Hamer Taking Swings for Injured Teammate

Joey Hamer, a catcher from Newbury Park High playing for the 818 team, has “ME” written on his cap, but it doesn’t mean he’s a selfish ballplayer.

The letters stand for Matt Emole, a Panther teammate who was paralyzed recently in an automobile accident.

Hamer would like to get a hit for his friend, but hasn’t had many pitches to swing at in the Area Code Games at Blair Field in Long Beach.

Against the Dodgers, he walked on four pitches, then he grounded out with a 2-and-0 count on a pitch out of the strike zone.

“Nobody came here to walk,” he said. “I had to swing at something.”

Hamer also walked in his only at-bat against the Pirates.

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Long-distance rates are plummeting, but a premium is still placed on some calls.

Area Code programs that list the home phone numbers of every player in the games are sold at the gate to scouts and college coaches for $110. The same program costs $250 for agents.

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Mike Wallace, a scouting supervisor for the Cincinnati Reds and the longtime Area Code Games public address announcer, evaluates players with an especially keen eye.

From the approximately 300 Area Code players, Wallace heads selection of the U.S. team for the Goodwill Series, held the first week of September at Blair Field.

The U.S. will play against teams of the best high school players from Japan. Korea has fielded a team since the series began 12 years ago, but not this year because of economic reasons.

“The Dodgers first saw Chan-Ho Park at the Goodwill Series in 1990,” Wallace said. “He was 17 years old and they followed his progress from then on.”

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Conor Jackson, a third baseman from El Camino Real who bats third for 818, appears to be the position player from the region most likely to make the Goodwill Series team.

“Conor is one of the top hitters at Area Code,” said Craig Wallenbrock, general manager of the 818 team. “Scouts are very impressed.”

Jackson had hits in each of the first three games, including a two-run single against the Pirates.

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A sharp ground ball to third base by Jackson against the Dodgers took a bad hop and struck Ryan Brown of St. Francis in the face.

Brown, a junior, was taken to a hospital and received eight stitches above his right eye.

“The eye was swollen shut, but it opened up [Wednesday night],” said Debbie Brown, Ryan’s mother. “He said he wants to play Friday or Saturday.”

There’s no hurry. Dodger coaches told Brown he is guaranteed a spot on the 2000 team. Batting third, Brown flied out and walked before the injury.

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Scott Drootin and Dave Toledo were told by the Southern Section hours before the first game not to coach the 818 team.

Drootin is coach at Chaminade and Toledo is an assistant at Hart. Jonathan Higashi of Chaminade and Jamie Shields of Hart are members of the 818 team, and August is designated as a “dead period” by the Southern Section, meaning high school coaches cannot be on the field with their players.

Brian York, a private pitching instructor and former North Hollywood High coach, and former major leaguer Tim Corcoran are coaching the 818 team with Pierce College assistant Joey Arnold.

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Westlake has six players on three teams. Bob Williams, Area Code administrator, believes it is the most Area Code players ever from a single high school.

Several Warriors made an impact in the first two days.

Despite playing on a sprained ankle, Dodgers’ outfielder Jonathan Shepard had two hits, a walk and a stolen base against the 818 team. Most impressive to scouts was the way Shepard rebounded after making an error in the first inning.

Battling the sun in left field, Shepard let a line drive by Jackson hit him in the chest.

In the same game, Tyler Adamczyk of Westlake pitched two scoreless innings, third baseman Ryan McCarthy made a back-hand pickup and strong throw, and shortstop Jeff Dragicevich singled and stole a base.

Adamczyk was three for three against the Angels on Thursday.

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Jason Kubel of Highland is one of the few pitchers who also gets to swing a bat.

Kubel, who bats left-handed and throws right, was three for three with two runs batted in Tuesday for the 818 team.

He walked and scored Wednesday against the Pirates, but struggled in one inning of pitching. Kubel walked three and gave up a two-run double.

Shields and Matt Harrington of Palmdale dominated the Pirates, each pitching two scoreless innings.

Shields struck out three and Harrington struck out five.

Chris Cordeiro of Thousand Oaks allowed an unearned run in three innings and Matthew Merricks of Oxnard pitched two scoreless innings against the Angels on Thursday.