Earthquake Kids Shake Things Up on Varsity Level

The kids who formed the best Little League team in the nation--could it already be three years ago?--are precisely where you’d expect them, sprinkled on diamonds all over the region.

Northridge Little League marched to the World Series final only months after the devastating Jan. 17, 1994, temblor displaced many of their families from their homes. Time flys like a wind-blown drive past a flag pole, but the Earthquake Kids are still great shakes.

Seven are freshmen, three are sophomores and two are in eighth grade. Eight of them already are on varsity teams.

Nathaniel Dunlap, the pitcher whose 74-mph fastball struck fear into 12-year-old batters nationwide, was a starter at Chaminade until he broke a thumb two weeks ago. Dunlap played third base, shortstop, first base and every outfield position but rarely pitched because the Eagles have a strong staff of seniors.

Spencer Gordon, a sophomore outfielder, and Jonathan Higashi, a freshman catcher, are varsity backups at Chaminade, ranked No. 1 in the region by the Times.

Matt Cunningham is the varsity catcher at Notre Dame, and his father, Tim, manager of the Northridge team that advanced to the 13-year-old World Series final in 1995, is the Knights’ junior varsity coach. Larry Baca, manager of the 1994 Northridge team, is a Notre Dame varsity assistant.

Two Earthquake Kids start for Chatsworth at the same positions they played in Little League: shortstop Matt Fisher and first baseman Matt Cassel.

Perhaps the most improved player is freshman Scott Drake, a reserve in Little League who is starting at second base for Alemany. Another freshman playing varsity is Michael Frost at Campbell Hall.

Sophomore David Teraoka is a reserve at Granada Hills, where a player who contributed heavily on the Northridge 13-year-old team, Cameron Loe, has developed into a 6-foot-6 pitcher.

Of the key Northridge players, only pitcher Peter Tuber is not playing baseball. A sophomore at Granada Hills, his attention has turned to music. Justin Gentile, who pitched against Venezuela in the World Series final, lives in Las Vegas.

Although they attend many different schools, the players have remained friends. Gordon and Cunningham, in particular, keep in close contact with their former teammates.

The team could reunite one last time and take a shot at the 15-year-old Senior Division World Series this summer. But it’s not likely. Commitments to American Legion teams and off-season high school programs are too demanding.

“Recapturing that chemistry doesn’t appear possible,” one parent said. “Most of them haven’t ruled it out, but nobody seems too excited about it, either.”

*

A group that did stay together at age 15 and made it worth the effort was last year’s Thousand Oaks team, which won the national championship before losing to Venezuela in the World Series final. The same kids won the Little League 13-year-old World Series in 1994.

Kevin Howard, the team’s best player, is in his second varsity season at Westlake. A sophomore, Howard has moved from shortstop to third base, is batting .476 and has pitched well.

Ryan Ayers, a Newbury Park sophomore, has shown impressive power, belting four home runs and driving in 20 runs in limited playing time. Ayers hit for the cycle in one game.

Two pitchers from the Little League team, sophomores Matt Rogers and Chris Strausser, play at Thousand Oaks. Rogers has shown steady improvement and Strausser is the Lancers’ hardest thrower.

Others playing varsity baseball are Brian Jacobsen, batting .333 as Agoura’s third baseman; third baseman Jesse Siebers of Thousand Oaks; and first baseman Ethan East and designated hitter Doug Hutton of Westlake.

*

High school coaches often roll their eyes at incoming freshmen with impressive Little League credentials. And it’s true that some players bring inflated opinions of themselves into high school and encounter a rude awakening.

But the rapid high school success of players from the Northridge and Thousand Oaks teams shouldn’t be a surprise. They advanced through summers-long, high-pressure tournaments and ultimately faced teams of similar talent from around the world.

The confidence, composure and ability to compete honed through playing--and winning--Little League tournaments has accelerated their development. The proof is in their continuing accomplishments.