Phone Call From Dodgers Brightens Day for Delahoya

Right-hander Javier Delahoya was fairly certain that his chances of ever pitching at Dodger Stadium, site of the City Section 4-A Division finals, were wrecked when his Grant High baseball team was beaten, 11-6, by Chatsworth in the second round of the playoffs last Tuesday.

A phone call may have changed all that.

On Monday, Delahoya was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the amateur draft, reviving his chance of fulfilling a life-long ambition.

A week later, Delahoya is sky high--for two reasons.

“I didn’t really think I’d go that high,” Delahoya said. “But I’m more excited about it being the Dodgers. I used to go to a lot of games and I always had a dream about pitching at Dodger Stadium.”

Delahoya, who was 9-1 with an earned-run average of 1.93 and 99 strikeouts in 76 innings, was one of five Valley-area high school players selected in the first four rounds, including a pair from Chatsworth.

Twenty years after Chatsworth High’s most famous baseball alumnus, outfielder Dwight Evans of the Boston Red Sox, was a high draft choice in the draft, another Evans has been selected from the ranks of the Chancellors.

And this Evans--no relation--was drafted even earlier than the three-time All-Star. Dwight Evans was selected in the fifth round of the free-agent on June 5, 1969. Two decades later, to the very day, shortstop Jason Evans was selected in the fourth round.

Evans batted .407 with 28 runs batted in and 27 stolen bases. Evans, however, was edged by teammate Rich Aude, who became the highest draft pick ever from Chatsworth after being selected in the second round by Pittsburgh.

Aude, who met with Pittsburgh officials Tuesday night, has signed a letter of intent with UC Santa Barbara. Evans, who transferred from Loyola to Chatsworth after his junior year, has signed with Cal. Evans will meet with Cub representatives Thursday, he said.

Aude, a non-starter in 1988, batted .456 with six home runs and 39 RBIs. He also stole 16 bases.

Kennedy shortstop Gino Tagliaferri was drafted in the third round by Detroit. Tagliaferri, who hit a school-record 13 home runs and led the Golden Cougars to their third City 4-A title of the decade, has signed with Fresno State.

Delahoya, who did not sign a college letter of intent, will begin negotiations with Dodger representatives on Thursday, he said.

Among area college players, Fili Martinez--who led Cal State Northridge in strikeouts and earned-run average--was selected in the ninth round Monday by the Angels.

Martinez, a left-hander who finished 8-4, had 11 complete games with 113 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.45. Martinez started negotiations with team officials Tuesday night. If he signs this week, Martinez will leave Friday for Mesa, Ariz., where he will compete in an Angels’ mini-camp.

Pierce College shortstop Bill Morris also was drafted Monday, but was not notified which round he was selected. Morris, a freshman from St. Francis High, led the team in batting (.407), hits (61), doubles (14), triples (five) and runs batted in (28). He was chosen by Atlanta, which also drafted him after his senior year of high school.