HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

First baseman Jamie Martinez of Hueneme has committed to UC Irvine, Viking Coach Reg Welker said.

Martinez is batting .450 with five home runs and 26 RBIs.

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Oak Park, third in the Tri-Valley League, has been boosted by freshman pitcher Garrett Ozar, who has become the team’s No. 2 starter behind his brother Collin, a senior.

Collin is 4-3 with a 2.69 ERA. Garrett is 3-1 with a 4.13 ERA.

“Collin is the ace, but we needed more arms,” Oak Park Coach Eric Pryor said. “Garrett threw well and we kept him. Having his brother around is like having another coach. He’s passed on a lot of his own experiences and that has helped his brother adjust.”

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When Rio Mesa plays Westlake Saturday in the championship game of the Redondo tournament, it will showcase two of the region’s best catchers in Westlake senior Mike Nickeas and Rio Mesa sophomore Zac Hanes.

Rio Mesa Coach Dave Solis says Hanes has similar tools to those of Nickeas, who has signed with Georgia Tech and will likely be drafted in June. Hanes is batting .442 with 17 runs batted in.

“[Hanes] is opening some eyes around here,” Solis said. “Two years from now, we could be talking about where he’s going to school or where he’ll be drafted.”