1995 LOS ANGELES TIMES : All-Ventura Baseball Team : Player & Pitcher of the Year : Marvels of the Marmonte

Modest Matt Riordan of Westlake High admits that even he didn’t expect to have such an outstanding varsity debut.

“I was surprised,” he said. “In the beginning my expectation was to hit about .400, being just a junior.”

Riordan did far better than that, batting .560 and earning recognition as Marmonte League co-player of the year, Ventura County co-player of the year in the coaches’ poll, and now, The Times’ Ventura County player of the year.

“He’s a good-looking ballplayer,” Simi Valley Coach Mike Scyphers said. “He’s complete. He runs well. He throws well. I know we couldn’t get him out.”

Few could, particularly during one six-game midseason tear, during which in 23 at-bats he had 14 hits and 11 runs batted in.

“I was just in a zone, I guess,” Riordan said.

More of the same next season likely will get the 5-foot-11, 170-pound outfielder taken in baseball’s amateur draft.