The Dream Team

Barry Faulkner

Not so long ago, Corona del Mar High junior Josh Bradbury settled for

hitting the ball over the net. Now, however, the former junior tennis

player-turned Sea King slugger prefers thumping baseballs over the

fence, a feat he performed twice as often as any other Newport-Mesa

player this spring.

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“When he’s up at the plate, the whole dugout stops and watches,”

CdM Coach John Emme said of his powerful and versatile star, who tops

the Daily Pilot’s 13-player All-Newport-Mesa Dream Team as Player of

the Year.

Bradbury, a third baseman and pitcher who is becoming increasingly

familiar to Southern California professional scouts, bashed 10 home

runs this season, nearly 35% of the total produced by the entire

Dream Team roster (29). His 39 hits, 32 runs and 21 extra-base hits

were also tops among Newport-Mesa batsmen, while his 28 RBIs ranked

second.

In addition, the repeat Dream Team selection forged a 4-2 pitching

record with a 3.44 ERA and struck out 41 in 39 innings. He earned his

team’s biggest win on the mound, going 6 1/3 innings in a 4-3 triumph

at Temple City in the second round of the CIF Southern Section

Division IV playoffs.

Having helped lead the Sea Kings to the Pacific Coast League

championship, he was voted league MVP by the circuit’s coaches.

CdM senior Nick Karpe, Costa Mesa senior Nate Hunter and Sage Hill

School junior Tim Wilkins are additional repeat Dream Team honorees.

First-time selections are Todd Macklin, Nick Palchikoff, Barrett

Sprowl and Blake Contant from Corona del Mar, the Costa Mesa trio of

Justin Peterson, Nate Hunter and Robert Rodriguez, as well as Newport

Harbor’s Joe Cantarella and Sage Hill’s Zach Friedrichs.

Karpe, the Sea Kings’ designated hitter, clouted five home runs

and produced 22 RBIs, while fashioning a .375 average (35 for 95). He

scored 20 runs and added seven doubles. The second-team All-Pacific

Coast League performer plans to play next season at Irvine Valley

College.

Hunter, the Mustangs’ field leader from behind the plate, hit .346

with one homer, 17 RBIs, 15 runs and six stolen bases. His 26 hits

included four doubles and one triple and he struck out only four

times this season.

Wilkins, a pitcher and middle infielder, helped the Lightning earn

its first trip to the CIF Southern Section playoffs in only the

program’s second varsity season. A two-time first-team All-Academy

selection, he hit .400 with two homers, 14 RBIs and 35 runs. His 28

hits included seven doubles and one triple and he was 11 for 11 in

stolen-base attempts.

In addition to his bat, Wilkins also chipped in on the mound for

first-year coach Bert Emerson. He fanned 54 in 36 2/3 innings,

compiling a 5-2 record and a 3.44 ERA with one save.

Friedrichs, a senior pitcher and shortstop, was a dominant force

for the Lightning this spring. His 33 RBIs led all Newport-Mesa

hitters and nearly half of his 31 hits were for extra bases. His one

homer, 11 doubles and one triple helped him produce a .443 average.

He was also perfect on 12 stolen-base attempts and scored 29 runs.

On the mound, the first-team All-Academy League performer produced

a 2-4 record that belied the rest of his numbers. His ERA was 2.24

and he fanned 58 in 50 innings, yielding only 36 hits. Also the

quarterback of the football team, who played soccer in the winter,

Friedrichs said he plans to play football and baseball at Whittier

College.

Peterson, a junior left-hander, was the Mustangs’ ace in his first

varsity season. He was 5-4, but his performance was worthy of better,

an argument supported by his 2.57 ERA. He struck out 77 in 65 1/3

innings. He was a second-team All-Golden West League choice.

Macklin and Cantarella, both juniors, were also stalwarts on the

bump for their respective teams, while Contant, another junior, is

also recognized foremost for his pitching exploits.

Macklin, who earned one of the Sea Kings’ two postseason

victories, finished 6-2 with one save and a 2.03 ERA. He struck out

41 in 51 2/3 innings, while walking just 14. Pitching was not his

only mode of support, however, as he hit .289 with four homers, 21

RBIs and 29 runs. He also had six doubles and patrolled center field

with aplomb, en route to first-team All-PCL recognition.

Emme said Macklin could be one of the dominant pitchers in Orange

County next season.

Cantarella was another who suffered from a lack of support.

Despite compiling a 3.28 ERA in 70 1/3 innings, he had to settle for

a 4-8 record with one save. He also hit a team-leading .314 for Coach

Joel Desguin’s Tars, on the way to first-team All-Sea View honors in

his first varsity season.

Contant made the most of his 37 2/3 innings, producing a 5-1

record and one save to go with his 3.72 ERA. He struck out 41 and,

along with Bradbury and Macklin, form a rotation capable of

propelling the Sea Kings deep into the postseason in 2004.

Long, a four-year varsity starter at shortstop, earned first-team

All-PCL distinction and also represented the Sea Kings in the Orange

County All-Star Game. He hit .356 with one home run, 19 RBIs and 25

runs. His 32 hits included 10 doubles and a triple, primarily from

the leadoff spot. He is receiving recruiting interest from USC, Long

Beach State, Arizona State and Orange Coast College, among others.

Rodriguez hit .500 in league to garner first-team All-Golden West

recognition. Overall, he hit .397 (31 for 78) with one homer, 12

RBIs, 14 runs and four doubles.

Adding to the wealth of talented returners at CdM next year will

be juniors Palchikoff and Sprowl.

Palchikoff, a left fielder, hit .373 with four home runs, 19 RBIs,

24 runs and five stolen bases. He was a first-team all-league

honoree.

Sprowl, who was, arguably, the best glove in the infield at first

base, hit .368 with 15 RBIs, 17 runs and nine doubles. He was a

second-team all-league pick.