High School All-Stars : Postman Hits Twice, Leads California Sweep

Every few days, the Oklahoma State University baseball office would get an anonymous post card notifying the staff on the progress of one Lou Lucca of South San Francisco High School.

After a while, the coaching staff started snickering about the cards, and some would ask half-sarcastically how Lou was doing.

“We just thought it was a prank, just some fan trying to pump a local kid,” said Tom Holliday, an assistant at OSU. “We’d laugh a bit. It kind of became a joke.”

They’re still laughing, but this time it’s because they’re happy. Lucca signed with OSU three weeks ago. An infielder, Lucca proved indeed to be something to write away from home about.

He had the game-winning runs batted in both games as the California high school all-stars swept a doubleheader from Oklahoma, 11-4 and 8-1, at San Diego State’s Smith Field Saturday evening.

The victories gave California a 2-1 lead in the five-game series, which concludes today with a doubleheader starting at noon at Smith Field.

Oklahoma won Friday’s opener, 8-7. California has won 10 of the 12 years the series has been played.

Lucca had a two-run single in each game of Saturday’s doubleheader, putting California ahead for good both times against the players from his future residence.

Lucca said he received scant attention although he won the North Peninsula League batting title three times--he hit .511 this season--and was named the San Mateo County male athlete of the year.

“Cal (Berkeley) was interested, and I was all ready to go with them, but Holliday called me out of nowhere,” Lucca said. “I always wanted to go to OSU. They’re hitters, and I love hitting.”

Holliday realized that the Lucca post cards were no joke when his name appeared on California’s North-South all-star series roster.

“I did a check on him then and found out he was for real,” Holliday said. “(Scouts) said he played shortstop, was built like a third baseman and could probably play catcher.

That description fit OSU’s biggest needs. The Cowboys lost all three starters at those positions to the pro draft, including third baseman Robin Ventura (White Sox) and shortstop Monty Feriss (Rangers) in the first round.

“My coach (Bob Brian) told me it helps if they keep seeing your name, and then they might give you a call,” said Lucca, who added that it was Brian who sent the cards. “I guess it worked.”

California put the first game away with a six-run fourth inning that broke a 3-3 tie. Lucca started the rally with a two-run single, and Jason Moler of Anaheim Esperanza added a three-run triple.

Brett Jenkins of Rancho Cordova, who was 3 for 4 in the game, had a bases-empty home run in the fifth.

Max Valencia of San Francisco Balboa came on in relief to pitch five innings for the victory, allowing one run.

Valencia was injured playing second base in the second game. He collided with shortstop Randy Graves of Riverside Poly on a ground-ball single up the middle in the second, dislocated his left elbow and was taken to Alvarado Hospital.

California scored six runs in the first three innings of the second game, led by Lucca’s two-run single in the first. Joe Caruso of Petaluma Casa Grande pitched a three-hitter.