Baseball: Sophomores to get excited about
The winter baseball season will enter high gear for most teams in November, and three sophomores in the San Fernando Valley are generating excitement.
Catcher Ryan Mendoza of Lake Balboa Birmingham, pitcher Josh Garcia of Chatsworth and pitcher Tommy Costello of West Hills Chaminade all have the talent to be among the best.
Mendoza started as a freshman at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Birmingham Coach Matt Mowry said Mendoza has the best defensive skills at the catcher position since Birmingham’s All-City catcher, Jose Carrillo, who was a four-year starter more than 10 years ago.
Garcia was a major contributor on varsity as a freshman at Chatsworth and appears ready to assume the ace role.
Costello, a left-hander, is coming back from Tommy John surgery and early signs indicate he’ll be able to be a solid pitcher in the tough Mission League in the spring.
Add Jon Escott, a sophomore pitcher at Reseda Cleveland, and it’s clear there’s going to be a youth movement this spring.
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