Wolfe Leads Valley Stars to 11-1 Win

Perhaps Joel Wolfe would do well to spend more time away from baseball.

Wolfe, who just completed his senior year at Chatsworth High, had not played in three weeks before joining the Brewers, a team of high school all-stars from the 818 and 805 telephone area codes in this weekend’s California State Games.

The break seems to have made him sharper.

He went 2 for 2, drove in three runs and scored twice Friday to lead the Brewers to an 11-1 victory over the San Francisco entry in this first-year event at San Diego State’s Smith Field.

The Brewers, with a roster dominated by players from the San Fernando Valley, are 1-1 in the four-day tournament.

“I’m having a blast out here,” said Wolfe, a third baseman who went 2 for 3 in the Brewers’ 7-6 loss to the 213 area code entry Thursday. “This is a great level of competition. Every player here is good.”

One of the features of the tournament is the use of wood bats.

“It’s a new experience,” Wolfe said. “It took me a while, but when you get used to it and hit the sweet spot, you can really feel it.”

It must have felt pretty good to Wolfe in the second inning. With one out, he lined a sharp single to left field to score Brian Eldridge of Monroe High from second base and put the Brewers ahead, 4-0. Wolfe advanced to second on the throw to the plate and scored on a single by Adam Schulhofer of Canoga Park. Scott Sharts of Simi Valley drove in Schulhofer and the Brewers led, 6-0, after two innings.

Wolfe went from good to great an inning later. With two out and one run in, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 200-pound, right-handed hitter ripped a two-run homer over the left-field fence to make it 9-0.

“Right now, I’m in a groove,” Wolfe said.

Although Wolfe has signed a letter of intent to attend UCLA, he also is considering an offer from the Seattle Mariners, who selected him in the 32nd round of baseball’s June free-agent draft.

“They told me if they had thought I was signable, they would have drafted me in the second or third round,” said Wolfe, who had led professional scouts to believe that he was set on college. “I’m still negotiating with them. They’ve made some offers. There’s a possibility I’ll sign, but not a great one.”

After watching Wolfe’s display, a coach from a Pacific 10 Conference rival of UCLA’s said, “I hope he signs.”

The Valley stars added two runs in the fourth inning and the game was called after five because of the 10-run rule.

Pierre Amado, a left-hander from Chatsworth, baffled the San Francisco hitters with four innings of hitless pitching.

Aaron Ledesma ended the no-hitter with a bad-hop single over the head of shortstop Gino Tagliaferri. Joel Zimmerman followed with an infield single. One out later, Jason Hardtky came up with the only solid hit off Amado, a double to left, to score Zimmerman.

Amado struck out three and walked three. He has not received a college scholarship offer, though that might change.

“I think what Pierre did tonight will get him something,” said Bob Lofrano, the head coach of the Brewers and Amado’s high school coach. “He did an impressive job with some important people watching. It’s hard to find a good left-hander.”

The Brewers play San Diego at 4 p.m. today. The championship game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday.