District Powers Stock West All-Stars’ Roster

Putting players from powerhouses Woodland Hills West and Newhall-Saugus on the squad that will face the East team in today’s American Legion District 20 all-star game is like staging an all-star broadcast battle between Reagan and Scully: It just doesn’t seem even.

But take it from a partial observer: It’s still a tough call to make.

“The West may have more name recognition-type players,” Newhall-Saugus Coach Tom Pedersen said, “but there are some pretty good ballplayers in the East, too.”

Newhall-Saugus (17-5) and Woodland Hills West (21-3) own the best records in the district and players from both are on what is a potentially explosive West team. The starting time for the game at Birmingham High is 1 p.m.

“There’s no real formula to it,” District Commissioner Mel Swerdling said of how rosters are filled. “I just try to get as much exposure for as many players in the game as possible. It usually turns out pretty even.”

Woodland Hills West sends pitchers Pat Treend and Lance Gibson and its infield of Ryan McGuire (1B), Paul Geller (2B), Rick Banuelos (SS) and Del Marine (3B).

Newhall-Saugus sends George Lopata (1B), Corey Byars (3B), Brad Anderson (SS) and Ben Ealy (OF).

Panorama City, champion of the Eastern Division, will be represented on the East roster by five players: unbeaten right-handers Roland De La Maza (6-0) and Dave Unter (5-0), and Joe Cascione (2B), Shane Wight (SS) and Dave Garcia (OF). Sun Valley will be represented by the outfield trio of Shad Martinez, Herman Murillo and John Campbell.