UP IN ARMS

In a decade that has produced its share of elite high school pitchers, from Jeff Suppan to Randy Wolf, from Russell Ortiz to Jon Garland, from Jim Parque to Mike Schultz, it seems appropriate that the dawn of the new millennium brings forth the year of the pitcher.

Head to Palmdale High, drop by Hart, go to Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Rio Mesa, visit Crespi, Notre Dame, Sylmar and Chatsworth, stop by Crescenta Valley. You’ll discover there never has been more quality pitchers on high school rosters than the season ahead.

Watch for no-hitters and 18-strikeout performances. Look for shutouts and hitters flinging their aluminum bats in disgust. Don’t yell at umpires for calling too many strikes, for it only reflects the pinpoint accuracy of the region’s pitchers.

Nine senior pitchers have already accepted scholarships to NCAA Division I schools. Combine them with a group of junior pitchers who professional scouts would be eager to draft this June, and you have the makings of a special season.

No one is generating more excitement or acclaim than 17-year-old junior right-hander Jamie Shields of Hart High. At 6 feet 3 and 190 pounds, with a fastball approaching 90 mph, Shields has the smooth, effortless delivery of Garland, the pop on his fastball of Ortiz, the sharp break on his curveball of Wolf and the fearlessness of Parque.

For years, All-West Valley League third baseman Conor Jackson of El Camino Real battled Shields in youth baseball games. He played at Westhills, Shields at Hart.

“We were always rivals,” Jackson said. “We’d always face each other in championship games. He was a junk-ball pitcher.”

Last summer and fall, Jackson saw Shields pitch for the first time since their youth league days.

“I was like, ‘Geez, what happened to you?’ ” Jackson said. “He has matured into such an awesome pitcher. In scout ball, it would be three up, three down, two strikeouts or three strikeouts. It was almost to the point of being ridiculous.”

Coach Bud Murray of Hart jokes about putting a message on his phone answering machine at home whenever Shields is scheduled to pitch to avoid spending all day taking calls from scouts.

Shields was 8-2 with a 1.79 earned-run average as a sophomore. In American Legion ball, he was 7-1, allowing 43 hits in 50 innings with 76 strikeouts.

“I’ve seen him throw in the [bullpen] and he’s better than he was last year,” Murray said. “His curveball is better, his fastball has more velocity. I think he’ll do fine. I kind of hate to put a lot of pressure on him.

“I just know he’s a good kid and wants to do well and sometimes it’s tough to live up to [expectations]. He has a pitcher’s body, loose arm and big frame. I just want him to go out, relax and enjoy himself.”

Players, fans, opposing coaches--they all enjoy watching Shields in action.

“He throws 100% every pitch,” said left-hander Michael Jackson of Crespi. “He’s got a closer’s mentality. Everything is full power.”

“He is legit and people have a right to be excited,” said Nez Balelo, who coached Shields in fall scout ball. “I saw Jamie kind of grow up. I go, ‘Are you the little Shields?’ He shot up six, seven inches [from his youth-league days].”

Shields was always smaller than his two older brothers, Jason and Jeremy, who played baseball at Hart. Now the little brother towers over his older brothers by at least four inches and is still growing.

As a youth-league pitcher, Shields relied mostly on his breaking ball.

“I thought the curveball was the greatest thing and could get everybody out,” Shields said.

When Shields reached high school, Murray worked with him on his fastball. As he became taller and stronger, his velocity took a jump. During the off-season, Shields added a changeup that could make him even more difficult to hit.

“No one’s seen it yet,” he said. “I’m trying to save it. I’ve been working on it. Changeups are really effective.”

Not that Shields can’t be hit. He lost a Legion playoff game last summer to Notre Dame, 7-0, and gave up a home run. But that only caused the winners to feel relieved and fortunate they had survived an encounter with Shields.

“He’s a special guy in our area,” said Notre Dame Legion Coach Jody Breeden. “To me, he’s fearless. He challenges guys. When he takes the mound, you’ve got to figure there’s a ‘W’ there.”

It’s not only talent that provides Shields with an edge. It’s his work ethic and love of the game that makes a difference.

“I look forward every day to going out there,” he said. “Baseball is on my mind probably 90% of the time. Every day when I go out on the baseball field, I concentrate on getting better. It makes me excited what I’m doing. Every day, I learn something new.

“The thing I’ve learned the most about baseball is to have fun. Just playing the game is the most thrilling thing.”

There is plenty of competition for Shields this season.

Jordan Olson led Crescenta Valley to the Southern Section Division I championship last season pitching with a painful back injury. He finished 11-1 with a 0.92 ERA. How good is a healthy Olson?

“He should be the best in the Valley,” Coach Phil Torres of Crescenta Valley said.

Coach Gary Donatella of Sylmar wouldn’t trade his ace right-hander, Ivan Hernandez, for anyone. Bound for Cal State Northridge, Hernandez has established himself as the most feared pitcher in the City Section. He was 11-2 with a 1.95 ERA last season and has improved his velocity. Hitters who don’t lay off his letter-high fastball will be sitting in the dugout wondering how they became his latest strikeout victim.

Mike Kunes of Chatsworth was the City player of the year, with a 12-2 record and a 1.77 ERA. He’s probably the best double threat of the pitchers, having batted .425 with 37 runs batted in. He signed with UCLA.

Tim Leveque of Crespi, the Mission League pitcher of the year, is headed to Michigan. Jackson, his Celt teammate, has committed to Gonzaga. Greg Ramirez of Rio Mesa, the top pitcher in Ventura County, signed with Pepperdine. Phil Polanco of Notre Dame and Ryan Ayers of Newbury Park are bound for San Francisco. Kameron Loe of Granada Hills signed with Northridge. Scott Rice of Royal signed with Arkansas.

Among the juniors, Matt Harrington of Palmdale pitched in the USA Junior Olympics last summer and struck out 19 batters in nine innings. Chris Cordeiro of Thousand Oaks is everyone’s choice as the top returning pitcher in the Marmonte League. He’ll get competition from 6-4 Jesse Kozlowski of Westlake.

And don’t underestimate Matt Parris of Paraclete. He had a 7-0 record as a sophomore and was overlooked because the Spirits didn’t play tough competition. But Parris is ready to prove his ability.

If you still don’t believe this is the year of the pitcher, then heed the warning of Conor Jackson, who has batted against many of them.

“They’re all great, seriously,” he said. “They’re definitely overpowering and dominating.”

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Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.