West Torrance Shows National Profile

West Torrance, ranked seventh nationally by Baseball America magazine, has a chance to display its talents starting Monday in the National Classic, one of the premier high school baseball tournaments in the country.

The Warriors are one of nine Southern California teams competing in the 16-team Classic, which runs through April 19 at various sites in Orange County. The championship game is 7 p.m. April 19 at Cal State Fullerton.

The other local teams are La Puente Bishop Amat, Anaheim Esperanza, Diamond Bar, Placentia El Dorado, Riverside Poly, Lakewood Artesia, Whittier California and Cypress.

The tournament features a number of preseason All-Americans, including West Torrance catcher Nelson Caraballo, Diamond Bar pitcher Mark Jecmen and Esperanza third baseman David Nicholson.

Esperanza faces a test at 7 p.m. Monday at Cal State Fullerton when the Aztecs play Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers, ranked eighth by Baseball America.

Bishop Amat also has a difficult first-round opponent in Tucson Sabino, ranked 12th by Baseball America. The teams play at 10 a.m. Monday at El Dorado High in Placentia.

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One of the best softball matchups of the season is scheduled to take place Saturday when Santa Ana Foothill plays Newhall Hart in the Foothill tournament.

The game, a pool-play contest that will determine a championship-game participant, was scheduled to be played last weekend but was postponed because of rain.

Foothill, ranked second in the nation by Student Sports magazine, is led by pitcher Courtney Fossatti.

Hart is ranked 10th.

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Individuals interested in becoming officials for Southern Section athletic events can obtain contact information by visiting the section’s Web site at www.cifss.org.