Arizona State Invades County for Outfielders

Arizona State baseball Coach Jim Brock says every year he tries to recruit the top four or five players in Southern California.

In 1988, Brock pursued and signed three of the Southland’s top players, all outfielders and all from Orange County.

Now, the three start for the third-ranked Sun Devils.

Jim Austin of Mater Dei High School is in left, Mike Kelly of Los Alamitos is in center and Tommy Adams of Capistrano Valley is in right.

Until he bunted a ball off his nose and missed Friday’s 8-4 victory over UCLA, Austin was batting .354 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs.

Austin, who was all-Southern Section, all-Orange County and the Angelus League MVP in his senior season, began the season at third base but has since been moved to the outfield, his natural position.

Kelly, hitting .356, is mentioned as a possible NCAA player of the year.

Adams, who still holds the Capistrano Valley record for batting average at .471, is hitting .303 this season with nine home runs and 27 RBIs.

Last year, Brock landed another Orange County recruit, pitcher Tony Pena from Mater Dei.

Pena has appeared in 19 games, all but one in relief, with a 1-1 record and a 3.45 earned-run average.