Honors Bestowed on Spring Athletes

Torrance High catcher Jason Kendall and El Segundo outfielder Chris Feeny have been named Southern Section players of the year in their respective divisions by members of the Amateur Athletic Foundation/First Interstate Bank board of athletics.

Kendall, a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates who signed Tuesday for a bonus of $336,000, was named 4-A Division player of the year. He led the South Bay with a .549 batting average (45 for 82), 14 doubles and eight triples, and ranked second with 39 runs batted in. Kendall was the Pioneer League player of the year and The Times’ South Bay Player of the Year.

Feeny, whose batting and pitching helped El Segundo to a 27-3 record, was named 3-A Division player of the year. The hard-hitting center fielder batted .444 (44 for 99) and led the area with 47 runs scored and 47 RBIs. He led El Segundo with eight home runs and 11 doubles, and was 5-0 as a pitcher with a 2.44 earned-run average. Feeny was the Valley League player of the year.

Feeny was one of five El Segundo players named to the All-Southern Section 3-A team. Pitcher Matt Gangawere (12-0) and catcher Jeff Poor (.452), a repeat selection, were named to the first team. First baseman Tracy McAndrews (.474) was chosen to the second team and third baseman Lawrence Norris (.410) was a third-team pick.

Kendall was one of six area players who earned 4-A Division honors. Redondo pitcher Ted Silva (9-3), the Ocean League most valuable player, was named to the first team. West Torrance shortstop-pitcher Steve Sarkisian (.436, 8-0) and North Torrance shortstop Frank Ramirez (.521) were second-team selections. Torrance pitcher Ralph Martinez (8-1) and Redondo shortstop Jay Uhlman (.398) were chosen to the third team.

Inglewood shortstop-outfielder Anthony Mack (.492), a two-time All-Bay League pick, was the only area player named to the 5-A squad. He was a third-team selection.

Pitcher Jared Janke (11-1) of division runner-up Diamond Bar, the top-rated team in the nation for most of the season, was named 5-A player of the year.

Three area players were named to the All-Small Schools and 2-A teams. Chadwick shortstop Chris Gordon (.412) was selected to the All-Small Schools first team and Dolphin pitcher Mac McKinnie (8-2) was a second-team choice. Outfielder Daryle Ward (.662) of division champion Riverside Bethel Christian was named Small Schools player of the year.

Mary Star third baseman Chuck Ursini (.421) was named to the 2-A second team. Player-of-the-year honors went to pitcher Ryan Johnson (9-0) of 2-A champion San Marino.

San Pedro catcher Melissa Elgin, whose batting and defensive play helped the Pirates to the City Section 4-A softball title, has been named City 4-A most valuable player.

Elgin led San Pedro with a .376 batting average (35 for 93). She had four doubles, three triples, two home runs, 20 RBIs and a team-leading six stolen bases. She struck out only three times in 93 at-bats.

Joining Elgin, a senior, on the All-City 4-A first team were three of her teammates: sophomore pitcher Petrina Martinez (16-5), sophomore outfielder Victoria Brucker (.355) and junior outfielder Diane Marshall (.288).

Banning, the 4-A runner-up, placed two players on the All-City squad. Senior infielder Rose Amezcua was named to the first team and junior pitcher Susann McKenna was a second-team choice.

Carson was represented by juniors Yvonne Ale and Jennifer Sponsler on the second team.

Five South Bay players have been named to All-Southern Section boys’ volleyball teams by a coaches’ panel.

Ocean League champion Mira Costa and Bay League champion Peninsula each placed two players on the 4-A squad.

Mira Costa senior Cameron Green, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter bound for Cal State Northridge, and senior Satao Minami of Peninsula were named to the first team. Senior Steve Gable of Peninsula and junior Chris Walmer of Mira Costa were selected to the third team.

Senior Matt Renshaw of division champion Santa Barbara was named 4-A player of the year.

In 3-A, senior outside hitter Stewart Murrey of Pioneer League champion South Torrance was chosen to the first team. Travis Ferguson of division champion Royal was 3-A player of the year.

Three area players were selected to All-Southern Section softball teams.

Senior outfielder Jennifer Crafton of El Segundo was named to the 2-A first team. In 1-A, Mary Star sophomores Christine Ibarra and Karen Papadakis were honored. Ibarra, an infielder, was named to the first team and Papadakis, a catcher, was a second-team choice.