STATWATCH : Marmonte a Veritable Homer Haven

The Valley area’s answer to slow-pitch softball is the Marmonte League. Led by Simi Valley’s Scott Sharts, who hit 15, batters from that league dominated the list of home run leaders among Southern Section players.

Steve Sisco of Thousand Oaks hit nine to rank second, and Camarillo’s Gil Valencia and Simi Valley’s Jeff Sommer were two of three batters who shared third place with seven home runs each.

Of the five hitters who each hit six home runs, three played in the Marmonte: Craig Cooper of Westlake, Jason Jones of Royal and Don Smith of Newbury Park tied Casey Burrill of Hart and Tom Dodson of Saugus.

Pitching: Of three juniors expected to dominate batters next season, two share a common trait: uncommon control for power pitchers.

Hart’s Jason Edwards, who compiled a record of 11-0 and had a 1.28 earned-run average and 92 strikeouts in 82 innings, walked only 18 batters. St. Genevieve’s Roland De La Maza recorded 126 strikeouts and walked only 23 in 79 innings while posting an 8-1 record and a 0.79 ERA.

Roger Salkeld of Saugus fits the mold of an overpowering pitcher who must battle his control. Salkeld, who was 8-3 with a 1.40 ERA, struck out 126 in 75 innings but walked 68.

BASEBALL TOP 10

Selected by sportswriters of The Times

Rk Team League Record 1 Chatsworth West Valley 25-2 2 Simi Valley Marmonte 23-6 3 Hart Foothill 26-1 4 Kennedy Mid-Valley 19-10 5 San Fernando Mid-Valley 14-7 6 Monroe Mid-Valley 13-16 7 Canoga Park West Valley 13-8 8 Poly East Valley 19-4 9 Crespi Del Rey 17-11 10 Rio Mesa Channel 20-7-1