The Earthquake Kids: Five Years Later

John Michael Baca: Son of Manager Larry Baca was a reserve infielder and one of two Northridge 11-year-olds. He was starting first baseman as a sophomore at North Hollywood High, where his father is an assistant coach.

Matt Cassel: A pudgy, precocious first baseman in Little League, Cassel has grown into a 6-foot-4 senior Chatsworth quarterback who has a scholarship to USC. Cassel was designated hitter for the City champion Chancellors.

Matt Cunningham: The catcher whose defensive skills and clutch hitting were key to Northridge has started at Notre Dame since his freshman year. Cunningham overcame an arm injury as a sophomore and two weeks ago played in the Area Code games, a showcase of the nation’s top prospects.

Todd Delevie: A backup catcher and outfielder for Northridge, Delevie will begin his senior year at Alemany battling for the job as starting catcher. Delevie played on the Alemany varsity last year.

Scott Drake: A backup infielder for Northridge, Drake transferred to Chatsworth from Alemany and won the starting job at catcher after the incumbent quit. As a junior he caught the City final at Dodger Stadium and caught for the Valley Chatsworth American Legion team before quitting late in the summer.

Nate Dunlap: The nation’s most dominant pitcher at age 12, Dunlap pitched sparingly at Chaminade High and earned a scholarship to South Dakota as a shortstop. Dunlap was promoted to the Chaminade varsity as a freshman and started for three years.

Matt Fisher: A wiry, slick-fielding shortstop with surprising power as a 12-year-old, Fisher fits the same description entering his senior year at Chatsworth. He hit two home runs in one game for Valley Chatsworth during the American Legion World Series and should be one of the region’s top college prospects as a senior.

Mike Frost: A valuable utility player for Northridge with a knack for getting clutch hits, Frost attends Campbell Hall High, where he has been the star pitcher and hitter since his sophomore year. Recruiters say Frost has the ability to play in college.

Justin Gentile: Author of the “agony” change-up and one of Northridge’s top three pitchers, Gentile moved to Las Vegas after playing on the L.A. Baptist varsity as a freshman. He played at Green Valley, Nev., High and might try to make the University of Arizona team as a walk-on.

Spencer Gordon: Perhaps the most mature of the Earthquake Kids five years ago, Gordon remained a power-hitting outfielder through his career at Chaminade. An excellent student and a body builder, Gordon will attend USC and is an invited walk-on to the baseball team.

Jonathan Higashi: The Northridge catcher through Southern California play before he was determined to be ineligible, Higashi is perhaps the top college prospect from the team. He played well at the Area Code games two weeks ago and will begin his senior year as Chaminade’s catcher.

Michael Nesbit: A reserve outfielder for Northridge handicapped by a slight build, Nesbit has filled out his 5-11 frame and should start in center field for Chaminade as a senior. Nesbit had a strong summer playing American Legion ball.

David Teraoka: A backup catcher and outfielder for Northridge, Teraoka overcame a broken arm as a sophomore at Granada Hills and developed into an all-league right fielder. He graduated in June.

Peter Tuber: A tall, hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who shined at Williamsport, Tuber took up the guitar and quit baseball by the age of 15. However, he came back as a Granada Hills junior and enjoyed two solid seasons.

Gregg Wallis: One of two 11-year-olds and the starting third baseman for Northridge, Wallis was a Chatsworth reserve as a sophomore last spring but should be the starting second baseman next season, once again playing in the infield with Fisher.

Manager Larry Baca: The veteran Little League coach moved on to the high school ranks in 1995, coaching freshman and junior varsity teams for two years at Chaminade, then for two years at Notre Dame before helping the varsity at North Hollywood last spring.

Coach George Saul: A lifelong friend and longtime coaching partner of Baca, Saul coached at Chaminade in 1995 and ’96. He took the ’97 season off but helped Baca with the Notre Dame junior varsity in ’98 and was a North Hollywood varsity assistant last season.