The Cupertino Courier

Sports

Garcia is Hot Stove's top player, pitcher

By Dick Sparrer

For more than a couple of decades, it hasn't been much different. The Hot Stove committee has honored outstanding high school baseball players with two annual awards--Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.

This year, though, it's a little different. Oh, the Hot Stove organizers are still recognizing the talents of a great high school baseball player and a great high school pitcher. It's just that this year it's the same guy.

Bellarmine Prep sensation Nate Garcia unified the award this year after putting up staggering numbers on the mound and at the plate. In the process, he led the Bells to the Central Coast Section Division I championship.

For his outstanding effort, Garcia will be recognized at the 23rd annual Santa Clara County Hot Stove Banquet on Jan. 30 at the San Jose Elks Club. Garcia is the High School Player of the Year and will be honored along with other amateur players, professional players and baseball supporters at the Hot Stove event.

New Bay Area managers Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants and Bob Geren of the Oakland A's will be the special guests when master of ceremonies Ted Robinson announces the line-up of 2006 winners that includes Eric Byrnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kevin Frandsen of the San Francisco Giants and Jason Windsor of the Oakland A's.

Stanford University is represented by three players on the Hot Stove awards list. Chris Minaker has been selected as the College Player of the Year and teammate Greg Reynolds is the College Pitcher of the Year. Stanford's Randy Molina and Kevin Drever of Santa Clara University and Justin Santich-Hughes of San José State University are each winners of the Loyd Christopher Award.

Jason Hershfield and Carlos Hernandez of West Valley College will also be honored. Hershfield is the Community College Player of the Year and Hernandez is the Community College Pitcher of the Year.

Carlos Alonso of Los Gatos High School will join Garcia as a high school award winner. Alonso, a member of the Gatos team that took the CCS Division II title, is the winner of the Frank Bettencourt High School Academic Achievement Award.

The 23rd annual Santa Clara County Hot Stove Banquet will be held Jan. 30 at the San Jose Elks Club, 444 W. Alma Ave., with no-host cocktails at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:45 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m.