New District 20 Format to Stick Around Another Year

The controversial new format in District 20 of American Legion baseball will return for another season.

The format, which divided the district into two divisions based on players’ ages--much to the dismay of some teams--has been a success, said District 20 Commissioner Larry Van Kuran.

“We’re going to keep it,” Van Kuran said. “I told coaches at the beginning of the season that we weren’t sure, but we’re impacting a lot of kids [positively]. We took a risk, but things have gone well.”

Before the Legion season, Van Kuran split the district into two divisions: 18-and-under and 17-and-under. The idea was to allow underclassmen, who might not play much on a senior-laden team, to play more during the summer in the 17-and-under division.

Some high schools disliked having their players, regardless of age, on different teams. Hart, Crespi, Burroughs, Valencia and Cleveland fled for a Palomino league that did not form teams based on age.

Van Kuran, in his second season as commissioner, said he does not harbor a grudge against the teams that left Legion ball. He said he would extend them invitations next year.

“They’ll get a letter like anybody else,” Van Kuran said. “This isn’t exclusionary.

“At least they didn’t drop [summer] baseball completely. They’re still playing.”

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The District 20 All-Star games were played at Chatsworth High on Monday after some last-minute juggling.

The games were supposed to be at Notre Dame until a scheduling conflict with a day camp forced Van Kuran to find a new location.

He inquired at Birmingham and Pierce College last week, but they had already booked events.

He eventually called Chatsworth and found the field was available.

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In the Division II All-Star game, two shortstops distinguished themselves.

Jonathan Santana of Notre Dame made a diving grab of a grounder in the 11th inning and, two batters later, made a nice backhanded play in the hole, but could not get the runner.

Matt Ware of Quartz Hill made several plays for the North team, showing good range.

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The 12-inning game played by the Division II teams was a first.

Previously, All-Star games were nine innings, but the teams decided to play 12 to showcase all the players.

“This was the first time they asked to go 12,” Van Kuran said. “As long as they had the pitching, that was fine. Nine or 12 is OK.”

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Van Nuys Show Ball players scored both runs for the Division I East team as Felipe Tetelboin hit a home run in the third and Jonathon Brewster scored on a groundout after he doubled in the eighth.