Prep baseball: Playing the field

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - Carlos Franco, a stout senior standout for Costa Mesa

High’s baseball team the last three seasons, will attempt to spread

himself thin Saturday, when he and other top seniors from the Pacific

Coast League battle a team of senior stars from the Sea View League in

the annual South County Showcase at 3:30 p.m. at Windrow Park.

Franco, who played first base and pitched en route to second-team

All-PCL laurels for the Mustangs this season, will attempt to play one

inning at every position in the nine-inning exhibition.

“He’ll start in right field, then move to center and right, before

coming in and moving across the infield from third base to first,” said

Corona del Mar Coach John Emme, who will head up the staff of five PCL

head coaches (Northwood, which no senior class, won’t take part until

next season). “The plan is for him to catch the eighth inning, then

finish in ninth on the mound.”

Surrounding Franco during his tour around the diamond, could be as

many as nine other standouts from Newport-Mesa schools.

Seniors Eric Snell, Dave Knecht, Wes Hockinson and Rory McKeever are

expected to represent PCL champion CdM. Sea Kings Cavan Cuyler and Andrew

Johns are on the roster, but are not expected to play. Cuyler is

recovering from minor surgery and Johns is out of town.

Josh Feldman, Daniel Hunter and Steven Shores will wear Costa Mesa

green, while Estancia’s Brent Davis and Armando Ortiz are also expected

to contribute.

Newport Harbor seniors Garrett Brant, Alan Lane, Chris Ward and Joel

Brown are expected to compete for the Sea View League, which will also

draw talent from Laguna Hills, Irvine, Aliso Niguel and Woodbridge.

Emme said Snell will start the game on the mound for the PCL, which

defeated a team from the Century League, 4-3, in the second of two games

last year.

The Century League will meet a team from the South Coast League in the

second game, immediately following the PCL-Sea View clash.

USC-bound Jay Nichols and UCLA-bound Kevin Conlin from University are

also expected to play for the PCL, which will include players from Laguna

Beach.