Baseball: A year for bunts, defense and throwing strikes

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With beautiful weather on Saturday, I decided to go watch a couple high school winter baseball games, and it’s clear 2011 is going to be about bunting, playing defense and throwing strikes because of the new bat rule.

There will be fewer home runs but good hitters are still good hitters, whether using a BBCORE bat or something else. All-City catcher Jordan Berger of Woodland Hills Taft proved that with a three-run double over the center-fielder’s head at Agoura on Saturday.

Speaking of Taft, I was impressed that the Toreadors made the routine plays, something they haven’t done. If they play defense, they can give a challenge to Chatsworth in the West Valley League.

I watched a couple innings from Calabasas-El Camino Real. All-City pitcher Jose Cardona of El Camino Real has his velocity up to close to 90 mph. Someone is going to have to pitch well to beat him. Calabasas looks solid and should be a playoff contender in the Marmonte League.

Update: El Camino Real beat Calabasas twice in seven-inning games. In another winter game, San Pedro, which made it to the City final, apparently has lots of hitters back because it routed Banning, with Anthony Canjura and Dino Boskovich getting big hits. Boskovich had a two-run home run.

-- Eric Sondheimer