Back Bay trio to shine for South

Natalie Venegas

Three Newport-Mesa baseball standouts will represent the South

tonight in the Orange County All-Star baseball game at La Palma Park

in Anaheim.

Newport Harbor senior Patrick Keehan, along with Corona del Mar

seniors Wess Presson and Ben Maggard are among 22 players who will

fill out South Coach John Emme’s roster.

Emme, who has coached at CdM the last eight seasons, will guide

the Rebels, who will also benefit from the leadership of Newport

Harbor Coach Joel Desguin. Desguin will be an assistant coach for the

South.

“It’s going to be pretty cool,” said Presson, a four-year varsity

standout. “Everyone wants to be picked because it’s what you work

for.”

Presson, who has been playing baseball since he was 5, was a

first-team All-Pacific Coast League performer as a junior. In his

final season, he hit .347 and drove in 16 runs, en route Daily Pilot

Newport-Mesa Dream Team recognition.

During the summer, Presson said he plans to try out with Calhoun

Community College in Alabama, as well as the University of Utah.

“I love playing,” Presson said. “So, hopefully, my future will be

in baseball.”

Keehan was a three-year varsity player and is the first Sailor to

be chosen for the All-Star game since Joe Urban, who graduated in

1997.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Keehan said. “Especially knowing

a lot of these guys are going to make it into the major leagues

someday.”

In the 2005 season, Keehan, another Dream Team honoree, led the

Sailors in batting average (.397), runs (15), doubles (five) and

stolen bases (nine).

This summer, Keehan is participating in an Orange Coast College

league, and he plans to play for OCC next season.

Meanwhile, Keehan’s focus is on batting practice in preparation

for the spring season.

“It’s kind of weird playing at OCC,” Keehan said. “Everyone is so

good, and it’s different playing with those guys we spent the season

playing against.”

Keehan’s future plans are to play at OCC for two years, then

attend a four-year school where he could continue playing baseball.

“I’m most exited about playing baseball at OCC. A lot of guys

don’t get that chance to keep playing.”

Maggard, the Newport-Mesa Player of the Year, shares in Keehan’s

excitement when thinking about baseball after high school.

Maggard’s accomplishments at CdM include pitching the school’s

first no-hitter since Ryan Lewis in 1998. His 1.82 ERA tied for

second best on the team.

This summer he plans to prepare for a camp at Chapman University

in early August by following a four-day-a-week workout routine.

“It’s going to be a completely different atmosphere,” Maggard

said. “But I’m ready, and I’m looking forward to it.”

At CdM, Maggard also played soccer and football, but he quickly

discovered his greatest potential was in baseball.

“I have always loved the game of baseball as long as I can keep

improving,” he said.

And improve is exactly what he did.

Last season, Maggard lacked playing time due to the older, more

experienced players on the team, but this season was a different

story.

Maggard’s fastball was the key to several games, including a CIF

Southern Section Division III victory over La Serna, in which Maggard

threw a six-hit shutout.

“I didn’t know I would make it to the All-Star game because I

didn’t get a lot of playing time last year,” Maggard said. “But I’m

really excited and I think it’s going to be a good experience.”