Playing Beyond Numbers

You know what they say, numbers don’t lie.

Then there are those who insist numbers are deceiving.

The reality is somewhere in between. Statistics are a commonly accepted measure of athletic performance, but they don’t tell the whole story.

Numbers are cold. Stories behind the numbers are often colorful.

Some examples:

Numbers: 4-0, 0.54.

Story: The won-loss record and earned-run average of Kennedy High’s Wes Crown, a 5-foot-6 left-hander whose fastball has less velocity than the changeup of 6-5 teammate John Garland.

The crafty Crown has dissolved worries that the Golden Cougars would be below average on days Garland--one of the nation’s top professional prospects--did not pitch.

Numbers: 21, 4.

Story: Kennedy is ranked No. 21 in Baseball America magazine’s latest poll, yet three teams the national pollsters probably don’t know exist are ranked ahead of the Golden Cougars in The Times’ regional poll.

The national ranking is primarily a reflection of Garland’s stature: Teams with projected first-round draft picks, especially pitchers, gain notice. With the emergence of Crown, the Golden Cougars (12-5) should move up locally, provided they keep winning.

Adorned with a Garland and a Crown, don’t be surprised if the defending City Section 4-A Division champions eventually assume the area throne.

Numbers: 8 for 9, 12.

Story: He has no need to make a name for himself because his name already is a mouthful, but North Hollywood’s Ismael Rangsiyawong is making everyone take notice.

The second baseman was retired only once in nine at-bats and drove in 12 runs last week. He has seven home runs and is batting .491, helping the Huskies (12-2) match their victory total of last season.

Number: .483.

Story: Division III power Cal Lutheran has a full scouting report on a certain Moorpark High sophomore whose batting average is hovering near .500.

The budding recruit is Taylor-made for the Kingsmen--Cal Lutheran Coach Marty Slimak is the father of Moorpark’s left-handed, spray-hitting Taylor Slimak.

Numbers: 41, 18.

Story: The area’s toughest left-hander to hit is Hart’s Bobby Graves, who in 29 1/3 innings has more than two strikeouts for every hit he has allowed. He also possesses a deadly pickoff move.

Graves has committed to Oklahoma, which is clear to anyone meeting his father, Bill, who usually is decked out in Sooner cap and jacket. The Graves plan to move to Norman this summer to follow their son’s career.

Numbers: 10, 46.

Story: The fewest freebies are handed out by Antelope Valley. Hard-throwing right-hander Sean Douglass has walked six in 20 innings and off-speed left-hander Jeremy Holiday has walked four in 26 innings.

Other pitchers near total control include El Camino Real’s Shaun Fishman (one walk, 23 innings), Agoura’s David Turner (two walks, 22 innings), Cleveland’s Mike Schultz (two walks, 19 innings), Crespi’s Brian Felten (three walks, 29 innings), Thousand Oaks’ Aaron Boynton (three walks, 25 innings), and North Hollywood’s Cesar Soto (two walks, 17 innings).

Numbers: .500, 18.

Story: Newbury Park’s Danny Greene, getting a hit every other at-bat and second in the area in stolen bases, plays with the confidence of a third-year starter.

Greene was rushed to the varsity as a freshman and played third base. He moved to second last season and now is the shortstop. Early promotions can damage players, but Greene survived the baptism by fire and has become a fiery leader.

Numbers: .379, 2.74.

Story: Greg Wold, a pitcher-infielder at Chatsworth, has matured at a noticeable rate, growing from a gangly, sometimes eccentric player into a gritty college prospect who is batting nearly .400 and has kept his ERA low by mixing sidearm and overhand pitches.

It’s taken time, but Wold has emerged from the shadow of his father, Steve, who pitched for Northridge in the Little League World Series in 1967.

Number: .594.

Story: Louisville’s Becky Witt, a sharpshooting All-Valley guard in basketball, actually has a higher batting average than she did a shooting percentage. Her average leads area players.

Numbers: 0.00, 1.

Story: Rio Mesa’s Marcella Ramirez is the only area softball pitcher yet to allow an earned run, but she has a loss. The junior has allowed only three unearned runs in 50 innings, but lost in eight innings to Dos Pueblos, 1-0.

Numbers: .371, 0.

Story: Brian Gant, a fleet junior center fielder, was a star as a freshman and sophomore for L.A. Baptist. He transferred to Chatsworth this season and has shown he can play at the City 4-A level by hitting well and making no errors.

Number: 2.

Story: Catcher is the area’s strongest position, and some of the standouts are Chaminade’s Ryan Hamill, Calabasas’ Josh Goldfield, Kennedy’s David Lusk, Quartz Hill’s Jo’Sean Lyles, Westlake’s Chris Parker and Channel Islands’ Jared Krehbiel.

Add a name to the list: Ray LeDuc. The El Camino Real senior has eight home runs, including two grand slams.