Baseball: Top freshman athlete transfers to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

Ryan Mendoza, who was being groomed to be a three-year varsity starter at quarterback for Lake Balboa Birmingham and was competing at catcher for the varsity baseball team, has transferred to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Mendoza, a freshman, could be the starter for the Knights, who have moved J.J. Muno to shortstop.

He's the second promising freshman baseball player to switch schools in the middle of the school year. Alemany freshman pitcher Josh Garcia transferred to Chatsworth, where he could be an impact player on the varsity this season.

-- Eric Sondheimer