Baseball: Dream Team

Barry Faulkner

Between the two, Newport Harbor High senior Nick Langsdorf and

Corona del Mar sophomore Billy Eagle can do just about everything on a

baseball diamond except pitch.

But as diverse as their skills may be -- Langsdorf is the consummate

power hitter and Eagle’s game is triggered by speed -- their contribution

to their team was remarkably similar.

So, this Back Bay odd couple highlights the Daily Pilot’s

All-Newport-Mesa District Dream Team as Co-Players of the Year.

For Langsdorf, whose seven home runs and 25 RBIs put him atop fellow

Newport-Mesa batsmen in each category, it’s his third time on the Dream

Team.

Eagle, who hit a district-leading .444 with 17 RBIs and 17 stolen bases, is the most distinguished of 12 first-time all-district selections,

including six of his Sea King teammates.

Costa Mesa senior Josh Little, the only other repeat honoree, is joined

by Mustang teammates Carlos Franco and Nick Cabico.

The aforementioned CdM contingent, which helped the Sea Kings earn the

lone postseason berth among Newport-Mesa schools, is comprised of seniors

Alex Swanson and John DiCesare, as well as juniors Andrew Johns, Dave

Knecht, Cavan Cuyler and Eric Snell.

Seniors David Akiva and C.K. Green were chosen to represent Estancia,

while Newport Harbor senior Justin Jacobs rounds out the 14-player unit.

Doug Deats, who previously worked wonders to establish credibility at

Costa Mesa High, and did the same in his first season at Estancia this

spring, is Coach of the Year.

Langsdorf, also a three-year starter in football, earning all-district

and All-Sea View League recognition as a tight end last fall, provides an

equally imposing presence in the batter’s box.

He hit .373 (25 for 67) this season, adding eight doubles and a triple to

his aforementioned homer total, despite being singled out by opposing

teams as the one player they hoped to contain.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound first baseman, who may play football and baseball

at the University of San Diego, or just baseball at Orange Coast College,

scored 20 runs and stole two bases. For his three-year varsity career, he

hit .370 (80 for 216) with 12 homers, 61 RBIs and 34 extra-base hits.

Eagle, a second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division IV selection, was

as valuable with the glove as he was with the bat. Patrolling center

field, he frequently made diving and sliding catches, after either

retreating, sprinting to the gap or charging toward the infield. He had

one home run and shared the team lead with 22 runs in his second varsity

season to help the Sea Kings advance to the second round of the Division

IV playoffs and finish 14-12.

Little, also a center fielder, spent three full seasons on the varsity

and also spent a brief stint on the varsity as a freshman. He hit .357

(30 for 84) with two homers, 14 RBIs, 17 runs and five steals to help

Mesa remain in postseason contention until the final regular-season game.

Little’s career numbers include nine homers, 66 RBIs, 64 runs, 32

extra-base hits and a .356 average.

Akiva, a powerful first baseman, hit .403 (29 for 72) with two homers, 24

RBIs and 15 runs. He plans to walk on at Cal State Fullerton.

Swanson, CdM’s left fielder and leadoff man, led Orange County with 28

stolen bases and was thrown out only once. He hit .288 (23 for 80),

scored 22 times and had nine RBIs. He’ll take a year off, then try to

make the team at Orange Coast College.

Cuyler, CdM’s No. 1 hurler, finished 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 56 innings.

He threw four shutout innings to earn the Sea Kings’ lone playoff

victory, after tossing a complete-game two-hitter for the

playoff-clinching win in the regular-season finale against Costa Mesa.

Snell, who played several positions and was also a designated hitter, hit

.370 (20 for 54) with two homers, 12 RBIs, 13 runs and six steals. He hit

.435 in Pacific Coast League play and was 4 for 7 in the playoffs.

Johns, a first baseman, hit .366 (26 for 71) with 17 RBIs, 14 runs and 10

steals.

Green, a big reason the Eagles won nine games, hit .365 (27 for 74) with

16 RBIs and 19 runs. While not playing shortstop, he competed doggedly on

the mound, where his repertoire included a knuckleball.

Cabico and Franco made major contributions on the mound for Coach Kirk

Bauermeister.

Cabico was 2-6, but fashioned a 3.02 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 41 2/3

innings. He also hit .299 with 13 RBIs and nine stolen bases, playing

outfield and second base.

Franco, who played the corner infield spots and the outfield while not

pitching, hit .338 (27 for 80) with 10 RBIs and eight runs. On the mound,

he was 3-0 with five saves, among county leaders in the latter category.

He compiled a 3.38 ERA with 37 strikeouts and only six walks in 39 1/3

innings.

Knecht also supplemented his offensive contribution with his pitching. He

hit .324 (23 for 71) with two homers, 13 RBIs, 15 runs and 16 steals,

while also posting a 3-2 pitching record and a 3.73 ERA.

DiCesare, a right fielder, hit .333 (23 for 69) with 11 RBIs, 10 steals

and 17 runs.

Jacobs, also an all-district choice as a receiver on the Sailors’ CIF

champion football team, hit .333 (22 for 66) with two homers, 14 RBIs and

14 runs for Coach Jim Kiefer’s squad.