Boys’ Player of the Week : Neff Spends His Time Building a Career . . . or Two

Marty Neff of Magnolia High School is preparing himself for two careers. Both involve wood.

During the summer, Neff spends his time in Texas making book shelfs and desks for his mother’s company there.

He spends the rest of the time mostly with a bat in his hands, as an outfielder/pitcher for Magnolia’s baseball team.

“I really enjoy working with wood, building things,” said Neff, who lives with his father in Anaheim. “It’s very relaxing and you make pretty good money. It would be a career to get into.”

That is, only if he doesn’t make a career out of baseball.

Neff, The Times’ player of the week, continues to impress professional scouts. He drove in 15 runs with 3 home runs and 3 doubles during the Sentinels’ 3 games last week. And he won one of those games and saved another pitching.

“There’s been a lot of interest in Marty this season,” Magnolia Coach Paul Daley said. “Milwaukee, Houston and Oakland have all talked to me about him. I think there’s a good chance he’ll be drafted out of high school.”

Although he hit seven home runs and had a .400 batting average as a junior, few scouts showed any interest. The fact that the Sentinels were 10-11 didn’t help.

“I think we had one scout come to one game,” he said. “I thought maybe I could play for a junior college. After that, get into the business of working with wood.”

All that changed this year. After playing for the Astros’ winter league team in Anaheim, people started taking notice.

And Neff has not disappointed.

Despite having opponents try to pitch around him, Neff is having an outstanding season for the Sentinels (7-11-1). He’s hitting .517 with 6 home runs, 27 RBIs and a .931 slugging percentage.

Neff, a senior, also has a 5-2 record with a 2.48 earned-run average. He has pitched in nearly every game since the Orange League season started and is averaging more than 10 innings per week, starting one game and relieving the next.

“I was a little surprised at all the attention I’ve been getting this season,” Neff said. “I mean, they’re talking about drafting me. That’s something I never expected.”

So, a career in wood crafting may have to wait.

“It will give me something to do when baseball is over,” Neff said.

TOP PERFORMERS

Jeff Stark of El Toro won two games last week. On Monday, Stark threw a two-hitter in a 10-2 victory over San Clemente. On Friday, he pitched 11 innings in a 4-1 victory over Capistrano Valley. He allowed only two earned runs and struck out 12 during the week.

Skip Tanner of Orange was 5 of 8, scored 3 runs and had 2 RBIs. Tanner, a senior catcher, also pitched 1 innings in relief against Woodbridge Friday, striking out four for the victory.

Mike Edwards of Valencia was 7 of 8 with 2 homers, 2 doubles and 7 RBIs in 3 games.

Marty Neff

Magnolia High School

Position: Pitcher/outfielder.

Height, Weight, Class: 6-2, 175, Sr.

Last Week: Neff had 3 home runs, 3 doubles and 15 RBIs in 3 games. He also won one game and saved another.

Season: Neff is hitting .517 with 6 home runs, 6 doubles and 27 runs batted in. As a pitcher, he is 5-2 with a 2.48 earned-run average and 44 strikeouts.