Some Diamonds in the Rough

Even though high school baseball players in the inner city have an uphill battle gaining attention because of their lack of exposure, several have quietly emerged this season.

Damon Montgomery, Fremont--One of the most talented players in Southern California, he is considered by many to be the City’s best player. The 6-foot-4 senior center fielder was an all-city selection last season and a preseason all-state selection this spring.

In 16 games this season, he leads the Pathfinders in nearly every offensive category. He is batting .580 with nine home runs and 10 stolen bases along with 48 runs batted in, including seven in a victory over Jefferson last week.

“I can’t say too much for the kid,” said Fremont Coach William Dixon, who has coached many outstanding players, among them Eric Davis of the Cincinnati Reds. “I don’t like to judge a player with some of the players I’ve coached who have already reached the majors. But, on the high school level, Montgomery is comparable.”

Chris Romero, Wilson--A junior pitcher, he has led the Mules to a 16-2 record and a Northeast League title. His 9-0 record, with an 0.75 earned-run average, includes eight Northern Conference victories. In 55 2/3 innings, Romero has 47 strikeouts. He is also the Mules’ top hitter with a .379 average.

“He has worked hard and it shows,” Wilson Coach Wayne Shiota said. “We have five players who are batting over .300, and he has the best batting average.”

Isaac Burton, Washington--Last year, he batted .425 and led the Generals to the 3-A Division championship game with two key home runs in the playoffs. This season, Burton is one of Washington’s top pitchers with a 4-2 record and the team’s top hitter with a .300 average.

“We’ve had to move him around this season to fill in at places where we need him,” Washington Coach Kermit Taylor said. “He’s not having the year we expected from him but part of that is because we ask for so much of him. Last year he was our catcher, but this season he has been our pitcher, first baseman and shortstop.”

Billy Belcher, Fairfax--At the start of the season, Eduardo Payan was expected to be the top player for Fairfax, the defending City 3-A Division champion. But Payan, an all-city selection last year, has struggled and Belcher, a senior center fielder, has taken charge.

“He has really improved from a year ago,” Fairfax Coach Kalil Badran said of Belcher, who leads the team with a .480 batting average. “He has a strong arm and is a force on the basepaths. He has stretched a lot of singles into doubles this year.”

Ricardo Lizarraga, Hamilton--In 15 games, the senior catcher is hitting .400 with three home runs and 18 RBIs. Badran says Lizarraga is one of the best hitters in the City, and Hamilton Coach Dave Uyeshima calls him the best catcher around.

“I figured that (Lizarraga) would do well this season, since he has played for us since the 10th grade,” Uyeshima said. “Collin Hines was expected to be our top player this season, but he has struggled. Lizarraga has played up to expections.”

Andy Aguilar, Franklin--He has been slowed with an ankle injury for most of the season but still has a .400 average with 25 RBIs and 16 walks. The left-handed first baseman was a sophomore starter on the Panthers’ 1989 3-A championship team and is Franklin’s most experienced player.

“We have a real young team and at times this season, (Aguilar) has carried us by himself,” Franklin Coach Richard Campbell said. “He is so tough that we can’t keep him out of the lineup, even though he is hurt. We would be in real trouble without him.”

Prep Notes

Pitcher D.S. Sutton has been a key to Beverly Hills High’s success. Last week, the Normans clinched the Bay League title with a 16-5 overall record. Sutton is 9-0. In 54 innings, Sutton has an 0.78 ERA, has struck out 53 and walked only four. He also has a save in becoming Beverly Hills’ top pitcher. . . . The City Section baseball playoffs begin Friday with 3-A and 4-A wild-card games. The first round is set for Wednesday, May 15, followed by the second round, May 17. The semifinals will be Tuesday, May 21, and the finals Friday, May 24 at Dodger Stadium. . . . The Southern Section baseball playoff pairings will be announced next Monday with wild-card games on May 14 and first-round games on May 17. The finals for the Small Schools and 1-A divisions will be May 31 at Blair Field in Long Beach. The 2-A, 3-A, 4-A and 5-A finals will be played at Anaheim Stadium on June 1.

Last week’s City Conference track and field finals were a showcase for Armando Gonzalez of Roosevelt, Amado Coleman of Locke and Ben Mesfen of Venice. Gonzalez won the 800 meters in 1:57.52, the 1,600 in 4:28.99 and the 3,200 in 9:42.59 in the City’s Southeastern Conference finals at Cal State Los Angeles. In the same meet, Coleman won the 200 in 21.45 and the 400 in 49.95. Along with Kyhaunn Woods, Coleman forms one of the best sprint duos in the City. Mesfen won the Coastal Conference’s 1,600 in 4:28.2 and the 3,200 in 9:51 at Southwest College.