Baseball: It’s opening day for Henry Owens

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The scouts have their radar guns ready, because it’s opening day for Henry Owens of Huntington Beach Edison, the region’s top professional prospect.

Owens, a 6-foot-7 senior left-hander, will make his debut Friday afternoon against Pacifica at Glover Field in Anaheim.

Edison is ranked No. 1 in the Division I coaches’ poll. Now I don’t know how accurate that poll is, because Mission Viejo is nowhere to be found, and the Diablos are No. 1 in the preseason Times’ rankings. Edison certainly has the potential to be very good, but it’s time for the Chargers to produce results instead of rely on potential.

Santa Ana Mater Dei is No. 2, and we’ll find out quickly about the Monarchs because they get to face Mission Viejo on Saturday.

It’s going to be a long, fun season, so lots of patience is required, but watching Owens pitch should be one of the highlights of the 2011 season.

-- Eric Sondheimer