Lieberthal Honored by Publication

Mike Lieberthal of Westlake High has been selected the California State Player of the Year in baseball by Cal-Hi Sports magazine.

Lieberthal, the Philadelphia Phillies’ top pick and the third selection overall in the recent amateur draft, hit 13 home runs and batted .448 with 43 runs batted in during his senior year.

The catcher became the eighth player from the Valley area and the second from Ventura County to be honored by the magazine.

Babe Herman, who graduated from Glendale High, was the first local player honored by Cal-Hi Sports Weekly, in 1921. Herman played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1926-1931 and again in 1945.

Other area recipients include Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale (Van Nuys, 1954); former Angel shortstop Tim Foli (Notre Dame, 1968); 1989 American League Most Valuable Player Robin Yount (Taft, 1973); Denver Bronco quarterback John Elway (Granada Hills, 1979); and Kansas City Royal pitcher Bret Saberhagen (Cleveland, 1982).

Kansas City shortstop Kurt Stillwell (Thousand Oaks, 1983) was the first player selected from Ventura County.

It was the second major honor for Lieberthal, who also was selected the Southern Section 5-A Division Player of the Year in June.