Kreuzer is MVP, but Vikes fall in NorCal Regionals
By Dick Sparrer
Even before the season began, West Valley College baseball coach Mike Perez tagged Josh Kreuzer as a top prospect in the Coast Conference.
And the sophomore out of Leigh High School certainly lived up to his expectations.
Kreuzer was named the most valuable player of the All Coast ConferenceSouth team, making his coach's pre-season prediction come true.
"He's a potential JC All-American," said Perez before the start of the year, "and he could be the conference MVP."
He is, and he's one of three West Valley players named to the all-conference squad.
Infielder Gabe Duran (Fremont) and outfielder Brian Franco (El Paso) each earned places on the conference first team after sensational sophomore seasons for the Vikings.
But despite the three all-conference players, West Valley couldn't get to the finals of the Northern California Regionals last weekend. The Vikings made it to the semifinals, but then lost 13-10 to the College of San Mateo and 19-6 to San José City College to face elimination. San Jose and San Mateo were to meet Sunday for the Northern California championship.
The two losses left the Vikings 31-12 for the year.
Freshman Jeremy Roulin (Leigh) homered and singled twice to drive in three runs, and Erick Raich (Saratoga) and Dan Ruberte (Wilcox) each homered, but the Vikings lost to the Jaguars on Saturday.
Raich and Kreuzer slapped two hits apiece in the game for West Valley.
Earlier in the day, the Vikings pounded out 13 hits, but they lost 13-10 to San Mateo in a slugfest.
Kreuzer homered and singled to drive in a pair of runs for West Valley. Franco doubled and singled twice for the Vikes, and Kevin Boucher (Leigh) had two hits. Franco and Boucher each knocked in three runs.
Sophomores seeing their final action for the Vikings included Greg Baker (Leigh), Ryan Bernard (Saratoga), Michael Drew (Saratoga), Duran, Franco, Pat Frost (Palo Alto), Kreuzer, Isaac Prodiado (Woodland), Brian Stirm (Saratoga), Jason Windsor (Leigh) and Dan Weiton (Wilcox).
Stirm, a sophomore pitcher for the Vikings, is a local product who played in the Saratoga Little League and Pony League programs before going on to play at Saratoga High School and West Valley. He was drafted in the 32nd round of the amateur baseball draft by the San Francisco Giants last year.
It was as a West Valley pitcher in the regional tournament in Fresno last spring that Stirm caught the eye of the Giants scouts.
He was picked in a "draft and follow" program, so that Giants can either sign the hurler or he will return to the draft.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
