Anticipation Builds as Little League Prepares to Pick All-Stars : Baseball: The 14 young players to be announced Saturday will try to earn a return trip to World Series competition.

Anticipation is rising at Stearns Park. Long Beach Little League officials will reveal Saturday the 14 players who have made the coveted all-star team that begins its quest July 10 for a second consecutive Little League World Series title.

The announcement is expected to be a highlight of the 42nd season of Little League in Long Beach.

“Every kid in this park wants to play on our all-star team,” said Denny Mayfield, an assistant coach for the Major Division Pirates.

Twelve players are voted to the team by the league’s players. The coach and manager pick two more.

The memories of last year’s all-star team and the emotions of August in Williamsport, Pa., are still fresh. Long Beach was defeated, 15-4, in the World Series title game by a team from the Philippines. Later it was determined that the Filipinos had stacked their team with over-age players, and the title was awarded to Long Beach.

On a damp September night, when word came that Long Beach was being named champion, champagne-sipping fans and unbelieving players assembled under the dim lights at Stearns Park to celebrate.

“The league has been really united as a result of what happened last year,” said all-star Manager Larry Lewis. “Unlike most Little Leagues at this time of year, there is an absence of political activity. Everyone is really, really friendly. It’s nice to see everyone promote the league and getting along.”

World Series souvenir T-shirts sell for $10 at Stearns Park. Spectators wore them as they packed the wooden bleachers on the Major Division field this spring. Behind the backstop is a shrine-like, glass trophy case, part of a new two-story snack shack and press box the city built to celebrate the team’s accomplishments. The case is full of banners, pictures and awards earned by the boys of summer who captivated the city.

Some observers believe that Saturday’s announcement could be the beginning of a return trip to Williamsport. First, though, the team must win the double-elimination District 38 All-Star Tournament in July involving eight teams from Long Beach, Lakewood, Bellflower and Cerritos.

“It will be interesting to see the team’s first practice,” said Al Miller, whose twin sons, Kevin and Chris, are eligible to return to the team. “Last year, when they threw the ball around, you could see the chemistry was right there from the beginning.”

Debbie Burroughs, mother of star pitcher and shortstop Sean Burroughs, called the mood around the park “an all-star frenzy.”

Her husband, former major leaguer Jeff Burroughs, will coach the Long Beach all-stars again. According to league rules, Burroughs and Lewis won the right to handle the club after directing the Pirates to the regular-season Major Division title. Since Burroughs and Lewis hooked up four years ago, they have a record of 135-15. At one point, they won 67 consecutive games.

Mayfield still comes to help coach even though his son, Dane, a member of last year’s champions, now plays Pony League (for players 13 to 15) in another part of the city.

“When something is going right you like to stay with it,” Mayfield said. “The chemistry between Larry, Jeff and me works. You can feel it.”

Jeff Burroughs, who hit 240 big-league home runs, has been waiting for this summer.

“This was really the year we were looking forward to since the kids were 8 years old,” he said. “Last year was kind of a surprise.”

Eight players from the 1992 all-star team have moved on to Pony League because they are too old for Little League. Another, third baseman Ismael Strain-Bay, quit baseball, saying he wanted to do more surfing. Even without them, Burroughs likes what he sees.

“We’re not looking long term,” he said. “But I think we’ll make an impact somewhere. We should have a pretty good ballclub.”

Lewis has faith in the players choosing most of the all-stars.

“Last year the kids did a great job of picking the top 12,” he said. “We would have picked the same.”

Four all-stars from last year are expected to be voted back, including Sean Burroughs, who hit 17 home runs for the 1992 all-stars and pitched Long Beach to a 1-0 victory over Hamilton Square, N.J., in the United States title game.

“Sean Burroughs is as good or better than last year,” Lewis said. “Any team that has Sean Burroughs has got to have (a chance). He’s one of the top players in the country.”

Burroughs, a left-handed batter, hit 16 home runs this season, but he was frequently walked. “He hasn’t seen a lot of good pitches to hit,” his father said.

Burroughs doubled and singled Monday as the Pirates defeated West Lakewood, 6-3, in a postseason district tournament.

Randall Shelley, a member of last year’s all-star team who often returns to Stearns Park to watch his former teammates, was not surprised at the younger Burroughs’ performance.

“Sean is ready for Pony League right now,” said Shelley, 13. “This field is too small for him. Just look at him play.”

In addition to Burroughs and the Miller twins, second baseman Alex DeFazio is expected to be renamed to the team. DeFazio was a defensive standout a year ago.

“We’re pretty confident in our defense and pretty confident in our offense,” Lewis said. “After Sean, the pitching presents some problems.”

Burroughs would be the all-star team’s only returning pitcher. The Millers, backup outfielders last summer, pitched this season and did well for a Pirates team that is 25-1.

Ken Curnow, Major Division district administrator, said that Long Beach will be pressed just to get through the district tournament.

“There’s better competition in the district this year,” he said.

But for now, that thought does not appear to bother the dozens of parents, relatives and fans who come each night to Stearns Park to relive last year’s memories.

Road to Little League World Series

Event Date Site District Tournament July 10-21 Stearns Park, Long Beach Section Tournament July 25-31 Hacienda Heights Division Finals Aug. 1-7 Santee Western Regionals Aug. 9-21 San Bernardino World Series Aug. 23-28 Williamsport, Pa.