Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Johnson, Erickson are special guests at Hot Stove Banquet

Brian Johnson of the San Francisco Giants and Scott Erickson of the Baltimore Orioles will be the special guests when the 14th annual Hot Stove Banquet returns to the Santa Clara Valley on Feb. 2 to honor outstanding local people in baseball.

Johnson, a former Bishop O'Dowd and Stanford star, has been named the Player of the Year after helping the San Francisco Giants win a division championship. Johnson is the starting catcher for the Giants.

Erickson, a star pitcher at Homestead before turning pro, is the Hot Stove Pitcher of the Year after posting a 16-win season for the Orioles.

Joining Johnson and Erickson on the awards list are Mike Frank of Santa Clara University (now in the Cincinnati Reds organization), college player of the year; Ryan Becks of West Valley Community College (drafted by the Montreal Expos), community college player of the year; Xavier Nady of Salinas, high school player of the year; A.J. Hinch of Stanford, now with the Oakland A's organization, minor league player of the year; Bob Poole of the Houston Astros, scout of the year; Lil and Dave Morreira, service award winners; and college players Scott Lewis of San Jose State, Bill Mott of Santa Clara and Jay Pecci of Stanford, Loyd Christopher Award winners.

Tickets for the night's event are priced at $35, and festivities will begin with no-host cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The awards presentation begins at 8 p.m.

Proceeds from the banquet benefit youth baseball programs in the area. For more information or reservations, call 446-3443.

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