DREAM TEAM 2000

Tony Altobelli

For those associated with youth baseball in Costa Mesa, Corona del

Mar and Newport Beach, Opening Day seems like it was about four years ago

instead of four months ago.

From the carnivals and festivities to the games and playoffs, the 2000

season will be remembered for different reasons for just about every

youngster, coach and family member that took part in the hoopla.

With all that in mind, here’s an alphabetical look at this year’s

Daily Pilot Dream Team.

Dennis Heenan, Cubs (Newport Harbor Baseball Association) - Heenan is

the only two-time Dream Team selection for this season and it’s well

deserved.

He led the regular season with a .750 batting average with ZERO

strikeouts.

As a pitcher, Heenan was also extremely effective, compiling a 15-1

record with a 0.35 ERA. As an All-Star, he batted .536 and was 7-0 with a

1.26 ERA on the mound.

“He’s a hard worker and just loves the game,” Manager Kevin Heenan

said. “He’s been a real joy to coach.”

It was a Heenan three-pack for the Cubs as Dennis and his sister,

Jamie, helped lead the team to the regular-season title, while Kevin

coached.

“It’s something they’ll never forget,” the elder Heenan said. “I’ll

never forget it, too.”

Evan Hunter, White Sox (Costa Mesa American Little League) - CMALL

President Pat McGuire had some pretty impressive praise when discussing

Hunter.

“He’s probably the best leadoff hitter in the history of the league,”

he said about the 12-year-old. “He was also the first player ever to be

named to the All-Star team unanimously by all the players, coaches and

managers.”

This season, Hunter batted .508 for the White Sox, with a .841

slugging percentage.

A center fielder, shortstop and pitcher, Hunter’s favorite athlete is

Anaheim Angel Darin Erstad and he said his best baseball experience was

when he hit is first-ever home run.

Ryan Lance, Angels (Newport Beach Little League) - After a solid

season with the Angels, Lance continued in All-Star competition with a

.450 batting average.

He helped Newport to a 3-0 win the District 55 All-Star Baseball

Tournament opening game with a first-inning home run.

“He’s a very focused player,” Manager Jim Ferguson said. “He leads by

example and he’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached, both

mentally and physically.”

Shaun Mohler, Dodgers (Newport Beach Little League) - At 5-foot-10,

Mohler is among the tall timbers in youth baseball and he uses that size

to his advantage.

“He’s been blessed with great physical size and he knows how to use

it,” All-Star Manager Jim Ferguson said. “With size like that you expect

a kid to be on the clumsy side, but he’s not. He’s developed into a solid

offensive and defensive player.”

Mohler, whose favorite food is pork chops, batted .400 this season and

his favorite player is Ken Griffey Jr.

Billy Munce, Rangers (Newport Harbor Baseball Association) - Munce was

a major force behind the plate for NHBA. “Any time a pitcher throws a

shutout or does something great, they get all the credit,” Heenan said.

“A ton of that credit should go to Billy. He does a great job of handling

the pitchers and blocking balls. He even threw out four runners in our

game against Fountain Valley.”

Munce was also a force at the plate where he hit 11 home runs and led

his team in runs scored and walks, while hitting .400.

“He’s improved all facets of his game this season,” Heenan said. “He’s

also a legitimate power hitter.”

Michael Orozco, Yankees (Newport Beach Little League) - Orozco batted

.500 in All-Star competition this season with two home runs and three

doubles, while anchoring Newport’s left side of the defense at third.

“He came into All-Stars and took over our team and was determined not

to lose any games,” Ferguson said. “He’s got a tremendous drive to win

and he’s very motivated.”

Orozco’s best moment in baseball came when the 5-foot-2, 99-pound

slugger slammed a home run off the scoreboard to help Newport to victory.

His favorite food is pizza and his favorite player is Nomar Garciaparra.

Andrew Sanford, Tigers (Costa Mesa American Little League) - Another

big force in the middle of the lineup, Sanford set a Costa Mesa Little

League record with 17 home runs this year, while hitting a modest .687.

“Even when he was a 10-year-old, he was hitting above .300 at this

level,” McGuire said. “He’s got a tremendous bat and is solid in the

outfield as well as at first base. I think he’s even a better right

fielder than infielder.”

At 5-9, 180, Sanford shows above-average range in the outfield, as

well as power to all fields offensively, just like his favorite player,

Mo Vaughn.

Dustin Schuler, Indians (Newport Harbor Baseball Association) -

Another three-position player, Schuler was strong at shortstop and third

base, but showed his All-Star stuff as a pitcher.

“He really solidified our pitching staff, as well as our infield,”

Heenan said. “He’s a new kid to our league, but he made an impact

immediately. He’s definitely an “A” All-Star player.”

Schuler batted .526 this season with 10 extra-base hits and two home

runs. As a pitcher, he fanned 36 over 30 innings.

Jamie Tinnion, Tigers (Costa Mesa American Little League) - Tinnion

was another solid glove and powerful bat in the heart of a Tigers’ lineup

that won its third league title in four years.

“He’s definitely a five-tool player,” McGuire said. “I have the

feeling he’ll be one of those kids you’ll see a lot of at the high school

level and even beyond.”

Tinnion batted .586 with 10 home runs this season. On defense, he

committed only four errors at shortstop and third base.

Victor Valdez, Marlins (Costa Mesa National Little League) - One of

the top players to ever come out of CMNLL, Valdez combined the power at

the plate and the control on the mound to become a Dream Teamer.

Valdez batted .480 with nine home runs, while as a pitcher, he posted

a 7-0 record, including a no-hitter.

Playing the same position as his favorite player, Nomar Garciaparra,

Valdez was a defensive machine at shortstop and, like the Red Sox

All-Star, he had three two-homer games.

Vinnie Valdez, Marlins (Costa Mesa National Little League) - The

younger brother of Victor Valdez, Vinnie Valdez is the only 11 year-old

on the Dream Team.

Vinnie anchored the catching duties for both the Marlins and the CMNLL

All-Stars, while posting a solid .450 batting average.

Included in that average was four home runs, including a grand slam.

A vacuum behind the plate, Vinnie Valdez’s favorite player is Mike

Piazza and his favorite food is pizza.

Kurt Yacko, White Sox (Newport Harbor Baseball Association) - Yacko

batted .620 this season, including a game-winning grand slam for the

White Sox.

“Kurt is a very intense player,” Heenan said. “He works hard to play

well in all areas. I think he’s most improved on the mental side of the

game.”

Not only solid as a hitter, Yacko was 5-2 with three saves and a 2.40

ERA as an All-Star and had an ERA under two for the entire season.

“He’s definitely a battler on that mound,” Heenan said. “Great command

of his stuff out there.”