Best County Seniors to Compare Wares in North-South Game

The Ventura County all-star baseball game, which will be played Sunday at 1 p.m. at Moorpark College, means something different to every player.

To pitcher John Boardman of Camarillo Christian, it’s a chance to prove he can retire hitters at a more competitive level. Boardman was 12-4 and struck out a county-high 170 batters in the Small Schools Division.

To pitcher Brad Edmonds of Fillmore, it’s a chance to replace the unpleasant memory of his team’s eight errors in a 10-7 loss to Beaumont in the 1-A Division final Friday.

To outfielder Jason Jones of Royal, it’s a chance to display the power that produced a county-high nine home runs. Jones and other long-ball launchers will compete in a home-run hitting contest before the game.

To catcher Danny Madsen of Newbury Park, it’s a chance to test his arm against fleet baserunners like Ty Hewitt of Buena and Chris Cole of Santa Paula.

To Mike Jenkins and Rick Langford of Marmonte League champion Simi Valley, it’s a chance to pitch against the top hitters of the Channel League.

To Matt Anderson of Channel League champion Buena, it’s a chance to pitch against the top hitters of the Marmonte League.

Anderson, who will play for the North team, is also looking forward to watching Thousand Oaks’ John Bushart pitch for the South team. Anderson and Bushart, both hard-throwing left-handers, have scholarships to play for Cal State Northridge next year. “I’m interested in watching Bushart throw,” Anderson said. “We’re probably going to be teammates next year.”

Anderson qualifies his comment because he could opt to sign with the Baltimore Orioles, who selected him in the fifth round of the amateur draft Monday.

“This game ought to be great fun,” Anderson said.

Thirty-nine of the county’s top seniors have been invited to play in the all-star game, which is sure to draw plenty of college and professional scouts.

Buena’s Stan Hedegard and Santa Paula’s Mark Magdaleno are co-coaches of the North team. Fillmore’s Tom Ecklund and Moorpark’s Mario Porto are co-coaches of the South team.

The South team will have no shortage of pitchers, according to Porto. “We have nine guys who throw, so they’ll each probably pitch one inning,” he said.

The North team has only five pitchers. The North offense will be led by power-hitting infielders John Johnson (.383, 5 home runs) of Channel Islands and Tom Lunsford (.431, 6 home runs) of Buena.

In addition to Jones (.446) and Madsen (.369, 6 home runs), the South offense features outfielders Geoff Black (.455, 6 home runs) of Newbury Park and Chris Grodell (.468) of Thousand Oaks, and three infielders from Simi Valley--Jesse Anguiano (.405), Andy Hodgins (.442) and Terry Hill (.419).

VENTURA COUNTY ALL-STARS NORTH TEAM

Matt Anderson, Buena, p

Terry Armas, Oxnard, c

Pat Avila, Channel Islands, inf

Chris Castro, St. Bonaventure, p

Kasha Clemons, Santa Clara, inf

Chris Cole, Santa Paula, inf

Chris Gaston, St. Bonaventure, c

Ty Hewitt, Buena, of

Harvey Jones, Ventura, of

Tom Lunsford, Buena, inf

Rick Pearn, Ventura, p

Gary Myers, Ventura, p

John Rust, Rio Mesa, p

Steve Soliz, Rio Mesa, c

Shea Freeman, Rio Mesa, of

Reyno Ortega, Hueneme, inf

John Johnson, Chan Islands, inf

David Lucio, Channel Islands, of

Co-Coaches: Stan Hedegard,

Buena; Mark Magdaleno, Santa Paula

SOUTH TEAM

Jesse Anguiano, Simi Valley, inf

Steve Biggs, Camarillo, p

Geoff Black, Newbury Park, of

John Boardman, Camarill Ch., p

John Bushart, Thousand Oaks, p

Jeremy Dewey, Newbury Prk, p

Brad Edmonds, Fillmore, p

Chuck Foster, Westlake, inf

Dan Glassman, Calabasas, p

Chris Grodell, Thou Oaks, of

Terry Hill, Simi Valley, inf

Andy Hodgins, Simi Valley, inf

Mike Jenkins, Simi Valley, p

Jason Jones, Royal, of

Rick Langford, Simi Valley, p

Danny Madsen, Newbury Park, c

Zac Miller, Agoura, of

Keith Orford, Moorpark, p

Gary Silverman, Oak Park, inf

Derek Tamburro, Westlake, c

Nelson Townes, Agoura, inf

Co-Coaches: Tom Ecklund,

Fillmore; Mario Porto, Moorpark