitter, struck out 15 and walked none in North Valley’s 4-2 victory over Encino on Monday night. . . . Undefeated Sylmar plays Simi Valley tonight at 5:15. If Sylmar wins, it advances to the championship game against West Hills on Saturday at 10 a.m. If Simi wins, the teams play again Thursday night at 5:15.