Pirkl, Keller Top Players in Empire

Catcher Greg Pirkl of Los Alamitos High School and designated hitter Eddie Keller of El Dorado were named most valuable players of the Empire League by league coaches.

Pirkl hit nine home runs and Keller hit eight during the season. El Dorado placed six players on the first team, and Los Alamitos and Esperanza each had five.

Steve Gullotti of El Dorado was named coach of the year.

The coaches’ teams: FIRST TEAM

Pitchers Pete Janicki . . . El Dorado Kevin Schula . . . El Dorado Roger Weems . . . Esperanza Winnie Wolf . . . Los Alamitos

Infielders Todd Gudat . . . Esperanza Jason Moler . . . Esperanza Phil Nevin . . . El Dorado Dan Rodriguez . . . Loara Doug Saunders . . . Esperanza M. Wasikowski . . . Los Alamitos

Outfielders Craig Clayton . . . Loara Chris Facione . . . El Dorado Mike Kelly . . . Los Alamitos Joey Pactwa . . . Loara Mike Scott . . . Los Alamitos

Catcher Greg Pirkl . . . Los Alamitos Chris Olsen . . . El Dorado

Designated Hitter Eddie Keller . . . El Dorado Jim Short . . . Esperanza

Utility Alan Acosta . . . Katella SECOND TEAM PITCHERS--Jim Delehoy (Loara), Jason Livingston (Cypress) and Rob Nay (Esperanza); INFIELDERS--Rene Ayala (El Dorado), Eric Meunier (Katella), Tony Muser (Los Alamitos), Kevin Smith (Cypress) and Kevin Webb (Esperanza); OUTFIELDERS--Greg Fife (El Dorado), Craig O’Connor (Esperanza), Steve Sheets (Cypress), Jeremy Sherman (Katella) and Kenny Williams (Loara); CATCHER--Rick Pressel (Esperanza); DESIGNATED HITTER--Billy Fitzgerald (Katella).