1993 PREP BASEBALL / Los Angeles Times ALL-STARS : West Torrance Infielder Nicholson Is a Star Among Stars : Baseball: The junior, who had 51 hits and batted .520, is The Times’ South Bay Player of the Year.

Derek Nicholson knows what he is capable of doing with a baseball bat. Perhaps that explains why the West Torrance High infielder reacted nonchalantly to his 51-hit season, a mark that ranks with the Southern Section’s all-time best.

“I’m not surprised,” he said. “I know I’m a good hitter. I’m going to be better next year. That’s the way I look at it.”

The youngest of four brothers, Nicholson exudes confidence in his ability to play baseball. But he isn’t afraid to take a critical look at himself.

The 6-foot, 180-pound junior said his improvement from last season was as much a matter of changing attitudes as laying off curveballs in the dirt.

“Last year I was really kind of an immature player,” Nicholson said. “I used to get real upset with myself when I wouldn’t hit. This year I’ve matured a lot. I stopped swinging at bad pitches and became a lot more disciplined at the plate.”

Nicholson, whose growth as a player showed in his statistics and ability to lead West (18-11-1) to the Southern Section Division III quarterfinals, is The Times’ South Bay Player of the Year.

A .359 hitter last season, Nicholson improved his average to .520 in 1993 by going 51 for 98. The 51 hits ties him with Scott Davison of Redondo (1987) for the second-highest season total in South Bay history behind El Segundo’s Tate Seefried, who had 55 hits in 1990. It also places Nicholson on the Southern Section’s all-time list. Tom McKay of Montclair Prep (1981) and Jeff Cirillo of Providence (1987) share the section record with 57 hits.

Nicholson has 84 hits in two varsity seasons at West after spending his freshman year at Redondo.

West Coach Harry Jenkins rates Nicholson as one of the top three hitters he has coached in 22 seasons. The others are Davison, a pitcher-shortstop who was a two-time South Bay player of the year in 1987 and ‘88, and former Redondo outfielder Steve Swain, a 1976 graduate who at one time held the Southern Section record for hits in a season.

“Derek’s swing kind of reminds me of Steve Swain,” said Jenkins, who coached Redondo for 19 years from 1970-88 before taking over the West program in 1991. “He’s got a really good bat.

“He sprays the ball around to all fields because he hits the ball where it’s pitched. He gets a lot of (hits) to the alleys.”

Nicholson, who bats left and throws right, broke virtually all of West’s hitting records this season, Jenkins said. Aside from leading the team in batting average and hits, Nicholson topped the Warriors with 30 runs scored, 37 runs batted in, 15 doubles and four triples and was tied for the lead in home runs with five. He struck out only four times in 98 at-bats.

He had 12 multiple-hit games, including eight in which he had three hits or more.

During a three-game stretch in the Pioneer League season, Nicholson hit safely in 10 consecutive at-bats. He was three for three against South Torrance, five for five against Centennial (including hitting for the cycle) and started the next game against Centennial with two hits. He was named the league’s most outstanding player after helping West finish second to El Segundo.

And Nicholson demonstrated a flair for the dramatic. His two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning April 24 gave West a 3-1 victory over North Torrance, and his grand slam April 18 broke a 4-4 tie and lifted the Warriors to a 9-4 Redondo tournament victory over South Gate, the City Section 3-A Division champion.

“In the big games, he came to the party,” Jenkins said.

That was evident in the Division III playoffs. In three games, Nicholson was five for 10 with six RBIs. He even had an impact in West’s 5-2 loss to Santa Fe in the quarterfinals, breaking up a no-hitter by left-hander Mark Kotsay with a sixth-inning single.

“The (major league) scouts really like his bat,” Jenkins said. “His downfall as a pro prospect is his speed. If he could run better, he would be a top prospect.”

Some also question Nicholson’s defensive skills. Although he made only six errors in 30 games playing shortstop and second base, one coach referred to Nicholson’s throwing arm as “terrible.”

Nicholson said he will work toward silencing his critics next season.

“I’m going to try to get a lot stronger and work on my fielding,” he said. “My low point this year was that I didn’t play the field very well. I want to be a lot more consistent.”

Profiles of the other all-stars:

Jason Cole, Carson

Named tri-most valuable player of the Pacific League, Cole led Carson to its first league title since 1974. The 6-1, 195-pound right-hander gave up six hits May 18 in a 4-1 victory over Banning to help the Colts tie the Pilots for the Pacific title. Cole (11-3) was 7-1 in league play, including two victories against Banning. He ranked second in the area with 89 innings pitched and was third with 79 strikeouts. Cole batted .429 in a part-time offensive role.

David Reed, El Segundo

Perhaps the area’s most dominant pitcher, Reed (10-2) led the South Bay with a 1.20 earned-run average, giving up only 12 earned runs and 37 hits in 70 innings. The 6-1, 155-pound left-hander had a personal 10-game winning streak snapped in a 3-2 loss to El Rancho in the first round of the Southern Section Division III playoffs. Reed pitched a one-hitter and struck out 10 in an 8-0 victory over Torrance on May 12 to finish 9-0 in Pioneer League play. The junior was second in the area with 92 strikeouts.

