Wolverines Undergo Matt-Amorphoses

From doormats to four Matts.

And a huge leap in the Mission League standings.

Harvard-Westlake High, which entered this season with just one Mission League victory in the last three seasons, is suddenly in the thick of the race for a playoff spot.

The Wolverines (13-8, 5-3 in league play) are the surprise of the league.

The turnaround is due in large part to four players named Matt: Thayer, Berkson, Felder and Seigel.

The four have made a name for themselves by helping the once hapless Wolverines become respectable.

“It’s been a total team effort, but obviously the Matts have been key,” Wolverine Coach Josh Smaler said.

Berkson, a senior left fielder, has stepped up his game in league. After hitting just .286 in nonleague games, he has hit better than .600 in league games. Last year he had a similar turnaround.

“He owns the Mission League,” Smaler said.

Thayer, a sophomore first baseman-pitcher, is among the top hitters in the region with an average above .500. He has an eight-game league hitting streak.

Felder, a junior catcher, has thrown out eight of 11 runners trying to steal in league games.

“He’s dominant back there,” Smaler said. “They run early and that’s it.”

Seigel, a senior utility player, has been instrumental as a spot starter and role player for the Wolverines. Usually the first pinch-hitter off the bench, he is hitting .320.

He worked his way into the starting lineup for part of the season, but wouldn’t you know, he lost his job to somebody with a similar name: Adam Siegel.