Alvarez Makes Up for Lost Campaign

Paul Alvarez considered himself a hardship case.

City Section officials did not and they denied his petition to play baseball at Reseda High in the spring of what was his fifth year of high school.

Now, legion pitchers come upon hard times whenever they face Alvarez, who plays for Woodland Hills East. The outfielder carried a .535 batting average into the weekend, with five doubles, three triples, a home run and four stolen bases.

“Everything he hits is a line drive,” East Coach Doug Siembieda said.

But circumstances have also taken the bat out of Alvarez’s hands.

Attending Mira Loma High in Sacramento in 1994, Alvarez spent afternoons at home, caring for his younger brother and his mother, Virginia, who died last year after a two-year battle with cancer.

He eventually fell behind in school, so much so that he was held back a year before he transferred to Reseda.

At Reseda in 1995, Alvarez batted .333 with 15 runs batted in. That proved to be his last high school season.

Alvarez, who turns 19 in October, was disappointed at not getting another year of eligibility.

“But I realized it wasn’t the end of the world,” he said. “I could still play American Legion.”

Alvarez stayed close to the Reseda program.

“He didn’t miss a day of practice and worked out with the team,” Reseda Coach Mike Stone said. “His enthusiasm never diminished. He has enough skills to play at the junior college level. Baseball is his whole life, and I’m real tickled he’s playing.”

Alvarez credits Reseda teammate Brian Menkin for keeping him close to the game and helping him win a spot in the Woodland Hills East lineup.

“It feels good to play,” Alvarez said. “During the season, I traveled to all Reseda’s games and kept score. I was always wondering how I would do out there.”

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By the end of the season, Woodland Hills West catcher Ray Leduc will have spent more than 1,500 innings in a squatting position, dating back to his earliest days in youth baseball.

“This guy’s the Cal Ripken of catchers,” West Coach Bob Marks said.

Maybe not quite, but Leduc has been impressive not only with his glove, but also with his bat and leadership.

He entered the week with a .433 batting average and 15 RBIs, good production considering the extra weight of his equipment and responsibility of calling pitches. A two-year starter at El Camino Real High, Leduc will enter his senior season next spring with more than 400 innings of varsity work.

Amazingly, Leduc has never felt as much as an ache, and he would rather not take a rest.

“I’ve never gotten tired,” Leduc said. “My knees have never bothered me. I’ve been doing it all my life, and it’s just second nature. If I could play every inning of every game, I would.”

The 1,500-inning estimate is probably low. It doesn’t include postseason play and all-star games at the youth level, nor does it account for winter ball.

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Why is Crespi Coach Scott Muckey coaching the Encino Legion team?

Perhaps so that he can be sure to perpetuate the Celts’ tradition of strong pitching.

Tim Leveque and Mike Jackson, who will be sophomores, entered the week with a combined record of 4-1, having allowed three earned runs in 36 2/3 innings with 43 strikeouts.

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Among area standouts, Matt Riordan of Westlake-Royal Oak is playing like a man on a mission. The outfielder entered the week with a 1.703 slugging percentage and an area-best .595 batting average.

He had 34 RBIs in 37 at bats, and 14 of his 22 hits went for extra bases, including seven home runs.