Small Wonder Makes Big Pitch

Instead of trying to rattle tiny left-handed pitcher Danny Mata of Kennedy High by calling him Yoda, batters might want to exchange their bats for lightsabers to improve their chances of getting a hit.

Proving that talent and determination are more important than size, the 5-foot-6, 130-pound Mata has put together one of the best pitching streaks in school history.

He has allowed one earned run in 38 2/3 innings for a 0.18 earned-run average. In Star Wars terms, he has become a Jedi pitching master.

“That ERA is a softball ERA,” Coach Manny Alvarado said. “We’ve had some great pitchers here and nobody’s finished sub-one.”

Fans who love to yell wisecracks at Mata, take that.

“The first inning, they say stuff,” Mata said. “Come the third inning, I don’t hear anything.”

Silence comes because everyone soon realizes Mata is no pushover. His fastball has zip, he throws his curveball on 3-and-2 counts and he has an effective change-up.

It’s unfortunate Jon Garland, former All-City pitcher for Kennedy who is 6-6, isn’t around to team with Mata. That would be quite a sight.

“[Danny] would come up to Garland’s navel and Jon’s ERA couldn’t compete with his,” Alvarado said. “They’d be a sideshow. It would be like a ventriloquist.”

Mata is already adept at dealing with nasty fans. During a City quarterfinal last season at Banning, he endured a verbal onslaught.

“Those guys were brutal,” he said. “My friend’s mom told them to shut up and they said, ‘I guess that must be your mommy.’ They can say whatever they want, it’s not going to get to me. I think it’s funny.”

Mata, a junior, has played baseball since he was 4. He’s well-known among players throughout the Valley from his many years on club teams.

He thrives on pitching against friends. He defeated his buddies from Sylmar, 3-0, on a three-hitter earlier this month. Tuesday, he could be on the mound against San Fernando in a game for first place in the Valley Mission League.

He has won six consecutive games since losing to Santa Monica on March 18.

“I feel so confident when I pitch,” Mata said. “I just have a feeling I know I’m going to do well.”

The Force is with him.

*

Robin Leduc, mother of El Camino Real catcher Mike Leduc, was talking on her cellular phone with Debbie Barba, mother of Chatsworth third baseman Ryan Barba, during the El Camino Real-Chatsworth baseball game Thursday.

Suddenly, Barba tried to steal second and was thrown out by Leduc.

Robin told Debbie what happened. Click. Debbie had hung up.

“She’s not supposed to let her son do that,” Debbie said.

The sons get a rematch May 16. Let’s hope the mothers remain friends. . . .

When basketball player Justin Beach transferred from Camarillo to Chaminade three years ago, Coach Jeff Young of the Eagles didn’t just get a good player--he found a future wife--Beach’s sister, Jennifer. The two will be married July 22.

“That was a great bonus that came along,” Young said.

The marriage should last many years, provided there are no arguments about zone defenses. . . .

Tito Hill, a junior guard who started most of last season for Chaminade, has decided to return to Boca Raton, Fla. . . .

Washington and Utah are taking a strong recruiting interest in 6-9 Scott Borchart of Chaminade. . . .

If Stanford offers a scholarship, look for quarterback Kyle Matter of Hart to accept. Cardinal coaches are scheduled to visit the Newhall campus in two weeks to watch Matter work out. Matter was impressed with Stanford during an unofficial campus visit last week. . . .

Calling sophomore pitcher Joe Guntz of Chatsworth wacky would be an understatement. He has nicknames for his pitches: the slinky, the flame-thrower, the mesmerizer, the eagle, the grenade, the rattler and the devil pitch. . . .

Football passing competitions have begun in the City Section. Monroe, Granada Hills and Kennedy played in a seven-on-seven league Saturday.

All-City receiver James Norris of Kennedy is in a class by himself. Any cornerback who can cover him deserves immediate All-City consideration. . . .

Clay Matthews, former USC and Cleveland Browns All-Pro linebacker, has been hired to coach the freshman football team at Agoura. . . .

After four months of inaction, Simi Valley is close to hiring a football coach. Players have become frustrated with the district’s failure to provide critical leadership for a program that falls farther behind each day the position remains vacant.

“We have no answers what to do,” junior tight end Rico Rinaldi said. . . .

Marvin Jones, former El Camino Real outfielder, is in his first year of law school at George Washington. He wants to become an entertainment lawyer. . . .

Golfer Aaron Levine of Calabasas shot a season-best 71 Thursday at Calabasas Country Club while rushing through his round so he could finish in time to host the school’s lipsync talent show. “I learned maybe it’s good not to think about my shots,” he said.

Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (8180 772-3422 or eric.sondheimer@latimes.com