Brian Zinda, Mira Costa

Named most outstanding player in the Ocean League, Zinda (11-3) led the area with 104 strikeouts and 90 1/3 innings pitched despite playing the last few weeks of the season with mononucleosis. The 6-1, 170-pound right-hander had a 2.87 ERA and seven complete games. He pitched a five-hitter and struck out 10 in a 2-1 victory over Redondo on May 4 to help the Mustangs clinch a spot in the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Gustavo Rubio, Leuzinger

Coaches selected Rubio as the Bay League most valuable player despite the fact that Leuzinger finished tied for third and failed to reach the playoffs. The 6-2, 190-pounder batted .513 and struck out only once--against Peninsula’s Arin McCarthy--in 78 at-bats. Rubio led the Olympians with 40 hits, 28 runs scored, 13 doubles, five home runs, 27 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. He switched to catcher this season after playing third base as a junior. “He goes 100% every practice, every game, every minute,” Leuzinger Coach Mike Whitt said. Rubio was drafted in the 42nd round by the Dodgers.

Ben Padilla, Carson

Regarded as one of the area’s top shortstops, Padilla excelled defensively and offensively. The 6-3, 180-pound senior batted .398 with three triples, three home runs and team-leading totals of 28 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. He also was an effective relief pitcher with four saves. Padilla was drafted in the 32nd round by the Dodgers but he said he is leaning toward attending Harbor College.

Frank Ramirez, North Torrance

A four-year varsity player, Ramirez earned All-Pioneer League honors for the second consecutive season to complete a dynamic senior year in which he was an All-Southern Section quarterback in football and an all-league guard in basketball. The 6-1, 175-pound shortstop led North with a .421 batting average and 21 stolen bases. He made only five errors in 24 games. Ramirez said he hopes to attend Pepperdine and play baseball for the Waves.

Jim Zambarelli, El Segundo

The Pioneer League most valuable player, Zambarelli was one of two outstanding second basemen in the league along with West’s Nicholson. The 5-7, 155-pound senior led El Segundo with a .473 batting average, 37 hits, 38 runs scored and six home runs and ranked among team leaders with 26 RBIs. Zambarelli, whose father, Jim, played on North Torrance’s last Southern Section championship team in 1974, was also a defensive mainstay for the Pioneer champions.

Brett Campbell, Peninsula

A Loyola Marymount recruit, Campbell helped Peninsula win the Bay League title by leading the team with a .461 batting average, 36 hits, eight doubles, five home runs and 31 RBIs. The 6-3, 180-pound senior was the Panthers’ right fielder but is expected to play third base at Loyola. Campbell’s two-run homer in the first inning April 29 provided an early lead in Peninsula’s 7-1 victory over Santa Monica that clinched the Bay title.

Alberto Loeza, Inglewood

An unsung player on a last-place team, Loeza nonetheless had an impressive senior season. The 5-11, 170-pound center fielder batted .357 and led Inglewood with 12 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBIs. “He’s the best kid I’ve ever had,” Sentinel Coach Andre Breland said. Loeza, a four-year varsity starter, was named to the All-Bay League first team.

Jim Yates, West Torrance

Although only a sophomore, Yates has already gained a reputation as one of the area’s finest athletes. He was an All-Pioneer League defensive back last football season, and was the catalyst on West’s baseball team. The 6-foot, 190-pound center fielder batted .306 in the leadoff spot and had a .510 on-base percentage, 27 runs scored and a team-leading 17 stolen bases. Defensively, West Coach Harry Jenkins said Yates is in a class by himself. “He went alley to alley to make plays,” Jenkins said.

Scott Albin, Redondo

There might not be a more versatile player in the South Bay than Albin, who has played every position but right field for Redondo. The 5-11, 165-pound junior was the Sea Hawks’ No. 1 pitcher, compiling an 8-2 record and 1.57 ERA in 75 2/3 innings. The right-hander was 2-0 in the Southern Section Division II playoffs, including a 7-0 shutout over Glendora in a wild-card game. Albin, whose other main positions were left field, third base and shortstop, batted .298 with three home runs and 19 RBIs.

1993 PREP BASEBALL ALL-STARS

Name: Derek Nicholson Position: infielder School: West Torrance Year: Junior W-L/Avg.: .520

Name: Jason Cole Position: Pitcher School: Carson Year: Senior W-L/Avg.: 11-3

Name: David Reed Position: pitcher School: El Segundo Year: Junior W-L/Avg.: 10-2

Name: Brian Zinda Position: pitcher School: Mira Costa Year: Senior W-L/Avg.: 11-3

Name: Gustavo Rubio Position: catcher School: Leuzinger Year: Senior W-L/Avg.: .513

Name: Ben Padilla Position: infielder School: Carson Year: Senior W-L/Avg.: .398

Name: Frank Ramirez Position: Infielder School: North Torrance Year: Senior W-L/Avg.: .421

Name: Jim Zambarelli Position: Infielder School: El Segundo Year: Senior W-L/Avg.: .473

Name: Brett Campbell Position: Outfielder School: Peninsula Year: Senior W-L/Avg.: .461

Name: Alberto Loeza Position: Outfielder School: Inglewood Year: Senior W-L/Avg.: .357

Name: Jim Yates Position: Outfielder School: West Torrance Year: Sophomore W-L/Avg.: .306

Name: Scott Albin Position: Utility School: Redondo Year: Junior W-L/Avg.: 8-2/.298

All-South Bay Second Team

Player Pos. School Yr. W-L/Avg. Brian Bowles P Peninsula Jr. 7-1 Mike Myro P West Torrance Sr. 9-5 Joe Gama C Banning Sr. .358 Ryan McCloskey C El Segundo Jr. .463 Rick Janssen 1B Redondo Sr. .333 Domonek Prince INF Redondo Jr. .418 Chuck Ursini INF Mary Star Sr. .419 Paul Weeks INF South Torrance Jr. .468 Daks Blanks OF Carson Jr. .424 Mitch Gosztyla OF Mira Costa Sr. .385 Mike Koepp OF Torrance Sr. .403 Larry Cannon UTL San Pedro Sr. 8-6/.475