Couple Centerpieces End a Sensational Season

Center field.

Center of attention.

At least that was the case at a couple of season-ending baseball games this month.

As prep sports editor, I usually stay behind the scenes, working in our office in Costa Mesa, and don’t get to see as many athletic events as I’d like.

But I made a point to watch Katella’s Jaret Wright pitch at least once this season, and that was enough to see why he was a first-round pick in the recent amateur baseball draft.

I also saw Fountain Valley’s 3-2 victory over Lakewood in the Southern Section Division I championship game before a full house at Blair Field in Long Beach. Cal-Hi sports recently called it the “high school baseball game of the year.” I couldn’t imagine a better one.

It was a dream-come-true ending for the top-ranked Barons, who took the lead for good when Geoff Wilson stole home in the bottom of the sixth. But they had to survive a nightmare in the seventh, when, with two outs and runners on first and second, Lakewood’s Art Martinez lined a 1-2 pitch into center field.

Matt Roman fielded the ball on one bounce as Lakewood’s Matt Dempsey rounded third base. Roman’s throw home was strong and arrived at the same time as Dempsey. Catcher Dan Hoppie held onto the ball despite the collision and Fountain Valley began its celebration.

La Quinta’s 3-1 victory over West Torrance in the Division III game the next night at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Field also was thrilling.

Jim Livernois pitched a three-hit gem, but he had his hands full in the top of the seventh.

West Torrance loaded the bases with two outs. Derek Nicholson, who had the Warriors’ only run batted in, hit a monstrous line drive to center field that appeared to be uncatchable. But La Quinta’s Anibal Delacruz ended the game with a running, stretching, backhanded catch near the fence.

An ecstatic fan said only Delacruz, among the Aztecs, could have made that catch.

Another center fielder taking center stage.