HIGH SCHOOLS

A look at top players for the 2009 baseball season, according to Eric Sondheimer:

*--* PITCHERS Comment Tyler Matzek, Capistrano Valley, Sr. A left-handed version of Gerrit Cole Matt Hobgood, Norco, Sr. Times’ player of the year as a junior Tyler Skaggs, Santa Monica, Sr. Throws hard and has exceptional curveball Beau Wright, Los Alamitos, Sr. Left-hander who’s tough to hit Bryan Berglund, Royal, Sr. Loyola Marymount signee is rising prospect FIRST BASE Jonathan Singleton, LB Millikan, Sr. Hits with the best Kelly Dugan, S.O. Notre Dame, Sr. Switch-hitter who batted .438 Devin Rodriguez, Hart, Sr. Enters with 21-game hitting streak Jason Plowman, Bonita, Sr. Had five home runs Jake Bernards, West Ranch, Sr. Has football scholarship, but can hit SECOND BASE Blake Leyva, Santa Margarita, Sr. Headed to Santa Clara Kevin Williams, Crespi, Jr. Was on a hitting tear during winter ball Dillon Bryant, Orange Lutheran, Jr. Has offensive punch SHORTSTOP Jonathan Meyer, Simi Valley, Sr. CS Fullerton signee hits well and throws in the 90s David Nick, Cypress, Sr. UCLA signee, top hitting prospect at AFLAC game Jiovanni Mier, Bonita, Sr. USC commit set to be high draft pick Noland Arenado, El Toro, Sr. Headed to Arizona State Christian Lopes, Valencia, So. Hits like Manny Ramirez THIRD BASE Matt Davidson, Yucaipa, Sr. USC signee has terrific power Ryan Cooperstone, Chatsworth, Sr. All-City honoree had 43 RBIs as a junior Ryan Arnold, Northview, Sr. Signed with UNLV Jeff Yamaguchi, Lakewood, Jr. Batted .393 as a sophomore Ivory Thomas, Downey, Sr. Had 39 hits, 28 RBIs CATCHER Cameron Garfield, Murrieta Valley, Sr. Four-year starter Carlos Escobar Jr., Chatsworth, Sr. Does everything well defensively Nolan Clark, Capistrano Valley, Sr. UNLV signee Trevor Brown, Hart, Sr. UCLA signee who’s versatile and hits Jake Hernandez, Los Osos, Jr. Becoming a top hitter OUTFIELD Jake Marisnick, Riverside Poly, Sr. Made impact at Area Code Games Eric Snyder, Edison, So. All he did was get 53 hits as a freshman Wes Hatton, Norco, Sr. Hits for average with strong arm Anthony Hutting, Tesoro, Sr. Cal State Fullerton signee Jeff Gelalich, Bonita, Sr. UCLA signee has excellent speed *--*