...And also in all-star baseball
By Steve Ames
Special to The Acorn

If it was a game for fun, the East found that there was nothing more fun than winning as it beat the West, 10-2, in the sixth annual Jim Parker All-Star Game Sunday afternoon as more than 300 spectators watched at Moorpark College.

The game, which matched the Ventura County’s best senior high school baseball players, was sponsored by the Ventura County baseball Coaches Association.

"How can I not win with that lineup?" asked East head coach Matt Suttle of Fillmore High. "We had a few playing out of position, but they’re baseball players. We had 21 players and tried to give them about three innings each in the nine-inning game."

Two of the East’s players–Moorpark’s Ed Garcia and Oak Park’s Mo Williams– also played in the 30th annual East-West All-Star Football Game at Royal High on Sunday evening.

"The thing I am impressed with is that they are all good kids, good baseball players and quality individuals, Suttle said. "You read about the kids and their accomplishments. I am impressed with their character. They swing the bat and don’t miss too many pitches."

The West team, whose head coach was Oxnard’s Alfred Tarazon, scored its first run in the top of the second inning.

The East came back in the second inning with two of its 14 hits to tie the score at 1-1. Newbury Park’s Cody Collet walked, Williams singled to center field, Royal’s J.R. Gomez sacrificed them along and Newbury Park’s Mason DeMatteo scored Collet on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Agoura’s Chad Martinson put the East ahead to stay in the third inning as he homered over the center field fence scoring Fillmore’s Dan Palmer, who had singled to left field.

"That first pitch was a fast ball," Martinson said. "It was kind of close and he (Oxnard’s Nate Rendell) left it a little bit high. When I hit it, I was pretty sure it was going to leave" the park.

The East scored three more runs to go ahead 6-1 in the fourth inning on four hits and a walk with Newbury Park’s Matt Eisenstein picking up an RBI on an infield ground out and a single through third base by Moorpark’s Jason Madsen.

Two more runs were scored by the East in the bottom of the fifth on Nick Trombetta’s double, one of four hits that inning.

"I just knew we had to score," Trombetta said. "We had the bases loaded."

After the West had scored its second run in the top of the seventh, the final pair of runs for the East came in the bottom of the seventh inning as Simi Valley’s Mike Moscatello hit a two-run home run following a walk issued to Moorpark’s Zach Penprase.

Malibu’s Jaime Ballasteros, who replaced starting pitcher Gomez in the third inning, got the victory. He hurled three innings and did not allow a hit or a run. Rendell absorbed the loss.

Martinson said playing in the game "was a fun thing. It was neat to be out there with all those guys. It was a different experience.

"I’m glad I had a pretty strong season and leave on a good note. Playing in an All-Star game is a pretty good way to end it. It puts an exclamation mark on all four years."

As he looks ahead to continuing his education, he will attend San Diego State University. "I like the area and it’s a good school and not too far or too close to home."

Regarding playing baseball for the Aztecs, Martinson said he will "try to be a walk on."

Eisenstein, who is deciding where he will attend college, said that he enjoyed the afternoon of playing for the East All-Star team.

"It’s just like playing with the best people and having a lot of fun," adding, "I’m excited to move on to the next level."

Trombetta echoed the thoughts of Martinson and Eisenstein as he reviewed playing in the All-Star Game.

"It’s a fun gathering," he said. "You have all your old friends you have been with a long time. The game is all for fun. If you can’t (have fun), why play? I love the game."

Trombetta, who is undecided regarding his college choice, said, "I am going to miss my relationships with a couple of players on the team."

In addition to Williams, Collet, DeMateo, Martinson, Eisenstein and Trombetta, area players on the East All-Stars were Oak Park’s Seth Binder and Cory O’Brien, Agoura’s Adam Schneider and Westlake’s Luke Salas.

Honored with presentations during the game were Ventura’s Dan Smith and Hueneme’s Reg Welker, retiring as coaches after this season.

Prior to Sunday’s game, Ventura’ s David Valencia won the home run contest and fellow Cougar Joey Mele won the fastest-around-the-bases competition.