St. Bernard’s Dan Melendez Wins Player of Year Honors After Setting 14 School Records

St. Bernard High’s Dan Melendez, who set 14 school records and came within one home run of the CIF-Southern Section career mark, has been chosen the CIF 2-A Division Player of the Year by the First Interstate Bank/Amateur Athletic Foundation board of sportswriters.

Melendez heads eight South Bay players on the All-CIF 2-A squad, which includes three from division champion El Segundo.

The senior pitcher-first baseman was a unanimous choice for the honor after leading a young St. Bernard team to the playoff quarterfinals and a 20-6 record.

Melendez, one of the area’s most highly recruited players, signed a letter of intent with Pepperdine in April and last week was drafted in the seventh round by the Baltimore Orioles. Melendez’s father, Carlos, said Wednesday that his son is leaning toward college.

“The Orioles made him an offer,” said the elder Melendez, “but we think he’s going to school. It’s tough to turn down that scholarship.”

Pepperdine Coach Andy Lopez said Melendez is capable of playing any number of positions in college, as he did in high school.

As a pitcher, the left-hander was 11-3 this season with a 1.36 ERA. He was equally impressive at the plate, hitting .527 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs. Melendez finished his prep career with 31 home runs, one shy of the Southern Section record held by former Simi Valley slugger Scott Sharts.

Melendez is the second St. Bernard athlete this year to earn CIF Player of the Year honors. Ed Stokes, a 6-foot-10 center for the Vikings’ basketball team, was the 5-A Player of the Year.

One of the few teams Melendez couldn’t beat was El Segundo. The Eagles were 2-0 against St. Bernard on their way to winning the Camino Real League title.

Under the guidance of Coach John Stevenson, El Segundo (26-5) then stormed through the playoffs and captured the 2-A title with a 7-4 win over San Marino in the finals at Dodger Stadium.

Three of the Eagles’ top players were selected to the All-CIF 2-A squad: pitcher Rick Clark, who was 10-0 and threw complete games in the semifinals and finals; catcher Garret Quaintance, who led the team with a .460 batting average and a school-record 16 doubles, and center fielder Erik Evans, the team leader in home runs (six), RBIs (37), runs (47) and stolen bases (25).

Serra placed two players on the 2-A team: third baseman Chris Jones, who signed with the Kansas City Royals last week, and outfielder Torrie Sweet, a repeat All-CIF selection who was drafted by the Royals.

Santa Fe League champion Mary Star and runner-up Miraleste each had one player honored: Mary Star outfielder George Pisano, the league MVP who hit .481, and Miraleste’s Chad Somers, the area’s second-leading home run hitter with seven.

Players named to All-CIF teams will receive framed scrolls from the First Interstate Bank/Amateur Athletic Foundation at the 52nd annual awards program Sept. 14 at Dodger Stadium before the game between the Dodgers and Houston Astros.