In Short Order, Brewster Improves His Defensive Play

With great reluctance, Jonathon Brewster of Notre Dame High decided to end his days as a three-sport athlete, dropping basketball to focus on football and baseball this school year.

What a difference two extra months of baseball practice has made.

Brewster, a junior, has one error in six games at shortstop for top-ranked Notre Dame (7-0, 2-0 in Mission League). His powerful arm, quickness and athleticism have impressed opposing coaches and college recruiters.

Coach Tom Dill was not eager to switch Santa Clara-bound John Puccinelli from shortstop to third base unless Brewster proved himself in the field. Brewster sharpened his skills during winter ball instead of playing basketball.

“He’s been absolutely incredible,” Dill said.

Said Brewster: “I’m having a lot of fun. I’ve improved a lot. I had two months more of playing baseball and preparation.”

The defensive change has strengthened the Knights, with Puccinelli performing well at third base and Brewster looking like a veteran at shortstop.

“It’s a hard position,” Brewster said of shortstop. “It’s a demanding position. A lot of balls come to you. That’s the good part.”

Brewster is expected to start at quarterback next fall, meaning he’s going to have conflicts this summer with Legion ball and football workouts. But don’t look for him to drop football. His two older brothers, Scott and Robbie, were football standouts for the Knights.

“I don’t think [football Coach Kevin Rooney] has to worry about it,” Brewster said.

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Left-hander Jordan Olson of Crescenta Valley did not have his best stuff, but it hardly mattered. He struck out 18 and walked none to help the Falcons defeat Arcadia, 5-1, in an eight-inning Pacific League game Friday night.

The first two batters reached base for Arcadia, then Olson took charge.

“I slowed up my motion,” Olson said. “I was rushing myself, calmed down, relaxed and put the ball where I wanted to.”

Olson (3-0), The Times’ Valley pitcher of the year last season, has struck out 42 in 21 innings with a 1.33 earned-run average.

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Reseda could face sanctions for violating City Section rules by playing more than the allowable number of games in the L.A. Umpires tournament sponsored by Hamilton High.

Teams are allowed four games in a 12-team tournament, but Reseda and others played six.

City administrators are investigating the matter.

“It would go to the rules committee for determination of penalties or sanctions,” Commissioner Barbara Fiege said.

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The message is loud and clear in the Golden League: Don’t take Lancaster lightly. The Eagles upset Golden favorite Palmdale, 12-1, last week behind senior pitcher Steve Payte, who struck out seven.

Last year, Lancaster lost all three games to Golden champion Palmdale. Payte, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander, defeated Matt Harrington, the Falcons’ ace.

“My control was on,” Payte said. “I knew it was going to be a big game because [Harrington is] a great pitcher.”

This is the first year Lancaster (5-3, 1-0) has seniors, and the victory over Palmdale is a strong indication the Eagles have improved.

“We’re excited,” Payte said. “We made a statement. We hit the ball well with no errors. It’s a good start to the [league] season.”

Mike Hewson leads Lancaster with a .515 batting average and 11 runs batted in.

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Although Kennedy started 0-4, Coach Manny Alvarado didn’t panic. He saw improvement after each loss.

“We gave up 16 runs, then 14, nine and seven,” he said.

The Cougars, who start four sophomores and a freshman, have won three consecutive games.

“I think we’ve made one error in the last four games,” Alvarado said.

Alex Avlas is Kennedy’s top hitter with eight hits in 14 at-bats.

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Notre Dame has yet to play any teams ranked in The Times’ top 10, so it’s still questionable how good the Knights are. They figure to be tested this week in Mission League games against Chaminade (6-1, 2-0) today and Friday.

“Who wouldn’t want to play against the No. 1 team in the area?” Chaminade Coach Scott Drootin said.

Junior catcher Jonathan Higashi is batting .714 (10 for 14) and sophomore pitcher Jason Urquidez is 3-0 with no runs allowed in 13 1/3 innings for Chaminade.

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Delwyn Young, a junior shortstop at Littlerock, has hit five home runs in eight games.

“If he’s not hitting a home run, it’s going to be a shot to the fence or a gapper,” said Coach Dennis Henderson. “It’s nice.”

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Kevin Howard of Westlake, considered the region’s top professional prospect, is off to a good start. Howard is seven for 12 (.583 average) with three home runs and 11 RBIs. . . .

Freshman infielder Tim Murphy of Burroughs is 13 for 26 (.500). . . .

Royal (5-1-1, 1-0 in Marmonte League play) is continually underestimated, but the Highlanders have made the Southern Section Division I playoffs seven of nine seasons this decade.Royal faces another test Wednesday against visiting Thousand Oaks and pitcher Chris Cordeiro. But Cordeiro had better watch out for junior first baseman Brian Lipman, who is a tough out. Lipman homered against Newbury Park ace Ryan Ayers last week.