Winning Tradition Points Westward

Another high school baseball season begins Tuesday, with the chances good that a San Fernando Valley team will win the City Championship for the 27th time in the last 28 seasons.

But unless your school is from the West Valley, you have a better shot at winning the lottery than a City title.

“If you remove El Camino Real and Chatsworth, then maybe we’ll all have a chance,” Sylmar Coach Gary Donatella said.

During the 1990s, West Valley powers El Camino Real, Chatsworth and Kennedy combined to win eight of the 10 City titles.

Grant, in 1986, and San Fernando, in 1991, are the last East Valley teams to win City Championships. Poly has finished second four times in that span--1987, ‘92, ’96 and ’99.

El Camino Real enters this season as the prohibitive favorite, thanks to a hitting attack that looks strong from top to bottom.

Another advantage the Conquistadores have is their experience and hunger to return to Dodger Stadium.

All-City shortstop Conor Jackson of El Camino Real was a member of City title clubs in 1997 and 1998. When the Conquistadores lost to Poly in the quarterfinals last year on a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jackson and his teammates took the loss hard. But they have vowed to return and plan to use the special memories of playing at Dodger Stadium as motivation.

“Seriously, I’m pushing everybody,” Jackson said. “The veterans were telling everybody, ‘We want to go back, but we want you guys to go back because we want to talk with you about it.’ We can sit and talk about it all day and get chills. We want to sit in the dugout, take infield on the grass. It’s one of the most incredible feelings ever. It’s one of a kind by far.”

If there’s an East Valley team capable of ending the West Valley domination, it’s Donatella’s Spartans.

For once, an East Valley team can match the best of the West Valley in talent. Donatella said he has five or six players who one day could become Division I college players.

Most important, the Spartans have pitching depth. No longer will their season hinge on whether Ivan Hernandez is on the mound. Hernandez is at Cal State Northridge, but there are six quality pitchers Donatella can turn to, including right-hander Ivan Lopez, who has been the talk of winter ball because of his rapid improvement.

Lopez, who started off as a 5-foot-9, 125-pound freshman, has matured into a 6-3, 155-pound senior with pinpoint control. He’ll be supported by left-handers Greg Ramos and Eddie Camacho and right-handers Hector Chavez, Jamie Mah and Mike Garcia.

“Our linescore could be three or four pitchers,” Donatella said.

At some point, Sylmar will have to knock off El Camino Real, Kennedy or Chatsworth if it wants to make it to Dodger Stadium on June 6. The Spartans know what is required.

“We need to play consistent baseball,” Lopez said. “Over the years, El Camino Real, Chatsworth and Kennedy play consistent baseball. We have confidence in ourselves. This year, since we have so many players coming back, everybody likes each other. It’s a good atmosphere.”

The Spartans will face stiffer competition moving to the new Valley Mission League. They lose Poly as their main league rival, but pick up Kennedy, which returns seven starters from the club that reached the semifinals last season.

Kennedy has quality pitching, with sophomore Adam Geery, but the question is whether the Golden Cougars’ young players from last season have improved as hitters. Watch the progress of junior catcher Phil Avlas, a second-team All-City choice, junior second baseman Chad Shaw and junior outfielder Danny Mata.

For once, defending City champion Chatsworth won’t start the season as a title contender. The Chancellors return only one starter, shortstop Matt Fisher, but they have already surprised opponents with strong winter play. Coach Tom Meusborn might enjoy the rare role of being an underdog. By season’s end, the Chancellors could be very dangerous, especially if left-hander Jacob Ball performs well.

The most intriguing team is Birmingham.

The Patriots return eight starters but are considered a year away from having their best team. That could change if their pitching staff comes through. Making his high school debut will be freshman Junior Garcia, who was one of the region’s best pitchers as a Little Leaguer.